It was a down performance for the USC Trojans, but they still came out victorious in Week 2. The USC Trojans' freshmen continue to be the reason for the explosive offense. The Trojans' defense needs to be more consistent, but it still has been elite in one pivotal category.
Here is what we learned about USC in Week 2 of the college football season:
Jayden Maiava, even on a bad day, can lead Trojans to success
Jayden Maiava was dealing with an injury that affected his passing performance. He didn't have a super-efficient passing day like the first 2 games on Saturday. He still threw for 5 touchdowns and 200+ yards. Jayden Maiava has full trust and confidence in his guys, and they showed up and made plays for him. Not only the receivers, but also the running game answered the bell. That is how you know whether
or not Jayden Maiava is an elite quarterback. He knows how to lead an offense.
Freshman receivers are top guys
For another week straight, it is clear who Jayden Maiava's top targets are. The Trojans' freshmen are the best players on offense. They are playing far above what their age and experience suggest they should. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley, and Mark Bowman are only getting better, too. When it is time to face the top Big Ten contenders, Jayden Maiava will be looking toward his freshman weapons, instead of Tanook Hines and Terrell Anderson.
Mark Bowman is an elite tight end
Mark Bowman had the first big game of his collegiate career. He showed he could be as productive as Trent Mosley and Kayden-Dixon-Wyatt. Lincoln Riley has a dynamic tight end once more. Now, for defenses, they have to worry about 3 different dynamic freshmen to stop. Bowman can impact the Trojans' offense in many ways, and in this past game he showed his ceiling as a pass catcher. The Trojans got another good one for many years to come.
The Trojans' run defense is where it needs to be
The Trojans' run defense is the best part of this defense. In the first 3 weeks, the one guarantee was that the opposing offense was going to have a tough day running the football. That will be crucial for the Trojans when they play the best of the best in the Big Ten. Taking away the run game from the Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes could be a factor that helps the Trojans pull off an upset down the road.
Secondary took a step backwards
The Trojans had a great performance defensively in Week 1. However, this start of the season for the secondary as a whole has been less than impressive. This secondary needs to be more consistent and not give up so much late in games. The run defense has been great, but if the secondary does not level up their play, they will be the one way the Trojans' defense gets beaten. The first few opponents have not been talented enough to take full advantage of the secondary, but Oregon and Washington will be able to.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Evaluating the condition of USC football after three games
