USC vs. Virginia: Is this verdict up in the air?

Is USC’s offense as good as it looked against Hawaii? Can the defense really be that bad? Those are some of the questions the 16th-ranked Trojans will attempt to answer when they play Virginia in their home opener Saturday night at the Coliseum. Staff writer Gary Klein looks at the issues facing the Trojans and the Cavaliers:

Call to arms

USC quarterback Matt Barkley is coming off the best game of his career--a five-touchdown, no-interception performance that made him the nation’s fourth-rated passer.

Virginia’s front seven and secondary should offer a greater challenge, especially if cornerback Ras-I Dowling has recovered from a hamstring injury that would allow him to cover Trojans receiver Ronald Johnson, who caught three touchdown passes in the opener.

Virginia quarterback Marc Verica played well in a season-opening victory over Richmond, completing 23 of 34 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown without an interception.

He faces a young Trojans secondary eager to move forward after getting torched for 459 passing yards against Hawaii.

Running options

USC tailback Marc Tyler impressed against Hawaii and enters the game as the Pacific 10 Conference’s leading rusher.

But most of the talk around USC this week was about freshman tailback Dillon Baxter, who makes his debut after sitting out the opener because of a suspension for violating team rules.

Keith Payne, Virginia’s 6-foot-3, 255-pound running back, had a breakout performance against Richmond, bulling his way for 114 yards and four touchdowns in 16 carries. The Cavaliers also have Perry Jones, who gained 73 yards in nine carries against Richmond.

On the defensive

Most visitors to Hawaii lament leaving, but USC’s defensive players and coaches were happy to get away after giving up 588 yards and 36 points.

Unless it has completely overhauled its offense in the last five days, Virginia offers a more traditional pro-style set, which better suits the Trojans.

USC defensive coordinator Ed Orgeron has shuffled his line to accommodate the anticipated return of end Nick Perry, who is expected to start opposite Wes Horton. Armond Armstead moves from end to tackle and Jurrell Casey moves from tackle to nose tackle.

Virginia plays a 4-3 defense that might feature three linebackers making only their second college starts. The Cavaliers could struggle if Dowling and safety Rodney McLeod do not play. McLeod missed Virginia’s opener with an injured left knee.

Something special?

Johnson returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown and USC unveiled an aggressive special-teams approach against Hawaii, converting two of four two-point conversion attempts.

Joe Houston made all three of his point-after kicks but has yet to attempt a field goal. Jake Harfman averaged 44 yards a punt against Hawaii, and four of his six kickoffs were touchbacks.

Virginia’s punter, Jimmy Howell, averages 40.2 yards a punt. Robert Randolph and Chris Hinkebein each missed field-goal attempts of 50 yards or farther in the opener.

Coaching test

USC Coach Lane Kiffin says the Trojans have the best coaching staff in college football.

OK, here’s any early test to see what adjustments, if any, the defensive brain trust—led by Kiffin’s father, Monte—makes in the aftermath of the Hawaii experience.

First-year Virginia Coach Mike London can’t lose as long as he avoids a blowout. The Cavaliers are playing in California for the first time, giving London a rare chance to expose his program to Southern California recruits.

gary.klein@latimes.com