What We Learned: Where USC’s defense is better, and where it can be better

No team in the nation has given up more field goals than USC. It's a source of pride for defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. It means the defense has consistently dug in with its back against the wall.

Of course, it also means teams are regularly driving into the red zone. Only five teams have faced more than the 24 red zone drives that USC’s defense has. Turnovers haven't helped, obviously. (The Trojans rank 127th nationally in that category). But the ability to essentially turn touchdowns into field goals has given USC a chance in every game. It was crucial in all three wins, including Stanford, which was on the cusp of taking a 21-3 lead in the second quarter when Olaijah Griffin knocked away a pass in the end zone.

Both BYU and Washington settled for two field goals from inside the red zone that would have changed the complexion of the game had they been touchdowns.

USC has allowed 13 field goals overall, while only one other team in the country has surrendered more than 10. It's one of three areas in which the Trojans have notably improved from a year ago, along with getting off the field on third downs — opponents are converting a modest 35.3 percent — and getting pressure on quarterbacks. The next step is tackling them.

"We should have 10 more sacks than what we’ve got," Pendergast said.

USC has 13, which is good for 39th nationally. Another 10 would make them fifth. It also would have probably swung the score in the BYU loss. Tackling in general is one of the primary talking point for USC during its bye.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was sidelined versus Washington because of a concussion and shoulder sprain, hasn't been cleared yet but pushed himself to practice this week so that he's prepared once he's available.

"To be honest, I’m just out here trying to get back into the swing of things with my head," he said.

While USC's defense performed admirably against the Huskies without its best safety, and cornerback in Griffin, Hufanga couldn't help but recall the few big plays Washington did make. Despite being only 10 days removed from the best game of his career, Hufanga said he is just as guilty as his teammates for missing tackles.

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"I think that’s a recurring thing that we can work on," he said.

Hufanga said it starts with being lined up correctly, knowing your assignment, and being calm under pressure. The Trojans improved in these ways between road games at BYU to Washington. They'll need to be even better in South Bend.

The bye week seemed to have everyone examining where things stood through five games. Defensive backs coach Greg Burns concurred with Hufanga regarding USC's tackling, only to add a handful of other critiques. The grizzled veteran assistant would also like to see the DBs improve in 1-on-1s, defeating blocks and then making the tackle after defeating said blocks.

"That’s the part that’s going to make you become special," Burns said.

Pendergast said his main concern isn't just tackling in general but limiting the explosive run plays on the perimeter. Too often a play that could have been stopped for 2 yards is going for 15-plus.

The primary culprit: "a combination of everybody in the back seven."

"Those plays don’t kill you, but they just kind of keep drives alive," Pendergast said. "Playing with better eye control in the back seven and seeing those perimeter plays is probably one of the biggest things that I wants us to get better at. ...

"The fly sweeps, the crack tosses, you put on any NFL film, that’s what everybody’s doing in the league right now. So it trickles down to the college game and we just got to play it better on a more consistent basis."

That would not only keep USC in games but perhaps win them.

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