USC - Oregon: What I learned.

I think everyone will agree that USC's offense is difficult to stop, when it's working, and quite frankly, should have been putting up 50+ points a game this entire season.  Marqise Lee has over 1000 all-purpose yards on kickoff, running and receiving yards in the last three games -- Isn't that worthy of Heisman contention?

Nelson Agholor showed why he deserved to be the 3rd receiver.  If you watch carefully, he blocks down field all the time, and was central to Lee's long returns.  USC's offense is absolutely talented all around!

That's the good news; here's the really bad news.

730 yards given up on defense.

That's no defense; that's twiddling your thumbs on the field, playing not to give up on the home run plays.  USC's tackles lost the fight up front; players got caught out of position, beaten on plays as the Ducks ran past them.

Monte Kiffin's defensive scheme has utterly collapsed twice this year against spread offenses.  With all due respect to the elder Kiffin, the defense looks clueless against the spread, and relying on their speed, tenaciousness and talent has not worked.

I know, I know...last year they did it up in Autzen, so this year's failures has a lot to do with experience up front.  But you've got extensive experience at both safeties and all three linebacker spots, and they weren't making the plays they needed to.

The only hope left for USC, is to win out and make it to the PAC-12 Championship and a rematch.  Only problem is, again, Monte's game plan is ineffectual against the spread, so it means USC will still have to rely on talent and speed, and it'll just result in yet another loss to Oregon.