USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin took a note out of Lou Holtz’s book and pumped up Oregon State’s defense in advance of Saturday’s game in Corvallis.
“This is the best defense we’ve played by far physically,” USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said.
That might seem like a stretch considering the Beavers are barely a .500 team (4-3 overall, 2-2 Pacific-10 Conference). But when Kiffin examined the defense during USC’s bye week he discovered some startling stats.
For example, Oregon State ranks 19th in the nation against the run, surrendering less than 100 yards per game. But then Kiffin removed a loss to 15th-ranked Boise State, in which Oregon State allowed 302 yards rushing in a game played nearly two months ago.
“They are a top-five defense in the country without that game,” Kiffin said.
Actually, the Beavers rank fourth in run defense without the Boise State debacle, and even with it, they are second in the nation on third-down defense.
“A lot of people don’t realize how good (OSU’s defense) is,” Kiffin said.
You know USC has some issues when its offensive coordinator has to talk up a defense that allowed 302 rushing yards to Boise State.
Best by far physically? Better than Arkansas, Nebraska and Arizona?
Come on.
So why pump up the Beavers? Well, if USC plays well offensively, then it will have done so against a ‘great’ defense. If it doesn’t, then, well, it was because that defense was just so darn tough.
Here’s a stat for you: Without its 50-point and 472-yard opener, USC would be scoring 26 points and averaging 380 yards per game.
The 26 points per game would rank 46th–somewhere between Utah and Baylor–while the 380 yards per game would be 31st, right after Kansas (but just ahead of South Florida).
Maybe Oregon State should be talking up USC’s offense. Then both sides would have their excuses built in.
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