2011 USC Football Behind Enemy Lines
Q&A With Minnesota Writers
The USC Trojans open their 2011 campaign on Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum, as they take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
These teams met last season in a game that was close for most of the way. The Gophers led 14-13 with under six minutes to go in the 3rd quarter before Robert Woods’ 97-yard kickoff return swung the momentum to the Trojan side for good. USC would win it 32-21, with Allen Bradford contributing 131 yards on the ground.
This year, however, the Trojans face a very different Gopher squad. Boasting a brand new head coach and starting quarterback, the Gophers hope to leave their 2010 struggles behind.
Big thanks to Matt O’Connell of GopherIllustrated.com and reporter Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press for joining us to preview the upcoming matchup.
1. Let’s begin at the top with the head coaching position. Jerry Kill was hired from Northern Illinois to take over for the Golden Gophers. How does coach Kill’s philosophy differ from that of last year’s coach, Tim Brewster?
Matt O’Connell: Where Tim Brewster blew into town talking about Rose Bowls, big time recruiting, and championships, Jerry Kill has come in talking about hard work, sticking to a plan, and building a team the right way. People have really taken to Kill’s “hard work pays off, no nonsense” philosophy and it has really brought the fans to him. On the field, he is all about playing aggressive football, but also making sure that players know their roles.
Marcus Fuller: The differences continued to become apparent each time I attended open practices during fall camp. Kill is extremely organized and thorough when it comes to how his practices run. He’s a lot more intense and disciplined with players because he knows just how much he can push buttons while still showing encouragement. On offense, Kill’s offense is much less traditional than Brewster’s offense. But Kill can use different styles and make it work because he has been with his offensive coordinator, Matt Limegrover, for 12 years.
2, A new starting quarterback also enters the scene this year in junior MarQueis Gray. With four-year starting quarterback, Adam Weber, moving on to the NFL (Weber was signed July 26 by the Denver Broncos), how ready are the Gophers to embrace a new quarterback?
MOC: Gray had the full confidence of the team going back to last year. He came to campus as the biggest recruit that has signed with Minnesota in decades and he easily could have run his mouth and caused problems behind the scenes. Instead, he has worked hard to help the team in any way he can and to be fully supportive of his teammates and his coaches. He was a leader of the team long before a new coach was named and will continue to be until he is gone.
MF: I think the Gophers were ready at some point last season, but Brewster’s remaining staff felt they owed Weber (pictured left), to give him a chance to finish his career as the starter. Weber was also having a much better season than he did as a junior. There was some debate within the team as to who gave the Gophers the best chance to win: Gray or Weber? Now Gray can help settle that argument. It’s been a long time coming.
3. Gray was primarily a wide receiver for the Gophers last season, hauling in 42 catches for 587 yards and 5 touchdowns. Talk a little about his strengths and weaknesses, as he moves to the quarterback position.
MOC: As an athlete, Gray will always be one of the best players on the field. He has great speed and strength, making him a very tough player for opponents to bring down. He will run the ball a lot in the Kill offense and he could easily end up as the team’s rushing leader. As a passer, he has great arm strength, but because of a lack of playing time at QB, his accuracy is still coming around.
He will need to get more time to get a better feel for where he needs to put the ball all the time, and that will likely lead to some poor thrown and interceptions. He has all the tools to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country (not kidding, he can be that good), but lacks experience.
MF: Gray’s strengths are definitely his ability to get away from pressure by getting out of the pocket and making something out of nothing. He’s more than a scrambler. He’s a dynamic runner. He’s powerful and fast enough to make big plays in space. Despite having the mechanics and the arm strength to be a good passer, Gray hasn’t had enough experience throwing the ball. So he has a ways to go with his accuracy and touch on most throws. Gray also has an engaging personality, so leading comes easy.
4. While Robert Woods figures to be USC quarterback Matt Barkley’s top target, Da’Jon McKnight will likely be Gray’s favorite option. After coming off of a 750-yard, 10-touchdown junior season, how dangerous can McKnight be this season?
MOC: McKnight gets a bit lost when people name the top receivers in the Big Ten, but he has that type of skill. He has good speed, great size and great hands. McKnight’s abilities will help Gray in that transition period as he gets used to playing QB again. He will provide a great go-to guy for Gray and should at least equal his numbers from last season.
