Arizona State game shows USC can’t coast on its immense talent
One of the themes of USC’s 42-28 win over Arizona State was that with Caleb Williams, the Trojans’ mistakes don’t matter.
Commit a few penalties on the opening drive, face 3rd and 20. It doesn’t matter. Caleb Williams will hit Zachariah Branch with a 23-yard pass and keep the chains moving.
Commit a holding or illegal block penalty to slow down a drive? It doesn’t matter. Caleb Williams will throw a long touchdown pass to Brenden Rice on 4th and 7.
Dropped Mario Williams passes? They don’t matter. Caleb will scramble and hit a receiver for a huge play.
False starts and blown assignments by the offensive line? They don’t matter. Caleb can rescue the offense, and maybe MarShawn Lloyd can, too.
There is so much skill and talent on this offense that it can overcome a lot of mistakes and bad down-and-distance situations. It’s true. This team can overcome a lot of mistakes.
However: That doesn’t mean players should acquire the mindset which says mistakes don’t matter.
Against Arizona State, they didn’t matter enough to lose a game, but if these same mistakes recur against Utah or Notre Dame, chances are the Trojans will lose.
Yes, there were some great plays and great moments from this game, but underneath the highlights lies the reality that USC won’t always overcome its mistakes.
The Trojans have to commit fewer blunders. That’s the right mindset to have. That’s the mindset of a championship team.
Let’s look at some of USC’s game highlights below:
4TH AND 7 TOUCHDOWN
Two false starts, a holding penalty, a recovered fumble … and yet none of it mattered as Brenden Rice got wide open downfield on fourth-and-7 and Caleb Williams connected for the 43-yard touchdown.
Rice now has 4 TDs in his 8 receptions this season. #USC up 14-7.
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) September 24, 2023
BRANCHING OUT
The best thing about that drive was Zachariah Branch making an important (3rd down) downfield catch.
The more he evolves as a receiver, the better this offense will be able to stretch the field and do everything it intends to do.
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 24, 2023
VISION
caleb williams within structure hanging in the pocket, reading the full field pic.twitter.com/FyQVLGslwo
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) September 24, 2023
MAKING IT LOOK EASY
Another day, another Caleb Williams ➡️ Brenden Rice touchdown! pic.twitter.com/HEQv7fGpot
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 24, 2023
TEAMMATE
Caleb Williams can throw a ball like nobody else, but here he is blocking all the way downfield more than 30 yards from the line of scrimmage leading his teammate, that is a LEADER pic.twitter.com/AvSHCkNn26
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 24, 2023
PUNCHING IT IN
CALEB WILLIAMS WITH ANOTHER RUSHING TOUCHDOWN
#6 USC 21 Arizona State 10pic.twitter.com/50mgpYUxW7
— SportsTalk (@TheSportsTalk0) September 24, 2023
LET'S BUILD GOOD HABITS, THOUGH
LOL even when everything goes wrong for USC, Caleb Williams finds a way to convert a 3rd-and-20. This offense is not fair.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) September 24, 2023
HE'S GOOD
MarShawn Lloyd runs like a literal boulder rolling uncontrollably downhill. It’s really something. He’s averaging over 10 yards per carry tonight.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 24, 2023
IT SHOWS
Arizona State defensive coordinator Brian Ward called USC running back MarShawn Lloyd the best running back he's seen over the last two seasons in the Pac-12.
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) September 21, 2023
POLISHED PLAYER
I love how Marshawn Lloyd runs the football. Very patient and is very good with yards after contact 🔥
— Young Heavy♠️👑 (@YoungHeavy24) September 24, 2023
YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
DENIS LYNCH IS THE MOST DEPENDABLE TROJAN IN THIS GAME. LOL!
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 24, 2023
WHEN EVERYONE DOES HIS JOB, THINGS LOOK GOOD
The inconsistent O-line gave Caleb a clean pocket there. That's when the magic happens.
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 24, 2023
MIXED REALITY
In a game where Caleb is having an "off" night, he's 20/31/322 with 3 TD's. This USC offense is formidable. I think it will be even better if it hammers the ball at defenses with the ground game behind this veteran OL.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) September 24, 2023
THIS LOOKED GOOD
3rd passing touchdown of the night for @Calebcsw goes to @tahj_washington !
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/vYvV3AziM0
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 24, 2023
THIS LOOKED GOOD TOO
.@Calebcsw and @BrendenRice connect for the second time tonight!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/seFbJa6nvP
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 24, 2023