USC opposing player scouting report – Daryus Dixson, Penn State

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USC football plays Penn State this season. Nittany Lions Wire looked at PSU cornerback Daryus Dixson:

"One of the crown jewels of James Franklin’s recruiting classes, Daryus Dixson chose Penn State over a number of powerhouses, like Ohio State, Michigan, and Alabama. The blue-chip cornerback didn’t record a ton of stats last year, but that just speaks to his outstanding coverage. He tallied 24 tackles, six passes defensed, two tackles for loss and a sack. Dixson will be on the field often this season as he looks to improve his already stellar reputation. If things go well, he should establish himself as one of the best corners in the nation."

This is an example of a player who proves he is strong due to an absence of statistics, not an accumulation of them. It is true in football that statistics (higher numbers) can actually be a bad thing. Consider when a safety is a leading tackler on a defense. It can often mean that the defensive linemen and the linebackers are not finishing nearly as many plays as they should be.

Another example is a nose tackle who doesn't accumulate a lot of tackles. This is due to the fact that opponents double-team him and basically don't put him in a position where he can finish plays. However, by absorbing two offensive linemen, the nose tackle frees up other teammates along the defensive line to make tackles and accumulate statistics.

Also, passing yardage numbers can easily be inflated and empty. Throwing for 450 yards means nothing if a team falls behind by three touchdowns and is playing catch-up virtually the whole game. The yardage is a product of having to abandon the run game, also a product of the opposing defense giving a quarterback all the short completions he wants in the middle of the field.

Daryus Dixson of Penn State doesn't need statistics to prove his worth. Opponents just didn't throw the ball his way. Let's see what USC is able to do with — or removed from — his presence on one side of the field.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC opposing player scouting report – Daryus Dixson, Penn State

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