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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Opposing Viewpoint - USC
9/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week during the football season, GopherSports.com will bring you the opposing viewpoint by talking to a member of the media who covers Minnesota's opponent for that week. This week, we're joined by USC beat writer Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.
GopherSports: With Minnesota suffering a surprising loss last week, does that affect how USC views this week's opponent?
Gary Klein: It would be natural for USC to be overconfident after seeing that Minnesota lost at home to South Dakota. But this Trojans team has its own confidence issues after the defense played so poorly at Hawaii and the offense stalled against Virginia.
Remember, this is a team that started the season No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll and then dropped two spots after winning its opener. This is a team that fell two more spots after winning again to stay unbeaten.
Coach Lane Kiffin pointed to how Kansas bounced back from a loss to upset a ranked team. He also told his players about James Madison beating a ranked Virginia Tech team that had narrowly lost to Boise State.
We'll see how Kiffin's warnings play out Saturday.
GopherSports: Who/what will have USC's attention, when it comes to Minnesota?
Gary Klein: USC is well aware of running back Duane Bennett and quarterback Adam Weber. Controlling them will be a key for USC's defense.
The Trojans rank last in the Pacific-10 Conference in pass defense, but if they can neutralize or stop Bennett and force Minnesota to pass, there is an opportunity for sacks, fumbles and interceptions.
Regardless of what I am asked about this game by USC fans, the follow up statement is almost always, "I hear they have a new stadium."
So I'm guessing there will be a curiosity factor as well for players.
GopherSports: Gopher fans probably are aware of Matt Barkley and some other Trojan standouts. Who are some of the players that might be under the radar that Minnesota fans should keep an eye on for USC?
Gary Klein: Marc Tyler is the starting tailback, and the Pac-10's leading rusher, but freshman Dillon Baxter is poised for a breakout performance after making his debut against Virginia. Baxter's 49 yards in nine carries was nothing amazing, but he showed during spring practice and training camp that he has breakaway ability. Now that he is over any first-game jitters, he might start rolling.
Freshman receiver Robert Woods made several dynamic catches against Virginia and is also a starting kick-off returner.
Sophomore Devon Kennard is the starting middle linebacker. Kennard began last season as a reserve defensive end, started one game in place of current Minnesota Viking Everson Griffen, and then started several games at outside linebacker. Now he's calling signals for the defense.
GopherSports: What's the key to this game for each team?
Gary Klein: USC has amassed a nation-worst 240 penalty yards while being flagged 24 times. The Trojans got away with it against Hawaii and Virginia, but if the mistakes continue Minnesota could capitalize.
Barkley has not had a pass intercepted this season. He needs to keep that streak alive.
For Minnesota, Bennett needs to establish that he can consistently make positive yardage and Weber has to play error-free.
GopherSports: Is there one important component of this game that will be interesting to watch for you? Maybe a matchup of USC's receivers and Minnesota's secondary, etc.?
Gary Klein: Since the question is "interesting to watch for you?" and not for fans, I'm going to have to say that I am really looking forward to the coaching component.
And I'm not talking about Lane Kiffin and Tim Brewster. Or Monte Kiffin, who of course has history with the Vikings.
The matchup between Minnesota offensive line coach Tim Davis and USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron takes me back to 2002-2004. That's when Davis was USC's offensive line coach and Orgeron was in his first go-round as the Trojans defensive line coach.
I don't know that the noise produced by a crowd at a packed stadium could match the decibels - and laughs -- those two produced daily during practice. They really seemed to get the best out of their players back then, so it will be interesting to see how it goes Saturday.
GopherSports: What's your take on Lane Kiffin's job of coaching and motivating this team to play each week with no bowl/championship to play for?
Gary Klein: As long as USC keeps winning, motivating the team and keeping it focused will not be a problem, even though there's no bowl to play for.
Lane Kiffin's challenge will be if/when USC loses. The Trojans did not lose consecutive games in former Coach Pete Carroll's last eight seasons with the Trojans. One of the reasons is that he could always redirect their focus to the possibility of playing in the Rose Bowl or for a national title.
Kiffin won't have that luxury. So it might be harder to keep family, friends and others, including agents, from grabbing his players' attention.- Andy Seeley, Associate Director of Athletic Communications
