Donte Williams praises luck of the schedule following Utah game

USC coach Donte Williams sat down on Trojans Live this week to speak about key topics for the Trojans. During the interview, he spoke on the value of USC’s upcoming bye week.

“It’s pretty much about us getting healthy, but at the same time making sure we focus on the fundamentals and technique,” Williams said. “And you know making sure we are appreciative of the game. We are lucky to have our bye week truly at the midpoint of the season. so that is fortunate. like I said it is about us getting healthy and making sure we continue the progress and develop as a team.”

After Saturday’s game against the Utah Utes, the USC Trojans will have their much-needed bye week. There has not been much time to adjust to the firing of Clay Helton. And Williams has had to implement things on the fly since taking over. With the bye, they get the chance to bear down and focus before entering the final stretch of the season. A final six games that will feature three teams currently ranked in the top 25.

Their first game right after the bye will be on the road at hated rival Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish dropped to 14 this week after falling to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Norte Dame is 4-1 behind the play of senior quarterback Jack Coan, who has a three-to-one touchdown to interception ratio on the season with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

The next ranked opponent USC will face will be on the road again against the Arizona State. The Sun Devils offense controls the game on the ground. As a team they have over a 1,000-plus yards rushing on the season led by senior running back Rachaad White, who leads the team with 325 yards on 64 rushes and a team-high eight touchdowns on the ground.

In the final week of the season, they will face possibly their toughest opponent of the season in BYU. The Cougars are 5-0 on the season and they’ve done it mainly with dominant defense. They have been able to put pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback, amassing 12 sacks on the season. But where they have truly been menacing is in the turnover department. So far they have a total of six interceptions and four fumbles recovered. They have taken advantage of the other team’s poor play and limited mistakes on their own end.

That bye will come just in time for the USC Trojans. It will take focus, discipline and luck to make it to the end. And if Donte Williams has any chance at taking over full-time, he’ll need a strong finish to the season from USC.