2nd Half
1-10 Run away - NA - Showed effort in pursuit.
Fair or a little better than fair.
2-6 Quick pass, incomplete - NA
3-6 Double teamed - NA or fair;
Sanchez ran into a sack from the blind side, fumble.
......
Score tied now
1-10 Rolled out - NA
1-10 (RDT) Pushed LG toward running lane a couple of yds (9);
RB had to cut back for no gain
- Good
2-10 Same thing (10);
RB was able to cut back for 7 yds however, as Wildcats missed a couple of tackles.
- Good play on EM's part.
3-3 Rolled out for a quick pass - NA
NIR (not in rotation) for 2 plays
3-8 (LDT) Could not get much of anything going on the RG; completed pass for first down.
- Below average to Poor.
1-10 Can't see if he was in there or not; if he was it would be at NT and double teamed - NA
2-10 (LDT) Double teamed by C & RG
- Fair - TD pass.
Mitchell played fairly well overall in this TD drive.
He continued to show that he can push the G toward the running lane.
USC runs mostly a ZBS.
Mitchell achieved these - examples (1) thru (17) due to penetration ahead of the Guard (to the outside).
Its difficult to describe; I can only say that the net effect is good for the defense, even if
- he gets pushed back a little (as long hes still ahead)
- or when he draws the double team G & T and gets pushed back; it means either the DE or the OLB is free).
Sometimes he can even get to the FB or slow him down, giving the LBs better opportunities; as the POA gets clogged up, the OLB can flow quickly to the outside when the RB bounces, the MLB can flow quickly up the middle when the RB cuts back.
On the back side, Mitchell quickness makes it difficult for the OT to reach block.
A clean cut block is also difficult to achieve.
Mitchell, therefore, can pursue the play from the back side,
Closing the cut back lane.
His penetration to the inside is also effective against both the running game (requiring the C to stay longer to help in the combo block) and passing game (likewise requiring the C to help).
In the passing game, his penetration generated 2 hurries and 4 pressures for the game.
He was double-teamed some 25 times and defeated it straight up a couple of times. A few other times, he sprang the DT on the stunt or freeing the blitzing LB.
Other times, the QB had to sidestep, which supposedly means good news for the DEs.
Overall, he did a good job against the double team.
......
Trojans got the ball back on their 4, leading 17-10
1-10 (RDT) Pushed LG back deep in the pocket - a couple of yards into the end zone,
even with C coming to help.
Sanchez had to scramble outside but managed to complete the pass for 9 yds.
Very Good play by EM though.
2-1 (LDT) Started to gain on RG at LOS on the back side,
but got cut down by the OT 68 (extra OT in the power formation, lining up outside the RT)
as he tried to disengage (11).
At least a Fair job since the pile is right at the LOS; ie. no cut back lane.
RB cut back this way with a nice move for close to 3.
LOLB overpursued and lost the chance to stop the run cold.
(better play by the LB would make EM look better since he took on two O-linemen
to give the LB the opportunity to make play.)
NIR for 2 plays
3-2 (LDT) Worked hard to push the double team RG & C in the pocket,
then get past them with a nice spin move to the inside (2-1/2 secs),
Together with the LDE; got in Sanchez' face,
forcing a dump pass out to the flat behind the LOS way short of the first down.
Very good.
Punt
Mitchell played well in this drive.
Showed that he can be strong against the double team at times.
Instrumental in stopping the third down conversion.
......
Bad pass by Wildcats, easy INT for USC
1-10 Rolled out - NA; EM did fairly well against the double team.
Pretty good.
2-10 Penalty on USC
2-15 Quick pass away from EM - NA
3-6 (RDT) Started with a baby club move left handed on the inside shoulder of the LG
just enough to get penetration; LG recovered by holding onto EM's face mask
but got pushed 6 yds into the backfield toward Sanchez (no call).
Very good job by EM.
Sanchez managed to squeeze to the outside (RDE lost the edge) and scrambled for the first down.
1-10 Got pushed back a little by the LG (12);
Below average.
Two LBs were able to get up and stop the RB for a 1 yd gain, however.
NIR on the next 2 plays - USC punt
......
Wildcats also punted
1-10 (RDT) Got ahead of the LG 53 and pushed him toward the running lane on a mid-zone run (13);
RB tried to bounce outside but EM disengaged to pursue and joined in the tackle for a 1yd loss.
Very good.
(Don't forget that McKnight is a speedy guy!)
2-11 (RDT) Couldn't get much going on the LG then got double teamed as the LT came.
A tad below average to average.
1-10 Double teamed - NA
2-1 (LDT) Gained a bit on the RG but inconsequential on the pass rush
- Perhaps a tad better than fair.
3-1 Got pushed back a little by the RG, then RT came in to help push EM further
(for close to 4 yds total beyond the LOS) (14)
The NT also got pushed back by the double team C & LG
- Easy conversion for Sanchez on the keeper
- Bad to almost very bad.
1-10 Reverse - NA
- Fair effort in pursuit.
2-5 (RDT) On the backside, EM did a good job pushing the LG making sure there's no cutback lane (15).
Good
3-1 Got penetration from the NT position, but couldn't quite get to the RB's feet.
USC got called for a penalty.
Good effort by EM.
3-6 Double teamed - NA - Fair
......
Same score
1-10 (RDT) Pushed LG into the running lane (16).
Very good.
No room to run as the Wildcats swarmed in for a 6yd loss.
2-16 Double teamed quick pass - NA
3-3 Double teamed - NA
Punt
......
1-10 Rolled out - NA
2-10 Combo blocked as C helped LG cleared EM (RDT) away for a 6 yd run.
Poor to Bad
3-4 Gaining a tiny bit on the LG but inconsequential
- Fair
1-10 Got held off just long enough by the LG at the POA on a run.
Below average to poor.
1-10 Rolled out - NA
2-10 Double teamed and dug in fairly well;
probably average.
3-1 Gained a bit at the POA in short yardage situation (17),
but RB bounced outside for 6
Fair to pretty good.
1-10 Penetrated inside LG to cut off the running lane;
helped chase RB to the other side and joined in the tackle (almost pulled out the ball).
Good to very good.
2-5 From the nose, penetrated the left side of the C and tackled the lead blocker (FB),
shutting off the running lane; 2 yd gain for the RB.
Pretty good to good.
3-3 Away from the play, got pushed back by the combo block but inconsequential
- a tad below average.
End game.