December 2, 2022 9: 44 pm PT
The USC defense did get one turnover versus Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and it did get a stop on the veryfirst belongings of the 2nd half, however those minutes of success were fairly coupleof and far inbetween. Over the course of 60 minutes, this Trojan defense was eventually exposed.
Utah was harder. Utah was more physical. Utah was muchbetter. We wear’t have to pretend otherwise. Sure, USC was squashed by injuries, however we have to keepinmind that Utah didn’t have Brant Kuithe, or Tavion Thomas, or Van Fillinger, or Jonah Elliss. Those are all actually crucial gamers for the Utes.
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Utah, not USC, had the quality depth on the field in Las Vegas.
USC’s defense did not hold up.
Dalton Kincaid got his. The Utah running videogame subdued USC up front. Tuli Tuipulotu wasn’t able to make enough of an effect.
Oh, and then there were all the missedouton takeson.
It’s tough to state Alex Grinch coached well with all of these errors, however it’s simply as hard if not harder to overlook that USC didn’t have the workers. The Trojans didnothave the guys required to win.
We truly are going to have the Alex Grinch discussion throughout the next 9 months leading up to the start of the 2023 season, ideal?
(We will, presuming Riley doesn’t relocation for another protective organizer.)
Here’s how the night went for USC’s defense, in live action and live reactions:
100 PERCENT, YES
I truly puton’t care how numerous lawns #USC’s defense offers up today. The task of the defense is to scrape their method to force some turnovers and field objectives.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) December 3, 2022
12 PLAYS, 3 POINTS
#USC gets the stop and 3rd-and-goal and Utah will kick the field objective — big for this defense.
After an 12-play, 68 lawn drive from the Utes, they just have a field objective to program.
— Daily Trojan Sports (@DT_Sports) December 3, 2022
KEY POINT
Bryson Shaw continues to be a great pickup for USC’s defense. Remember, he wasn’t healthy last time versus Utah. Maybe it goes inadifferentway if he was. No method to inform, however it’s great to see him make a play there
— Reign of Troy (@ReignofTroy) December 3, 2022
MORE SHAW
Bryson Shaw is EVERYWHERE thisevening
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) December 3, 2022
TAKEAWAY SIREN!
Speak of the damn devil, Shaw recuperates a fumble punched out by Max Williams. USC back in organization at the Utah 39.
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) December 3, 2022
THE NUMBER KEEPS CLIMBING
USC’s turnover margin is now +23
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 3, 2022
NOT GOOD
Shane Lee and Eric Gentry both missedouton individually dealwith opportunities there.
— R.J. Abeytia (@RJ_Abeytia) December 3, 2022
IT’S A 4-DOWN GAME
Utah keeps its offense on the field for fourth-and-2. Rising takes it himself for 4 lawns to the USC 18 and selects up the veryfirst down.
— Annenberg Media Sports (@ANNMediaSports) December 3, 2022
FIRST 3RD-DOWN CONVERSION BY EITHER TEAM — 4 MINUTES LEFT IN FIRST HALF
Utah transforms on 3rd down for the veryfirst time tonight. It’s an eight-yard goal run and the Utes diminish USC’s lead.
17-10 USC
— Annenberg Media Sports (@ANNMediaSports) December 3, 2022
VERY LUCKY
USC simply prevented a TD there; Covington had no security assistance. That play was large open.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) December 3, 2022
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Utah did a excellent task of finding the holes in USC’s defense the