Tag Archives: Clay Helton

UCLA-USC roundup: Josh Rosen looks like a freshman in Bruin loss

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In case you missed it, here’s all our coverage from UCLA’s 40-21 loss to USC yesterday at the Coliseum …

» UCLA’s offense sputtered early against USC, due in large part to the Bruins’ struggles against an unexpected dose of man coverage.
» Josh Rosen looked like a freshman against the Trojans, completing 19 of 37 passes and throwing two interceptions. “Yeah he looked flustered,” said receiver Thomas Duarte. “The interception, the fumble, it got to him.”
» USC’s running backs didn’t find the end zone, but the got some key yards against a weary UCLA defense.
» The Trojans’ win over UCLA clinched their first-ever appearance in the Pac-12 title game.
» Does Clay Helton deserve the full-time USC job after beating UCLA?
» USC got game-changing plays from true freshmen Rasheem Green and Iman Marshall.

First look: No. 22 UCLA at USC

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UCLA running back Paul Perkins ran for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Bruins' 38-20 win over USC last November. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA running back Paul Perkins ran for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Bruins’ 38-20 win over USC last November. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

No. 22 UCLA Bruins (8-3, 5-3) at USC (7-4, 5-3)
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 28, 12:30 p.m., L.A. Memorial Coliseum
TV: ABC/ESPN2 (Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay)
Radio: AM 570 (Bill Roth, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook)

Scouting report: A win over UCLA might not guarantee interim coach Clay Helton the full-time job, but a loss likely ends his chances. … USC’s defense is coming off a dreadful performance against Oregon, one in which it allowed six touchdown passes and 16.3 yards per pass attempt. The Trojans are allowing opponents to complete 63.8 percent through the air, the second-worst mark in the Pac-12 (ahead of Oregon State’s 67.9). … USC lost all-conference center Max Tuerk for the season as well as Toa Lobendahn, the versatile sophomore who replaced him. Former four-star recruit Khaliel Rodgers now mans the position, but is playing through a shoulder injury. … Quarterback Cody Kessler isn’t finding the end zone as often as he did last season (39 touchdowns down to 25), but his numbers have otherwise remained steady. … The Trojans rank first in the Pac-12 and No. 13 nationally with a 0.91 turnover margin. However, they are -3 in their four losses.

Series history: USC leads the all-time series, 44-31-7, but UCLA has won the last three games by double digits. Jim Mora can be the first Bruin coach to win four straight since Terry Donahue had five from 1991-95.

Key players:

QB Cody Kessler, RSr., 6-1, 215 — 243/351, 2,953 yards, 25 TD, 6 INT
— He has seven touchdowns against one interception in his last three games, but he’s twice averaged fewer than 6.0 yards per attempt against Pac-12 opponents this season. Continue reading “First look: No. 22 UCLA at USC” »