USC vs Alabama Report Card: Grading the Trojan Offense

The Trojan offense was nowhere to be found during the USC vs Alabama game at AT&T Stadium, failing to score a touchdown in the 52-6 thrashing.

USC’s opening night was a forgettable one for the Trojan offense. Or a waking nightmare.

Facing one of the nation’s top defenses, the offense crumbled. They failed to find the endzone, salvaging a potential shut out with two field goals.

It was not a banner day for Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Tee Martin.

Here’s how each offensive unit graded out against the Crimson Tide:

How do you grade a position that finished with paltry numbers but wasn’t particularly at fault for them?

The official stat line says the Trojan rushers had a net gain of 64 yards, but they accounted for just 11 of USC’s negative rushing yards, so really it was slightly-respectable 101 yards gained on the ground.

Granted, USC had five yards on five carries at half time, which is a trouble stat on its own.

Ronald Jones II, Aca’Cedric Ware and Justin Davis might have been impotent against Alabama with a strong offensive line performance, but they never actually got the chance to prove their capabilities, met in the backfield as they were regularly.

Someone who watched the game might recall a single rushing play for USC which included a reasonable hole for a running back to hit — the one carry Jones took 46 yards.

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How do you grade a position that finished with paltry numbers but wasn’t particularly at fault for them?

The official stat line says the Trojan rushers had a net gain of 64 yards, but they accounted for just 11 of USC’s negative rushing yards, so really it was slightly-respectable 101 yards gained on the ground.

Granted, USC had five yards on five carries at half time, which is a trouble stat on its own.

Ronald Jones II, Aca’Cedric Ware and Justin Davis might have been impotent against Alabama with a strong offensive line performance, but they never actually got the chance to prove their capabilities, met in the backfield as they were regularly.

Someone who watched the game might recall a single rushing play for USC which included a reasonable hole for a running back to hit — the one carry Jones took 46 yards.