Here is everything you probably ever wanted to know about the 5-2 defense that the USC Trojans will use in 2016 under defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.
In 2013, USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast led the Trojans defense to their best season in recent history. They ranked #1 in the Pac-12, and #13 nationally. However, when Steve Sarkesian took over as head coach in 2014, he elected not to retain Pendergast, and instead hired Justin Wilcox - Sarkesian's defensive coordinator at the University of Washington. The decision proved to be a poor one, in the two years since Pendergast left, the defense regressed - ranking 78th in 2014 and 65th in 2015.