Final month, within the span of a single half, USC’s high two operating backs have been misplaced to critical accidents. For Eli Sanders, the knee damage he suffered in opposition to Michigan prematurely ended his season. For Waymond Jordan, ankle surgical procedure meant lacking a lot of the Trojans’ vital stretch run.
For USC, it made for a very merciless one-two punch. By the first six video games, the Trojans duo had been a top-10 speeding assault within the nation, trending towards the very best speeding season USC had seen in 20 years. Then, in lower than an hour’s time, a promising begin had been derailed by damage.
“That could almost be a death sentence,” coach Lincoln Riley stated Wednesday.
However with simply two video games left within the season, the Trojans speeding assault nonetheless could be very a lot alive. And USC nonetheless is clinging to Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes due to it.
“It’s gone remarkably well,” Riley stated of USC’s speeding assault since. “I don’t know that anyone could have predicted that to be completely honest.”
Nobody anticipated the arrival of redshirt freshman walk-on King Miller, who has been a season-saving revelation since being thrust into the position because the Trojans’ lead again. Miller is averaging 113 yards per recreation since Jordan and Sanders went down, which, extrapolated over the course of a full season, would tie Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson for finest within the Large Ten. Miller is also one in all simply two Energy 4 operating backs with greater than 90 carries this season to common higher than seven yards per rush.
His surprising coronation, coming on the most important level of USC’s season, is a part of why the Trojans might be simply two wins away from their first playoff bid. And if they’ve any hope of continuous that run, Miller should lead the speeding assault into its hardest battle but Saturday at Autzen Stadium, the place No. 8 Oregon has held opposing offenses to 90 yards speeding per recreation.
There was a short glimmer of hope main into this week that Jordan, who underwent tightrope surgical procedure on his ankle 5 weeks in the past, would possibly be capable to return for USC’s journey to Eugene. Jordan was listed as questionable on the damage report final Saturday and dressed for apply this week, each indicators of progress. However Riley acknowledged Tuesday it was unlikely Jordan could be prepared for the sport, as he’s nonetheless getting comfy chopping on his surgically repaired ankle.
“He’s getting closer,” Riley stated. “But for a back, that’s not a great injury.”
There have been a variety of different accidents too that presumably ought to have led to USC’s undoing on the bottom. Along with their battered backfield, the Trojans have been with out left deal with Elijah Paige for half the season due to a knee damage and might be with out him once more Saturday. Middle Kilian O’Connor missed three video games due to his personal knee problem, and guard Alani Noa was sidelined for a lot of the Nebraska win.
However the Trojans have but to take a step again. The offensive line has shuffled positions with shocking success, and Miller has exceeded all expectations, incomes a spot in USC’s future plans.
“Just trying to learn to be confident in whatever I’m doing,” Miller stated this week. “You’ve got to be confident no matter what it is.”
Miller could, nevertheless, have met his match this week with Oregon. Whereas USC has remained close to the highest of the Large Ten, even after shedding its high two backs, the Geese have boasted arguably the very best speeding assault within the nation. Solely Navy averages extra yards per carry than Oregon (6.33) or has extra 20-plus-yard carries (28).
Two of Oregon’s trio of backs, senior Jordan Whittington and freshman Dierre Hill Jr., are averaging higher than eight yards per carry. The opposite, Mater Dei product Jordon Davison, is averaging seven yards per try as a freshman and has 12 landing runs.
The numbers aren’t precisely encouraging for the Trojans, who’ve been distressingly susceptible in opposition to the run for lengthy stretches of this season. USC is giving up greater than 200 yards on the bottom on common over its final 4 video games, none of which got here in opposition to offenses that rank among the many high 25 nationally in speeding.
The perfect backfield USC confronted throughout that stretch, Notre Dame, rolled over the Trojans for greater than 300 yards. And the Irish are averaging 41 fewer yards per recreation on the bottom than Oregon.
However in every of its three video games since that Notre Dame nadir, the Trojans have come out trying like a completely totally different protection within the second half. None of their final three opponents — Iowa, Northwestern or Nebraska — managed greater than a area aim after halftime.
USC gained’t have the luxurious of ready that lengthy this week, up in opposition to one of many few offenses in faculty soccer scoring at a extra environment friendly clip. For the Trojans to maintain their playoff hopes alive, it begins with dictating how issues go on the bottom.
To date that’s gone higher than anticipated.
“We’ve had some big challenges,” Riley stated. “We’ve been able to respond. It’ll obviously be important in games like this. Being able to run the football, being able to stop the run is always key, no matter who you’re playing, where you’re playing, what year it is.
“We’ve been clutch there. We’ve been able to do it. Hopefully we can get it done this time.”
