USC’s quarterback mystery carries over to Arizona State

3 years ago 313

LOS ANGELES — When USC takes the tract Saturday against Arizona State, we deliberation we cognize that Kedon Slovis volition inactive beryllium the Trojans’ starting backmost successful his location state. Maybe.

And it seems harmless to presume that USC volition divided clip betwixt Slovis and freshman Jaxson Dart. Probably.

But the Trojans are keeping this accusation intimately guarded.

“We’ll proceed to measure that arsenic it gets person and person to the crippled time,” interim caput manager Donte Williams said. “I mean, Arizona State provides definite issues that we’ve got to marque definite we’re capable to grip it.”

This week astatine practice, the 2 quarterbacks divided first-team reps much evenly than the the week prior, earlier Dart began to get immoderate of Slovis’ playing clip successful the triumph implicit Arizona.

But adjacent the extremity of this two-quarterback concern is being hidden by Williams, who would not perpetrate to the thought of narrowing it down to 1 backmost astatine immoderate constituent this season.

And what would request to hap for 1 backmost to assertion the full-time job?

“You know, conscionable if 1 feline has the blistery manus and beauteous overmuch our discourtesy is clicking and beauteous overmuch thrust retired with that blistery hand,” Williams said.

Apparently, Slovis completing his archetypal 8 passes and starring 2 touchdown drives successful the archetypal 3 bid against Arizona was not capable to support Dart connected the sidelines. Nor were Dart’s 2 agelong scoring drives to commencement the 2nd 4th capable to clasp onto the ball, with Slovis coming retired for the last thrust earlier the half.

Both quarterbacks were likewise businesslike against Arizona. Slovis completed 15 of 21 attempts for 204 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception that was returned for a score. Dart attempted and completed 3 less passes for 2 touchdowns and 109 yards. The freshman was mostly constricted to surface passes successful his archetypal crippled backmost from meniscus country and did not marque 1 rushing attempt.

What each this means for Arizona State remains a guessing game. Even Dart and Slovis didn’t cognize the program for Saturday aft Monday’s practice. But there’s immoderate anticipation determination volition beryllium a divided betwixt the 2 again.

“Maybe,” Slovis said. “I haven’t talked specifics with Coach this week astir that. But again, I spell retired present and effort to execute the champion I can. The mode you signifier carries implicit to the game, truthful if I spell retired present and person bully practices, that’ll transportation implicit to the game.”

When USC has the ball

This volition beryllium the archetypal crippled the Trojans play without starring receiver Drake London, who broke his ankle successful the archetypal fractional against Arizona. USC volition request to trust much heavy connected receivers similar Gary Bryant Jr. and Tahj Washington, but besides guys who got less reps done the archetypal 8 games of the play similar Kyle Ford and Joseph Manjack IV.

If the walk crippled has occurrence without London, it volition instrumentality unit disconnected moving backmost Keaontay Ingram, who rushed for a career-high 204 yards connected 27 carries against the Wildcats.

“That’s ever going to beryllium the extremity is to effort to get our champion guys touches with space. Obviously Keaontay’s a immense portion of that close now,” violative coordinator Graham Harrell said. “He’s 1 of the champion shot players connected this team, astir apt successful this league if not successful the full country, with the shot successful his hand.”

That volition marque Saturday a spot vs. spot battle, arsenic Arizona State limits opponents to 134.2 rushing yards per crippled and 3.69 per carry.

When Arizona State has the ball

It’s nary concealed that USC struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks, and Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels mightiness beryllium the champion 1 the Trojans look each season.

Last twelvemonth against USC, Daniels rushed 11 times for 111 yards. The Trojans interest excessively astir Daniels’ quality to gully defenses successful with his feet connected the extracurricular and past find a receiver near unfastened arsenic a result.

With Daniels complemented by 3 moving backs who tin determination the ball, USC’s tally defence volition beryllium enactment to the test.

“You tin rotation guys successful and retired of a strategy that tin get radical successful abstraction and erstwhile you person that luxury, not lone contention but scheme, you tin beryllium truly dynamic,” antiaircraft coordinator Todd Orlando said.