5 key numbers from USC’s loss to Stanford

Editor’s note: This is the Sunday, Sept. 12 variation of the Troy Story USC sports newsletter from newsman Adam Grosbard. To person the newsletter successful your inbox, sign up here.

Well, that was ugly.

Honestly, disfigured is astir apt 1 of the kinder descriptions for USC’s 42-28 nonaccomplishment to Stanford, a squad that looked hapless successful Week 1 and past similar a Pac-12 contender owed to the Trojans’ incompetence. If you’d similar a much in-depth breakdown of the disaster, here is my crippled story. And columnist Mark Whicker wrote astir however it seems wide that caput manager Clay Helton’s days astatine USC are numbered.

Here are 5 cardinal numbers from from the game.

3.0

That’s however galore yards USC gained connected mean connected 3rd down. The Trojans could not widen drives, going 4 for 14 connected third-down conversion attempts, allowing Stanford to enactment the crippled retired of scope without USC putting up immoderate fight.

That’s however galore sacks USC has done 2 games this season. The walk unreserved was expected to beryllium the large spot of the USC defense. But aft applying dense unit against San Jose State, USC was incapable to marque Stanford QB Tanner McKee uncomfortable successful the pocket.

5

That’s however galore archetypal downs Stanford gained by USC penalty. USC besides had a costly mendacious commencement connected third-and-three that led to a first-quarter punt, and a neutral portion infraction connected a Stanford tract extremity that gave the Cardinal the accidental to spell for a touchdown instead. Any mode you chopped it, penalties killed USC connected Saturday.

3.9

That’s however galore points USC has averaged implicit the people of its past 8 3rd quarters. USC has scored a touchdown successful conscionable 1 of those 3rd quarters, a agelong that dates backmost to the commencement of the 2020 season.

4

That’s however galore three-and-outs the Trojans had successful the loss, contempt gaining 6.6 yards connected mean connected archetypal down. With Stanford lone tackling USC for a nonaccomplishment for a full of 4 yards each game, USC struggled again with moving connected abbreviated yardage situations and came up bare connected 2nd and 3rd down repeatedly.

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