Well, that was short-lived.
What was supposed to be another season of glowing superlatives for USC quickly transformed into a run-of-the-mill year with another early season upset. And after losing to Oregon State in an embarrassing fashion last week, the Trojans are in scramble mode.
The defeat was so bad, head coach Pete Carroll never directly referred to the game in his weekly press conference, saying only that his team had an “opportunity” waiting ahead. If that’s code for “pressure to not eliminate themselves from the national championship chase,” then opportunity is knocking.
The adjustments this week start up-front where a previously stellar offensive line was rattled by a Beaver defense replacing its entire front seven from last season. Alex Parsons will step in for starting right guard Zack Heberer, out with a sprained right toe. He will have to help protect Mark Sanchez, who was sacked only once against Oregon State but rarely had time to survey the field.
USC’s injuries extend to its linebacking corps, where a highly touted group has become battered and bruised three games into the season. Rey Maualuga has been all but ruled out of Saturday’s game with an MCL sprain in his right knee. Brian Cushing is expected to slide over from his normal strong side position to fill in for Maualuga, despite a broken bone in his hand.
Cushing will have to key a USC run defense that was befuddled by Oregon State’s rushing attack last week to the tune of 176 rushing yards. Carroll will need a better performance from the front seven to avoid going 0-2 against the Oregon schools in the same year for the first time in his tenure. But after losing his last three games in the Beaver (Duck for cover) State, it’s safe to say that Carroll is happy to be back in the comforts of the Coliseum.
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