7 things I noticed from Washington State’s upset of USC

Washington State knocked off USC late Friday night, 30-27 in Pullman. This is what I saw.

With so many players out for USC (and a couple injured for Washington State, too), the game devolved into a mistake-filled slopfest. Sometimes games are won, and sometimes they are lost, and the loser in this one simply made a lot more mistakes, as opposed to forcing the opposition to execute and make great plays.

If not for the six drops by Washington State’s receivers, QB Luke Falk might have thrown for 500 yards. Washington State continually found receivers open when matched up against USC’s nickel corners or safeties. USC’s two starting corners seemed to provide good coverage more often than not.

Already without starting left tackle Toa Loabandon, USC’s right tackle Chuma Edoga (foot) went down in the first quarter. USC’s primary backups for its tackle spots are sophomore Clayton Johnson, and two true freshmen Andrew Vorhees and Austin Jackson. Vorhees struggled a lot with pass protection in the game against Texas.

Early on, USC was using a tight end aligned outside its reserve left tackle, but when Edoga went down, the Trojans were in need of extra help at both spots. Then the hit parade continues, as guard Viane Tailoaviamo went down with a shoulder injury, leaving USC without three of its offensive line starters.

Washington State was not expected to be able to get pressure without blitzing, but that expectation changed once the Trojans were without Loabandon, Edoga, and Tailoaviamo. The pressure clearly impacted Sam Darnold in the first half, as he started 5-6 for 58 yards, but then went 4-12 for just 31 yards and an interception.

Darnold would finish with a stat line of 15-29 for 164 yards, and an interception. The Trojans could not protect well enough to get the football down the field often, and Washington State deserves a lot of credit for seizing the opportunity.

USC had two drives begin in Washington State territory, at the 41- and 3-yard lines, and came away with just three points. Washington State had four drops from open receivers, including three on crucial third downs. It was a sloppy, mistake-filled half for both teams.

Yikes. And during that time, USC’s defense was bending, but not breaking. But while it bent, it was getting tired.

Falk holds the ball forever and a day. It can lead to some big plays. But he also gets crushed a lot. And it just does not seem to impact him. He stands tall in the pocket and delivers the ball.

Throughout the broadcast, and from some NFL draft folks on social media, the refrain about Sam Darnold’s arm strength was constant. I like Sam Darnold. A lot. I’ve seen him since he was in high school. But I like Darnold because of how naturally he moves in the pocket, how he can throw off balance, his ability to put the ball over one defender and in front of another in the middle of the field, and his vision. His arm strength isn’t necessarily all that special.