How the USC defense should approach the LSU offense in Week 1

Tim Prangley, Trojans Wire

The USC Trojans are four weeks away from their season-opening college football game against LSU in Week 1 in Las Vegas. The game is one of the showcase events of opening weekend, and it will carry a lot of weight for both teams. The winner has a real chance of making the College Football Playoff. The loser’s odds of making a playoff run will shrink considerably. It’s high-stakes poker, exactly why Week 1 showdowns are so exciting and tense. This is what makes college football unique among all sports: The first game of the season carries more significance than a season-opening game in any other sport. When we consider how USC has to go about its business, let’s look at the matchup between the USC defense and the LSU offense. What should be the approach for the Trojans? Let’s dive into the details:

START SIMPLE

D’Anton Lynn has said he likes to present the appearance of complexity within simple concepts for his defenses, but USC really does need to keep things simple in the first quarter. The Trojans need to start their season by simply reading and reacting, and not getting caught in a web of complexity which leaves players confused. That happened a lot under Alex Grinch. Guys need to be able to play freely and not overthink during plays. USC has to be able to play instinctively in the first quarter.

SEE WHAT PLAYERS CAN DO

The first quarter needs to be simple for another reason: The coaching staff needs to see how all 11 players fare in physical combat against each LSU Tiger. The Trojans need to settle into the game and see if they can win one-on-one battles, both in the trenches and on the edges. If USC can hold its own, then the approach can and should be more aggressive as the game goes on. If USC is losing battles, the defense will need to protect its weaknesses and adjust in a more…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-defense-approach-lsu-offense-015923060.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-08-05 01:59:23

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