Reign of Troy
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Trojans Offense in Select Company and More USC Football News

By Alicia de Artola

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Can’t get enough USC football news? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Take… This past weekend CoachingSearch.com did a study of offenses in the NCAA, finding that just 13 schools have averaged more than six yards a play over the last three seasons.

USC is among those schools, clocking in at 6.60 yards per play in 2012, 6.05 in 2013 and 6.04 in 2014.

The Trojans were also one of just two schools to achieve that feat with three different playcallers — Lane Kiffin, Clay Helton and Steve Sarkisian. Though your interpretation of that may favor strong coaching hires or talent overcoming coaching turnover, depending on your perspective.

But looking a bit deeper, USC’s streak actually goes back even further than what CoachingSearch explored. With a 6.53 yard average in 2011, a 6.03 average in 2010, 6.19 in 2009 and 6.63 in 2008, the Trojans have reached the 6-yard threshold every year for the past seven years.

That is a streak matched only by Oregon in the nation. The same Oregon that is seen by many to be the measuring stick of offensive potency.

And yes, that means even Jeremy Bates’ 2009 offense averaged more than six yards a play. Somehow.

Though the numbers may not mean much in the long run, that is a pretty impressive run for a Trojan team which achieved them under scholarship reductions since 2012.

Interestingly enough, before Steve Sarkisian came to USC in 2014, the Trojans were among the nation’s slowest offenses. That has to make you wonder what they can do with high efficiency in addition speed that creates an abundance of more plays.

We saw glimpses last season with large offensive showings against the likes of Fresno State and Colorado, but USC still has room to improve on their consistency.

And Ten USC Football News Links…

  1. SI.com: Shelley Smith talks to Richard Deitsch about an upcoming 30 for 30 episode that USC fans will want no part of: a documentary diving into the 2006 Rose Bowl.
  2. NFL.com: In a series called ‘Rookie Confessional’, former USC running back Buck Allen opened up about his start as a professional.
  3. ESPN: After Plaxico Burress blew up on Nick Saban’s past departure of Michigan State this week, ESPN decided to look at coaches who have pulled similar moves. Naturally, Steve Sarkisian makes the list after he left Washington for USC the same day he denied it. Whoops.
  4. USCFootball.com: Shotgun Spratling’s 30 Key Trojans series continued on Sunday with a freshman making the list: Osa Masina.
  5. USCFootball.com: Dan Weber eyes some Projans as NFL training camps get ready to open.
  6. YouTube: ‘Steakbacon’ doesn’t just have a tasty username, he’s created what looks to be a pretty solid USC hype video for the 2015 season. (h/t to r/CFB)
  7. The Salt Lake Tribune: A teammate of Osa Masina, wide receiver Semi Fehoko was once a USC target, visiting on Elite Junior Day in January. On Sunday, he committed to Stanford.
  8. USCFootball.com: Dan Weber takes a look at USC’s newest scholarship quarterback and part-time videographer, Conner Sullivan.
  9. Reign of Troy: We looked at five potential options for FOX and USC to decide on naming rights at the LA Coliseum.
  10. r/CFB: You want to rid yourself of your lunch? Redditor u/eharvey328 has gone through a series of photoshops swapping college football teams’ colleges for those of their rivals. Here’s USC jerseys in Notre Dame and UCLA colors. (As well as a picture of Myles Jack in cardinal & gold UCLA jerseys).

Stat of the Day:

Tre Madden was the first running back to eclipse the 100-yard mark in three games to start a season since Marcus Allen in 1981. In fact, he was just seven yards from doing it in five-straight games.

Tweet of the Day:

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