Cal Hosts USC | Cal v. USC Saturday - Stil A Big Game

Cal plays host to USC on Saturday, and don't think for a moment that this isn't a big game. It still is, at least to Cal people. Some Cal people are asking what it takes to beat USC. Here's some answers posted on Scout.com.

What do we have to do to beat USC?
Here's one guy's answers - an audio file recorded today at the Tedford press conference - a short (6 minute) conversation with broadcaster Todd McKim.
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I Bear
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Posted: 11/07/2007 10:04 AM
Re: What do we have to do to beat USC?
Score at least one more point than they do!
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ursainoregon
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Posted: 11/07/2007 1:31 PM
Re: What do we have to do to beat USC?

I disagree with almost everything Todd says. It's classic conservative coachspeak. Win the turnover battle (duh), and then play not to lose. That is, grind it out, don't take risks, avoid third and long (presumably by running up the middle on first and second down).
This year, and with this team, that kind of "strategy" plays right in to USC's hands.

They have a great defense, and would love to see us try to beat them in the trenches. If we play SC not to lose, we will lose.

The way for this year's team to beat SC is to take some risks and score on big plays, on both offense and defense. When SC has lost, it's because they were forced in to a lot of turnovers on Offense. BBDB, and giving Booty comfort and time in the pocket is not going to cause them to make mistakes.

On O, we have to take risks and take shots with our playmakers. Running for no gain up the middle on first and second down and consistently facing 3rd and 5, is a good way to get killed by this SC defense. We have to stretch the field. If they know we're only going to pass short, they'll jam receivers, jump routes, blitz like crazy, and it won't be pretty.

In the NFL, they always play not to lose. One of the things that's great about college football is playing to win. Going for it on 4th down, faking the punt, running the statue of liberty.

If we play conservative, we have every chance of being beaten in the same boring ugly way that Oregon State lost 24-3 to the Trojans. We have much better playmakers on offense than the Beavers. Our D will give up at least 24 to SC, so we had better play offense like we know we need to get 35 to win. I'd rather see us lose a game taking some chances lose running the ball 32 times in to the middle of the line for 2ypc.

The way to beat SC is to believe you can do it, and go for it!
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easdog1
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Posted: 11/07/2007 2:53 PM
Re: What do we have to do to beat USC?
I didn't bother listening to the article, and based on your critique, I'm glad I didn't. Win the TO battle? Who cares if we're settling for FGs.
To win, we need to pressure Booty into mistakes and flood the LOS on defense with 9 guys. The only person in the passing game that we can't let beat us (as I fear he consistently will) is Fred Davis. Make their WRs win their one on one battles with Thompson/Hampton/Conte. Rush six at least 50 percent of the time!

Offensively we need to do more play action on early downs and get the ball down field. If our tendency is a 5yd hook, run out and ups. Hawkins has been good at getting down the middle on crossing routes. Use him and TEs. Basically, do everything counter-tendency that you can within reason. I'd even contemplate putting in a new package that we've stolen from someone else this season. Say 4 or 5 plays that makes the D think twice. And can we put Best in the pattern on a wheel route?
But the biggest keys this game is this: after halftime when SC makes adjustments, have your second gameplan ready to go. If we've been blitzing a certain way, have another plan for the second half. If offensively we've been running patterns to certain depths, change it up.