It’s 1,400 additional pounds versus four NFL-quality offensive linemen. The tale of the tape for tomorrow’s blue blood main event between the USC Trojans and LSU Tigers in glitzy Las Vegas ultimately comes down to the revered LSU offensive line getting into a fistfight with the revamped USC defensive front.
The Tigers’ offensive line boasts two decorated and presumed top 15 NFL picks in tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones. This unit is further reinforced by two NFL draft-worthy guards, Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger. Together, this vaunted quartet started 51 of a possible 52 games last year and is the linchpin to ensuring clean running lanes while also enabling quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to have the requisite time to connect with his outside weapons.Â
USC Trojans New Look Defensive Line
On the flip side, game one of the D’Anton Lynn era has been hyped with the physical transformation of notable players on the Trojan front seven, particularly Anthony Lucas, Bear Alexander, Jade Abisari, and Braylan Shelby. Lynn’s defensive philosophy is akin to a chessmaster – everything begins with his queenpiece. That piece invariably is a versatile pass rusher that can get to the quarterback at will from any dimension, formation, or geography on the field. Â
It’s the queen piece that allows Lynn to subsequently manipulate, confuse, and overwhelm the opposing signal caller’s progressions with crowded passing lanes and seemingly one extra body at all levels of the defense. That piece allows Lynn to often drop back in nickel coverage while keeping two linebackers in the box – eliminating any seeming run or pass numbers advantage.Â
Last year in 2023 at UCLA, that queen piece for Lynn was Laiatu Latu, the 15th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The big question for the Trojans in 2024 is: “Who will be USC’s Latu?” Will it be Lucas, a prodigious edge talent with all the physical tools who has yet to put it all together? Or Jamil Muhammad, who at 6’1 and 260 pounds, has an ideal hybrid body predicated on physicality and explosiveness? Or Braylon Shelby, who although is second on the depth chart, possesses salivating versatility in winning horizontal quickness matchups with perhaps any BIG-10 offensive tackle?
If one of those three players emerges on Sunday and consistently penetrates the LSU offensive line, the Trojans most likely will have Miller Moss on the ladder, holding the Trojan sword and singing the fight song. If no queen piece emerges for Lynn, the Trojans most likely will be headed to 0-1.
Either way, let’s get ready to rumble!
