The USC Trojans are preparing for a big game in week 1 when they take on LSU and the Trojans’ defense by D’Anton Lynn is firmly in the glare. What makes the game interesting is that it will be a battle of the will, especially for USC’s defensive front, which will have to deal with one of the oldest and most experienced and talented O-lines in college football. Lynn, who has been building his squad, meticulously knows how important this fight is.

In a recent interview uploaded by InsideTroy on YouTube, Lynn shared a few important points. “The game on both sides of the ball starts up front,” Lynn emphasized and that means that whoever wins the battle of the line of scrimmage will be the victor. This has been Lynn’s focus from the day he started as the defensive coordinator: to take up this challenge. All-in-all the Trojans must play this to the best of their ability to stop LSU.

The latter is, in fact, a part of Lynn’s strategy, while he prepares for the season. “We’ve been preparing not just for LSU but for the entire season,” Lynn noted. With all the bragging going on from the side of LSU where players have been quoted saying that they are going to engage in a fist-fight, Lynn has remained professional and has ensured that his players do not get carried away by such words. 

His mantra has been that there is a lot of noise out there and one should focus on getting on with the job and getting the job done. This focus will be important when USC tries to see that they can go up against one of the best lines on the offensive side of the ball in the entire country. 

Garrett Nussmeier: the “great test” for USC’s season opener

This game will be used to measure the level of change they have undergone. “It’s a great test for us,” Lynn said. There is not a lot of film on Garrett, at least as a quarterback for LSU, but Lynn will have to recall that to move the chains, this quarterback likes to make plays and make defenders second guess themselves. With USC setting its sights on their first game, Lincoln Riley’s right-hand man has truly been encouraged by the skills displayed by Nussmeier of the LSU.

Lynn agreed that Garrett Nussmeier is not only good at passing when set in the pocket but also can extend plays, which makes USC’s defense’s task difficult. “He plays with a lot of poise,” Lynn stated, “always looking to keep the play alive.” The ability of Nussmeier on the field has attracted the attention of the USC coaching staff, to which Lynn noted that Nussmeier and the USC star quarterback have many similarities. This comparison reinforces the notion that LSU as an overall team coupled with Nussmeier’s offense will be a tough matchup for USC’s defense.

The upcoming game against LSU isn’t just a regular season opener; rather it is the litmus test for USC. Tackling Nussmeier and LSU’s talented O-line is not going to be easy and USC’s defense will have to come up with their best to counter the threat and win.