Joel Klatt explains how USC, Caleb Williams are even better than last year
Joel Klatt has high expectations for USC. During Monday’s episode of the “The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast,” the Fox Sports analyst broke down why he believes USC is better this season than last year.
“USC is damn good,” Klatt said. “Now they’re 3-0. They played Week 0, as you know, and you probably woke up in the morning and you’re like, ‘OK, USC beat Stanford 56-10. And you’re probably like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense.’ It was more than that.”
Klatt is correct. The numbers don’t encapsulate USC’s dominance in their win over Stanford on Saturday. Against their fellow Pac-12 member, the Trojans boasted 573 total yards while completing 30 of their 36 pass attempts. Further, the team did not commit a single turnover.
It isn’t just Stanford. USC has been crushed every opponent it’s faced. The Trojans are averaging 580.7 yards per game, the fifth-most in the nation. Further, USC is averaging 59.3 points per game, only trailing Oregon. Klatt believes USC’s step up this season starts with individual improvements this offseason.
USC’s improvement starts on an individual level
“Caleb [Williams] is better than last year because he will stay in the pocket longer, which makes his ability to scramble even more dangerous,” Klatt said. “I shouldn’t say scramble, throw on the run. This guy, as soon as he breaks contain, as soon as he’s running around, you know a big play is going to happen.”
It’s an educated guess. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner averages 12.5 yards per pass attempt, the most in the nation. In three games alone, Williams has stacked up 878 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1 QB puts video game numbers to shame. He isn’t the only Trojan with unbelievable ability.
“[Zachariah Branch] is an absolute rocket ship. I love watching him play,” Klatt said. “It’s like as soon as the ball touches [his] hands. I just started holding my breath. That’s what Zachariah Branch does.
“He’s so fast. But, it’s not just that. It’s his short-area quickness. It is long, straights speed. It’s his ability to make defenders miss. It’s his decisiveness as a runner and a returner, and his ability to catch.”
Branch already boasts two touchdowns this season in the return game, one on punt and one on kickoff. He’s also found the end zone twice at wide receiver. USC has no shortage of weapons, and offense isn’t the only place they can inflict pain.
“Bottom line, USC’s defense is better than last year,” Klatt said. “If USC just plays OK on defense, they’re an elite team that can probably win their conference and go to the College Football Playoff.”
While USC’s meteoric rise to the top of college football has stunned Klatt and fans alike, one man saw the vision all along.
“Lincoln told me last year, Lincoln Riley, that last year’s USC team would be his worst roster that he was going to have at USC,” Klatt recalled. “Now, watching this team, I believe him because USC is better than they were a year ago. They are better.”