If you like defense, this was a great game. If you like offense, this was more of a head-scratcher. After the first 19 minutes of the game, the score was 5 - 3.
I think Lane Kiffin was expecting one of the two quarterbacks to stand out from the other, but neither showed to be necessarily better than the other. Kessler was obviously uptight and nervous from the start, and even though he settled in, the offense wasn't all that good. Wittek looked a lot sharper and better focused than last year, but he was very slow to get going. It didn't help that Marqise Lee dropped a couple of deep throws from Wittek.
On the other hand, we saw a great true freshman runner in Justin Davis and an equally tough and great runner in sophomore Tre Madden. When you add in DJ Morgan and Silas Redd, the quarterbacks should not feel all that much pressure, right?
On defense, we realized that Monte Kiffin wasn't geared for the college game, because Clancy Pendergast's defense was all over the place with 4 interceptions and 7 sacks. They were flying around and getting into the back field, rotating heavily with the full roster, I think. Heck, even Kevin Greene, Marquis Simmons and Jabari Ruffin were in there for a good number of snaps. These guys looked good. First interception went to true freshman Su'a Craven; dude's gonna be All-American all four years, it seems. And it was great to see Devon Kennard back from a torn pectoral muscle, who was all over the place and in the face of Hawai'i quarterback Taylor Graham.
Now just imagine if Morgan Breslin had played. Yeah, this defense f'ing rocks!
It's early, but I predict that USC will play both quarterbacks once again next week against WSU. And I also suspect that USC's defense is going to carry the offense all year long, in a good way.
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