New-look offensive line just the right size for USC

USC may have followed a familiar formula by turning to its defense to start the season, but a small change in the Trojans’ offensive approach may have been the biggest message delivered in a 52-7 victory over Virginia on Saturday at Scott Stadium.

After USC kicked off to open the season for the eighth consecutive year under Coach Pete Carroll, the Trojans’ defense did its job by forcing the Cavaliers to punt to end their first drive. It marked the eighth year in a row that USC held an opponent without a score to start a season under Carroll.

But once the Trojans’ offense took over, there was something different about USC’s early season approach compared to previous years: Movement up front.

Behind athletic tackles Butch Lewis and Charles Brown, USC’s offensive line dominated the Cavaliers’ defensive front by featuring plenty of movement.

It didn’t matter whether the Trojans needed protection for quarterback Mark Sanchez or holes opened for running backs Joe McKnight, C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson or Allen Bradford, their new “smaller but mobile” linemen were up to the task.

With four 300-plus pound starters from last year now cashing NFL exhibition season checks, USC’s offensive line was regarded as somewhat of a question mark heading into the Virginia game.

The Trojans’ new-look front – which did not include a starter listed above 300 pounds – made its presence known early when USC drove 56 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead.

In its opening possession, USC’s line kept it simple with straight-ahead runs and pass blocking on seven of the plays. The only variations were a solo pull by guard Zach Heberer on an incomplete play-action pass to fullback Stanley Havili and an attempted trap block from freshman tight end Blake Ayles on Johnson’s two-yard touchdown run that ended the drive.

The Trojans’ line got a chance to really show their skills their next time on the field.

On first down from the Cavaliers’ 47-yard line, USC’s linemen made it look easy when they stuffed Virginia’s first blitz of the game and allowed Sanchez to complete a pass over the middle to starting tight end Anthony McCoy.

Then four plays later, the Trojans’ mobility up front took center stage when Lewis, along with Heberer and center Kris O’Dowd, helped McKnight turn a screen pass into a 10-yard touchdown to give USC a 14-0 lead.

For the rest of the game, it was nothing but more of the same for the Trojans’ offensive line, which also got in plenty of playing time for versatile backup Alex Parsons.

USC’s third touchdown was scored by Gable on a play that looked very similar to the old Trojans’ 28 sweep, which was made legendary by tailbacks Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell and Marcus Allen.

Gable followed swift pulling lead blocks from Lewis, Heberer and O’Dowd and basically ran untouched for a 33-yard touchdown down the right sideline to extend the Trojans’ lead to 21-0.

In the second half, USC’s line continued to dominate, and when a play was needed, Lewis, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound sophomore from Denver, often ready to step up. That was the case when Sanchez completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Johnson late in the third quarter.

After making a play-action run fake, Sanchez appeared to be in position to be sacked by Virginia end Alex Field, but Lewis recovered in time to make a block to give his quarterback more time to find Johnson and run the score to 38-7.

Although the Cavliers didn’t help themselves with a limited number of blitzes, they were clearly overmatched by USC’s front. The numbers speak for themselves with the Trojans accounting for 558 total yards, including 218 on the ground and 340 passing.

A point proved? One would think so. But it’s only one game and USC’s next opponent, Ohio State, will not be soft attacking the Trojans’ new slimmer and quicker line.

 lonnie.white@latimes.com