USC vs ASU: Trojans Must Take Chance To Salvage The 2016 Season

No one in Troy is happy with the first month of the season, but USC vs ASU supplies an opportunity to get the ball rolling on salvaging the 2016 season.

To call it a dissappointing start to 2016 season is an understatement about now. Still there is so much football left to be played before that long, long wait until the arrival of next season. And still plenty at stake.

After so much anticipation at the start of this season, to now have a 1-3 record is a sharp blow to the solar plexus but the show must go on.

This weekend the 4-0 Sun Devils come to Los Angeles. That’s not a typo, this ASU team is undefeated, but their competetion hasn’t been anywhere near USC’s. Nevertheless, undefeated is undefeated and that’s always a good thing regardless of competition.

With a bunch of momentum and confidence directly attached to their 4-0 record the Sun Devils are on top of the Pac-12 South.

So you have two teams that are moving in very different directions. Could this finally be the game that starts this USC football team rolling in the right direction in 2016? Let’s hope so.

With a brutal opening four games now in the rear view mirror and Sam Darnold in his rightful position as the starting quarterback, the Trojans could yet salvage this 2016 season.

But with a new disciplined, winning attitude how many games will USC win this season?

Eight regular season games are left on the schedule, two of which are the rivalry games.

Notre Dame looks much weaker than many thought they would be and that’s the good news.

The Colorado Buffaloes are playing some very good football. They will be a problem if USC continues on this self-destructive path of poorly-timed penalties and blown coverages that lead to big scoring plays. (And the passive idea of punting for field position on the wrong side of the 50 yard line…)

Everyone will know much more as to how good the Washington Huskies actually are after they play Stanford this week. They are well-coached and beat USC last year, so that road game looks like a probable loss.

However, the rest of the schedule is manageable.  One plus seven equals eight wins and three plus one equals four losses.  Is it posssible for this team to win seven out of the next eight games? Yes, but only if the Trojans show a different attitude this Saturday against ASU.

Darnold should be nice and comfortable in the Colisium. There should be some fireworks very early especially if the sun is shining.

If the secondary can keep plays in front of them and minimize the huge play then USC should win.

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It is also very clear that more pressure and blitzing is nessary. ASU usually blitzes more than anyone in the Pac-12 so maybe their tendencies will rub off, which would be just fine.

No one would complain to see more defensive aggressiveness and pressure than have to sit through another series like last week in Utah, with the nickel defense helpless to stop the Utes running over and over, play after play. What a nightmare that was.

Winning the Pac-12 South will not be easy but like last year it will be a very close race.

Here is a great opportunity to knock off one of the division leaders in a home game and build on that victory.

If this USC football team were to somehow win the Pac-12 South, even with the disappointing start, the entire season would be salvaged.  Optimistic? Yes. Probable? No. But possible? Yes it is.