Washington defense facing tough task in USC's explosive offense
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As the Washington Huskies prepare for their second Big Ten game, on the road at USC, Ryan Walters' defense will face a much different challenge than it did against Minnesota. While the Golden Gophers offense was able to secure the victory thanks to time of possession, chunk yardage, and a much more methodical brand of football, coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans present a very different look.
Led by fifth-year quarterback Jayden Maiava, the USC offense averages 325 passing yards per game, compared to Minnesota's 258. Although the passing game is the centerpiece of Riley's offense, the Trojans also present a much more explosive running game, averaging 164 yards on the ground, whereas the Gophers average just 119.
"His development of quarterbacks is elite, and he has another elite quarterback in Maiava; he's big, 6-foot-4, 230 [pounds], can run around, they don't ask him to run a ton, but he'll keep you honest with his legs," Walters said on Tuesday.
"Elite arm talent; he can make all the throws, he's extremely accurate, and he gives his guys a chance to go make plays even when there's tight coverage. And he's got guys that can go make plays for him, especially when they're in space. So, it'll be a collective effort defensively to get stops and get off the field to get the ball back to our offense, because possessions are going to be a premium on Saturday."
After giving up 21 points in the first half of last week's loss, the Huskies limited quarterback Drake Lindsey and the Gopher offense to just six points in the second half. While second-half adjustments kept Washington in the fight late, falling behind by multiple possessions against an offense as potent as USC's is a recipe for disaster.
Despite coaching in the Big Ten since 2021, either as UW or Illinois' defensive coordinator or in his stint as Purdue's head coach, Walters has never crossed paths with the Trojans. Out of the nine possessions USC had in its loss to Oregon, the Trojans scored on five of them, including three of five in the second half. In order for the Huskies to stay in the fight on the road against a ranked opponent, getting stops is a must, and taking advantage of them is even more crucial.
While the opposing offense may pose much different challenges than last week, the message remains the same for Walters' defense: create havoc, play disciplined, and get off the field.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington defense facing tough task in USC's explosive offense
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