LOS ANGELES —The noise surrounding the USC-LSU season opener is amplifying, yet the Trojans are putting on blinders and focusing on the task ahead: beating the Tigers.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell made it clear on Tuesday that the Tigers aren't going to Vegas for the spectacle of it all but to get in a “fistfight.” Campbell’s attitude seems to be shared throughout the Tigers locker room as LSU and USC face off for the third time in program history.
“I like the underdog, I am taking him every time. Nobody is expecting what they are about to see Sunday night,” Campbell said in a presser Tuesday.
The comments from Baton Rouge made their way to Southern California. However, D’Anton Lynn and his defense are not worried about the outside chatter.
“I've been game planning, so I haven't seen it yet. I heard about it just a while ago for the first time,” Lynn said. “I'm just focused on us getting better every day, so we can go out there and put our best effort and brand out there September 1st.”
While Lynn doesn’t care for the outside talk, he realizes the importance of commanding the front line early.
“I believe the game on both sides of the ball starts up front. When you have a big line that can control the line of scrimmage, like [LSU], it creates a lot of issues,” Lynn said.
On the ground last year, LSU’s 6.2 yards per carry ranked first in college football. The success on the ground for the Tigers stemmed from the physical play of running backs and the offensive line. In Lynn’s eyes, LSU's physical nature of multiple positions provides a “great test” for his unit early on, with all the work they put in the weight room in the offseason.
Over the offseason, the Trojans knew there needed to be a change, and it first came with putting on size. Orchestrated by Rachel Suba, USC director of sports nutrition, and Bennie Wylie, USC director of sports performance, the team put on 1,400 pounds in the offseason. Suba and Wylie's summer plan emphasized that the Trojans desire to create havoc on the field, especially in the trenches.
Despite USC’s massive weight gain, Campbell didn't hesitate to discuss how LSU plans to attack the revamped Trojans' defense.
“We are going to run the ball. That's not something we are hiding or trying to keep quiet about,” Campbell said.
Last year’s USC defense is now in the past, and with a fresh slate, transfer linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold says this year's defense is taking pride in stopping the run. Under former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch last season, the Trojans rush defense could be compared to Swiss cheese. With many holes, the defense allowed 185.6 rush yards a game, allowing a PAC-12 worst 4.8 yards per carry.
Fellow linebacker Mason Cobb echoes Arnold’s sentiment about stopping the run this year, understanding that linebackers are responsible for that aspect of the game.
“That’s the one thing you put all your pride in. A deep pass can't always be in your hands, but a run-up of the middle, man, is deep and ingrained in us, and that hurts deep,” Cobb said. “That's something that, as linebackers, that's what you're made to do. You're made to stop the run.”
The talk will become all white noise in four days and a chance for the Trojans and Tigers to settle it on the gridiron. For Arnold and the defense, the Trojans are ready for the challenge versus a Top-25 opponent.
“As a defense, we fear nobody. We go out there and compete every day. I'm excited to play,” Arnold said. “I think we're all excited as a defense to go out there and compete against one of the best teams in the country.”
