What's Going On With USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava?

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava had a strange game against Washington on Saturday, and fans are asking questions. After the Trojans won, Maiava did not celebrate with his teammates on the field. Instead, he ran straight into the tunnel before anyone else, which caught the attention of players, coaches, and viewers watching on NBC.

Maiava's body language has worried a lot of people over the past two weeks. A sports information director named Katie Ryan sprinted to catch up with him after the game, but even when she reached him, he barely slowed down. His teammates stayed on the field to celebrate, but Maiava was already gone. That is not what most people expect from a team's starting quarterback and leader.

Things did not get much better at the postgame press conference. A reporter asked Maiava why he could not find a rhythm during the game. But instead of answering directly, Maiava gave a vague football answer that did not really respond to what was asked. He said, 'Just being able to trust it, fall back on routine plays.' That kind of non-answer is something Maiava has done before when he does not want to discuss something.

The bigger worry is that Maiava may be playing hurt. Early in the season, during a game against Fresno State on September 4, he appeared to hurt his right shoulder. When reporters asked about it in the weeks that followed, Maiava said he was 'great' and called it part of a physical game. Nobody has brought up the injury much since then, but his play has clearly changed.

Before the injury, Maiava was completing nearly 90 percent of his passes in the first two games. Over the four games after the injury, that number dropped to about 60 percent. His throwing mechanics — the way he moves his body when he throws — have also looked less steady. On Saturday, there were moments when he seemed afraid to run the ball, which is not like him.

Even so, Maiava's overall numbers this season are still pretty good. He ranks ninth in the nation in passing yards per game with 290 yards, and he has 15 touchdown passes, which ranks third in the country. But USC needs more than just good stats from their quarterback. The Trojans need him to take over games and carry the team when things get tough.

On the defensive side, USC made a big change by moving coordinator Gary Patterson from the sideline to a booth above the field. The results seemed to help right away. USC's defense held Washington to just one third-down conversion out of 12 tries. The team also communicated much better in the secondary, which is the group of defenders who guard against passing plays.

USC's pass rush also played much better against Washington. The Trojans recorded 25 pressures and sacked Washington's quarterback five times — more than in the previous three games combined. Freshman linebacker Luke Wafle got his first college sack, which was a big moment for the young player. Many defenders also benefited because the pressure gave them more time to cover receivers.

Penalties continue to be a big problem for the Trojans. USC was called for nine penalties against Washington, losing 94 yards because of them. Several of those penalties had a major impact on the game, including one that canceled a USC touchdown and another that helped Washington score. USC has had at least eight penalties in three of their last four games.

Linebacker Ta'Mere Robinson had a standout performance filling in for suspended starter Desman Stephens II. Robinson recorded six defensive stops — twice as many as any other USC defender — and added a sack. Defensive back Alex Graham also returned from injury and made a big difference, recording four pressures and helping shut down Washington's short passing game. Many believe Graham is the most valuable player on USC's defense right now.