5 Thoughts on USC Beating Cal

1. Cal is Still Not Bad: It's going to be a very difficult stretch for Cal and they're probably going to lose their next three games -- at Oregon, at Washington, hosting WSU -- but they're still not bad. But they're definitely not good enough. They will probably finish anywhere between 7-5 and 5-7, depending on two games (against Oregon State and UCLA). Are they better than last year? Yes. But not by a lot. Oregon's had a better turn-around season so far, even if they haven't played anyone worth talking about (yes, I'm throwing shade at Mike Riley, a mediocre coach).
2. Second Half Team: In four games, USC has gone from a +18 scoring margin in the first half to a +37 margin in the second. Doubling their scoring margin in the second half appears to show that USC is effectively making adjustments during halftime, which also implies that teams are throwing new looks at USC in the first half. 
3. USC Kicker Chase McGrath: He kicked three field goals (37 yards, 34, 46) against Cal, and he had plenty of leg on that 46-yarder. He's now 5 of 6 in his first season as a true freshman walk-on. He's become Mr. Reliable with each game -- no more skipping the field goal on 4th downs. It's great to see people rise to the occasion.
4. Takeaway + Deflection: These are the defining attributes of this year's defense. In four games they've had 12 turnovers on defense and 13 pass breakups (deflections) on the defensive line. Don't be surprised if Uchenna Nwosu ends up 1st team PAC-12 defense at the end of the season and drafted by the 3rd round. His game this year is bonkers.
5. More Run-Play Options Please: Back when Andrew Luck was a redshirt junior (a senior but with one more year of eligibility left), his coaches expanded Luck's ability to call the plays on the field -- to adjust the call according to what the defense showed. USC ought to do something similar with Sam Darnold by calling many more run-play options (RPOs) and letting Darnold pick the defense apart, depending upon what they give him. Forcing the team to become a run-dominant offense does no favors to the offense when it continues to run up the middle even when the defense is stacking the box playing a single-high safety. Also, Darnold has to keep the ball more often before the defense respects the option run, but why not run the outside receiver an a delayed slant at the same time, to change the flow of the defense and give Darnold one extra option?