USC's bright spots and blight spots

From the NCAA's weekly football stat report ...

Bright spots

• USC ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (7.82 ppg)
• USC ranks No. 1 nationally in total defense (210.55 ypg)
  • USC ranks No. 1 nationally in pass defense (124 ypg)
  • USC ranks No. 6 nationally in rush defense (86.55 ypg)
• USC ranks No. 1 nationally in pass efficiency defense (81.76)
• USC ranks No. 3 nationally in tackles for a loss (8.27 per game)
• USC ranks No. 1 nationally in kickoff returns (28.11 per attempt)
• USC ranks No. 12 nationally in pass efficiency (159.83)
• USC ranks No. 13 nationally in scoring offense (38.36 ppg)
• USC ranks No. 16 nationally in total offense (450.82 ypg)

Blight spots

• USC ranks No. 103 in net punting (32.41 ypa)
• USC ranks No. 72 in punt returns (8.17 ypa)
• USC ranks No. 43 in sacks allowed (1.55 per game)

Interpretation

The Trojans have the best defense in America. The offense is surprisingly solid, statistically, but got to pad a lot of stats against some weak in-conference opponents (at least they didn't intentionally schedule Coastal Carolina). There aren't really any "blight spots" here -- the punting stat is skewed by the fact USC rarely punts and usually has decent field position when it does. The punt returns and sacks allowed are just ho-hum. The NCAA doesn't keep penalty stats, but that could be something that reflects poorly on USC.

Not that it's a bad thing, but the Trojans don't have any individual stand-outs in the stat books. Mark Sanchez is the only top 40 player in any category, ranked 10th in pass efficiency with a 161.58. He leads the Pac-10 in that area, as well as in total offense (227.36 ypg).

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[pk-mesa]

Adam, How are you doing.
Yes it really doesn't matter the rest of the US hates the west coast, so even if it was any other pac-10 team (yes and that means you to Bruins) no respect. Heck if a pac-10 team was undefeated and two others were and from the sec or 12, pac-10 would stell be playing in Rose bowl. So tell me why ppppac-10 is in the BCS?

[Rohan]

There's gotta be one more addition to the blights: penalties

I don't know how bad it is, but I can tell you a number of drives would have ended in punts rather than field goals (leading to more shutouts) if it weren't for stupid penalites

[David A. Cox]

Indeed Sir, there IS a "blight" nay, a "PLAGUE" not mentioned above called "penalties, penalties, and EVER MORE INFURIATING PENALTIES"!

Why must our beloved team--so great, so slick in every other way--INSIST on out-doing the Oakland Raiders penalty-wise?!

Reduce penalties by just 25% (hell, 10%) and Southern California STROLLS--"style points" to spare--into the national title game only to TOY with who? Bama? Tex? Okla? --doesn't matter: lambs to the slaughter...Why?

Because NO-body can match USC's class as long as...

--they're not making so many stupid damned PENALTIES!!