MF: McKnight is as close to an All-Big Ten performer as the Gophers have returning on offense. Although I would throw tight end Eric Lair into that conversation as well. Many of McKnight’s touchdown catches came at the end of games last year when the score was out of reach. But the plays were so spectacular that you have to be impressed. McKnight’s knee injury in the spring has lingered a bit. So it’ll be interesting if he’s back to his old self right away.
5. Coach Kill has said he’d prefer to open the season at home, but emphasized the special opportunity his team has to open against a ranked opponent on the road. What would a strong opening performance mean for the Gophers going forward?
MOC: If the team is lacking confidence or is worried about playing at ‘SC, they are not showing it. A strong performance should easily propel the Gophers to a strong non-conference record and give them some momentum heading in to the conference season. The Gophers have a very tough conference slate and will need all of the help they can get to build momentum. Most experts are not expecting much from Minnesota this season, and a win or close game will surely change that perception.
MF: Of course, the Gophers would shock the nation if they beat USC. And a win like that would put Kill on track for possible National Coach of the Year honors. But I have a feeling if the Trojans lose, then it would be more about them than anything. I know Kill won’t let his team get too fired up about it next week.
6. These teams faced off a year ago in a game that was tightly contested for the first three quarters. In the game, the Trojans outrushed the Gophers 216-83 yards. Kill’s former team, the Northern Illinois Huskies, finished seventh in the nation in rushing last year. What has he done so far to reinvigorate the rushing attack in Minnesota?
MOC: The biggest thing will be keeping the backs healthy. Senior Duane Bennett is finally fully healthy and will get the first shot at being “the guy.” Behind Bennett are four talented, but unproven, freshmen. They all have talent, but will need to show quickly they can make plays. Gray will be a huge addition to the running game and could easily end up rushing for 1,000-plus yards this year.
Keeping the line healthy will also be a key. The line has very little in the way of experienced depth, so keeping the guy who opens the hole healthy will be a major factor. Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover is a very creative play caller who loves the run. His scheme will help to get his ball carriers loose.
MF: I’m not quite sure. His offense is geared toward the quarterback running the ball a whole lot more than the Gophers did under Brewster. I also have a feeling he will give Duane Bennett a chance to be more of the feature tailback.
7. In 2010, the Gophers finished last in the Big Ten in net rushing yards, as they also struggled to stop opposing running backs. On Saturday, how do the Gophers plan to clog the Trojan running lanes?
MOC: The strength of the Gopher defense is up the middle and the linebacker corps. They will likely assign one backer to make sure the running backs don’t get loose. You can also bet on seeing the tackles work to force the running backs to the outside, where the linebackers can use their speed to try and keep them corralled. It might not be easy, but the speed of the linebackers will be the key.
MF: That might be one of the biggest weaknesses of Minnesota’s defense. The Gophers have two senior tackles in Brandon Kirksey and Anthony Jacobs. They’re big kids but I’m not convinced yet in their effectiveness.
8. In last year’s meeting, Matt Barkley (pictured left) was intercepted twice. Do you expect the Gophers to go after Barkley aggressively, sit back in coverage, or employ more of a combination of many different looks?
MOC: Kill and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys don’t know how to sit back. The defense will be aggressive and they will try and pressure Barkley all day long. They have faith that corner Troy Stoudermire can cover Woods and the safeties can help where necessary. Look for plenty of blitzing and rotating ends to try and keep fresh legs in the game.
MF: Kill’s defensive style is to go after the quarterback full throttle. I don’t expect them to sit back in coverage too much at all.
9. For the Gophers to emerge victorious (and spoil the Trojans’ plans of winning their 14th consecutive opener), what are the keys from Minnesota’s perspective?
MOC: They must limit mistakes. They cannot afford to have turnovers if they want to win. They will also need a big play on defense or special teams, because at this point it is not clear how explosive the offense will be. If they can get a return in the kick game by Stoudermire or a pick-six, then they have a real shot to win the game.
MF: They have to limit mistakes and create turnovers. I also think Gray and Bennett need to have big days running the ball.
Originally published by Neon Tommy