The staple of many successful college football teams is an offensive line that is capable of protecting its quarterback, opening holes for its running backs, and moving the defensive line in short yardage situations. So far under Clay Helton, USC has been unsuccessful in checking any of those boxes.
It is a general rule of thumb that an offensive line’s performance can be judged through rushing statistics. While this does not paint the entire picture (running backs can mask or magnify o-line mistakes), the offensive line is responsible for a large percentage of a running game’s outcome.
Unfortunately, USC’s picture looks like kindergarten finger painting.