And so the pendulum swings.
UCLA, the top team in Los Angeles five years ago, has fallen on
hard times, going from rosy dreams to possibly no bowl game at
all.
And USC, once the laughingstock of Southern California football,
is now the one laughing, with a national championship appearance
seemingly imminent.
So many differences are at stake for both teams, but one thing
does remain the same ““ when UCLA goes to the L.A. Coliseum
for its season finale, it still starts with pride.
“The USC game is always huge no matter how the teams are
doing,” wide receiver Craig Bragg said. “It’s a
rivalry game, so there’s the battle for city pride and the
knowledge that either team can win. And that never
changes.”
Just three weeks ago, some thought that this game would decide
the Pac-10 title. USC has held up its end of the bargain; UCLA has
not. A slide that started with a close loss at Stanford snowballed
into a poor showing against Washington State and no showing at all
against Oregon.
It’s hard to find fault with the UCLA defense, the
foundation for each of the wins and still a constant in most of the
losses. Instead, it’s the offense that has received most of
the blame this season, ranking last in the Pac-10 in rushing and
second to last in passing offense.
“As a defense, it is a little frustrating,”
defensive tackle Rodney Leisle said. “You try to stay
positive, … but when our unit plays so well and the offense is
struggling, it’s a little heartbreaking at times.”
“Struggling” is an understatement. The offensive
line hasn’t consistently opened holes and pass blocked, while
UCLA’s key playmakers have failed to show up in the past
three games.
Running backs Maurice Drew and Tyler Ebell have shown the ill
effects of having to play without power runner Manuel White, and
quarterbacks Matt Moore and Drew Olson have been sacked a combined
43 times on the season.
“If the offense had kept its part of the bargain for the
past few weeks, I think we would have won those games and
we’d still be unbeaten in the Pac-10,” Bragg said.
“We’re moving the ball, but total yardage doesn’t
mean anything when you don’t get the points on the board. We
just have to capitalize in the redzone and take care of the
football.”
The heat has also fallen on the coaching staff. UCLA coach Karl
Dorrell has placed the blame squarely on the coaching staff’s
shoulders for the past three losses. UCLA hired Dorrell, without
any former head coaching experience, specifically because he has
played in these games and understands the importance of the
crosstown rivalry.
“It’s monumental for both teams,” Dorrell
said. “Just because of the situation we’re in
doesn’t mean that the value of this game is any less.
It’s still the most important game of the year.”
Still, Dorrell’s situation is a far cry from USC coach
Pete Carroll’s, who has his team rolling and peaking at the
right time. Aside from a bump in the road at Cal, the Trojans have
been efficient on offense behind surprising quarterback Matt
Leinart, a stable of young running backs and 6-foot-4-inch,
225-pound wide receiver Mike Williams.
Leinart, in particular, has thrived in USC’s offensive
system as the replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer.
Leinart has thrown for 2,662 yards and 28 touchdowns in 10
games.
But just as with UCLA, team success starts with defense for USC.
The defensive line, nicknamed “The Wild Bunch II,” is
equally adept at getting to the quarterback (36 sacks) or stopping
the run (third best in in the nation). The linebackers are fast and
disciplined, while the secondary, led by safety Jason Leach, has
been solid.
“Pete Carroll calls all the defensive plays,” USC
defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said. “He makes sure we have
a cohesive unit at all times.”
For UCLA’s seniors, just as it was last year, this will be
the last chance to find glory in winning the crosstown war.
“I think about it daily,” senior defensive end Dave
Ball said. “The thought of losing to USC is in the pit of my
stomach.”