The year's common themes are fittingly getting the spotlight during the last week of the regular season.
USC will again be spending extra time emphasizing and improving their issues with penalties and third downs -- two of the Trojans' fatal flaws so far in 2009 -- during practices this week. Logically, the two problems often go hand in hand, as penalties usually create third-and-long situations, which are obviously much more difficult to convert into first downs than the more appealing third-and-short situations.
During the UCLA game on Saturday, the USC offense went 4-for-12 (33 percent) on third downs, but the conversion troubles usually stemmed from what happened before third down. Of the 12 third-down opportunities, an astounding five were third-and-11 or longer and, as you can surmise, none were converted. In fact, all eight drives from Saturday that ended with failed third-down attempts included at least one penalty or negative-gain play.
On the other hand, the four successful conversions occurred on third-and-4 or shorter, so it's increasingly apparent the Trojans' two problems -- penalties and third downs -- are closely connected. The battle cry is being sung loud and clear around Heritage Hall: Limit penalties and third-down success will start pouring forth.
"We've got to keep the flow going and keep the offense moving," Coach Carroll told his players this afternoon.
University Southern California Trojans
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
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