The answer to that question has to be Penn State's big-play ability on offense. Starting with the Trojan's opening game of the season against Alabama, USC's defense has struggled giving up the big play. In fact this may be the biggest advantage Penn State has on either offense or defense against the Trojans in its upcoming Rose Bowl encounter with USC on Jan. 2.
Southern Cal's defense has surrendered 13 plays of 30 or more yards this season. That total ranks last in the Pac 12. It's a problem that surfaced in USC's opening game against Alabama and hasn't been fully corrected all season.
According to Joey Kaufman, who covers USC for the Orange County Register, this is the Trojans' No.1 concern regarding Penn State. "USC's defense has a tendency to give up big plays, and if you go back to the Alabama game there were a couple of times where there were just miscommunications," Kaufman stated in an interview with the Centre Daily Times. "Even against UCLA, there was a time where Adoree' Jackson got beat badly on a deep route, and in the Washington game, John Ross beat Adoree' on a deep route.
"This team can give up big plays [on defense], and that is something they haven't fully corrected yet."
It will be interesting to see if Penn State's offense under the leadership of Trace McSorley will be able to create the big-play with the passing game with the Nittany Lions' talented group of receivers like they did in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin.
That could prove to be the key to success for Penn State against USC.
Southern Cal's defense has surrendered 13 plays of 30 or more yards this season. That total ranks last in the Pac 12. It's a problem that surfaced in USC's opening game against Alabama and hasn't been fully corrected all season.
According to Joey Kaufman, who covers USC for the Orange County Register, this is the Trojans' No.1 concern regarding Penn State. "USC's defense has a tendency to give up big plays, and if you go back to the Alabama game there were a couple of times where there were just miscommunications," Kaufman stated in an interview with the Centre Daily Times. "Even against UCLA, there was a time where Adoree' Jackson got beat badly on a deep route, and in the Washington game, John Ross beat Adoree' on a deep route.
"This team can give up big plays [on defense], and that is something they haven't fully corrected yet."
It will be interesting to see if Penn State's offense under the leadership of Trace McSorley will be able to create the big-play with the passing game with the Nittany Lions' talented group of receivers like they did in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin.
That could prove to be the key to success for Penn State against USC.
