he’s totally the straw that stirs the drink. He will be missed!!

Hi Adam- can you provide a list of recruits that were on campus for Friday's practice?
I heard there were quite a few

Found this article about Porter Gustin in the OCR. I hope it's ok to post here. I found myself disagreeing with Swanson's take on Porter in the latest podcast. I think Porter will have a huge year this year if he can stay healthy. I'm going to predict 10 or more sacks for him. We'll see.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/...stin-back-and-healthy-after-frustrating-2017/

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https://usc.rivals.com/news/tufono-enjoys-his-time-at-usc-practice

why not say it again. What an abomination. So totally busted.

we are extremely more talented but we love to turn the ball over. Would love to win this game and avoid that 12/12 match up

...With the NFL draft approaching, the Draft preview magazines show up as well. It’s a good way to see how valued the players are. Here is a count so far by team, by offense or defense. And which were early Entrants (EE) and range of predicted round of selection (or Free Agent). Included are their 2017 stats of interest. Those with asterisks are teams we face in regular season. We would only face Oregon or Washington in the Pac 12 championship game. No UA nor UNLV players mentioned.

*ASU (2) : Off: RB-Kalen Ballage (669yr, 4.3ypr 6TD) Rd 6/ Def: LB-Christian Sam (127 Tkl, 3 sks) EE, Rd 1-2.

*Cal (1): Def: DL-James Looney 7-FA.

*Colorado (4) : Off: RB-Phillip Lindsay (1474yr, 4.9ypr, 14TD) Rd 4-5, WR-Bryce Bobo (62rec, 11.2ypc, 5TD) FA , OT- Jeromy Irwin Rd 7/ Def: CB-Isaiah Oliver (27 tkl, 3 int, 27 Pbu) EE, Rd 1-2.

*Notre Dame (7): Off: RB-Josh Adams (1430yr, 6.9ypr, 9TD) Rd 3-5, EE, TE-Durham Smythe ( 28 rec, 13.6 ypc) Rd 4-6, WR-Equan. St. Brown (33 rec, 515 yd, 15.6ypr) Rd 3-4 EE, OT- Mike McGlinchey Rd 1, OG- Quenton Nelson Rd 1, EE / Def: Edge-Andrew Trumbetti (28 tkl, 4 tfl) Rd 7., LB-Nyles Morgan (92tkl, 7 tfl) Rd 6-7

*Ore. St. (1): Off:RB-Ryan Nall (810yd, 4.9ypc, 8TD))FA.

Oregon (3): Off:RB-Royce Freeman (1475yr, 6.0ypr, 16TD) Rd 2-4, OT- Tyrell Crosby Rd 2/ Def: CB-Aarion Springs (42tkl, 18pbu), FA.

*Stanford (5): Off: TE-Dalton Shultz (22rec, 212 yds, 9.6ypc) Rd 4 EE, OT- David Bright Rd 7/ DefT-Harrison Phillips (103 tkl, 17tfl, 7.5sk) EE Rd 1-3, CB-Quenton Meeks (61tkl, 7pbu, 2int) EE, Rd 3-4, S-Justin Reid ( 99Ttkl, 11pbu, 5 int) EE, Rd 2.

*Texas (8): Off: RB-Chris Warren III (314yd, 4.4ypc, 6TD) Rd 7, OT- Connor Williams Rd 1, EE/ Def: DT-Poona Ford (34tkl, 8tfl) Rd 3-6, LB-Malik Jefferson (110tfl, 10tfl, 4sks) EE, Rd 2-3, CB-Holton Hill (51tkl, 8pbu, 2 int) EE, Rd 4-6, S-Deshon Elliott (63tkl, 15pbu, 6 int) EE, Rd 2-4, S-Justin Reid (99tkl, 11pbu,5 int) EE, Rd 2, ST-Punt Michael Dickson (47.4 ypp, 42 inside20) Rd 3-7.

*UCLA (4): Off: QB-Josh Rosen (3756ydp, 62.6%, 26td-10int) Rd 1 EE, Jordan Lasley (69rec, 18.3ypc, 9TD) FA EE, OT- Kolton Miller R-4, EE, OC- Scott Quessenberry Rd 6-7/ Def: None.


*Utah (3): Off: WR-Darren Carrington (70 rec, 14.0ypc, 6TD) Rd 6-FA/ Def: DL-Lowell Lotulelei Rd 6-FA, Edge-Kylie Fitts Rd 5-FA.


Washington (8): Off: RB-Lavon Colman (852 yd, 7.5ypr) FA, WR-Dante Pettis (63rec 12.1ypc, 7 TD) Rd2- 3, TE-Will Dissly (21 rec, 13.8ypc, 2TD) Rd 7, OC- Coleman Shelton Rd 5-7/ Def: DT-Vita Vea (44tkl, 3.5sks) EE Rd 1, LB-Azeem Victor Rd 5, LB-Nyles Morgan Rd 6-7, LB-Keishawn Bierria Rd 7.


*WSU (4): Off: QB-Luke Falk (3593yd, 66.9%, 30TD 13Int) Rd 3-4, OG- Cole Madison Rd 5, EE, OG- Cody O'Connell Rd 7-FA/ Def: Edge-Hercules Mata'afa (43 tkl, 21.5 tfl, 9,5 sks) EE Rd 2-4.


USC (5): QB-Sam Darnold (4143 yds, 63.1%, 26TD, 13Int.) Rd 1 EE, RB-Ronald Jones (1550yr, 5.9ypr, 19TD) Rd 1-2, EE, WR-Deontay Burnett ( 86rec, 13.0ypc, 9TD) Rd 3-4 EE/ def: DT/Edge-Rasheem Green (43tkl, 12.5tfl, 10sks) EE Rd 2-3, Edge-Uchenna Nwuso (75tkl, 11.5tfl, 9.5 sks, 14pbu) Rd 2-4.


Keep in mind that these are not all the starters the teams have lost, but that post is for another time. However also keep in mind the ones above that should be accounted for in any forecasts in meeting them in 2018.

Brraaacck-etology….ESPN people just never learned that Lewis and Clark found a west coast of the country. The latest Lunardi had USC definitely in at 10 seed facing #7 Arkansas (I'll take that), Arizona dropping to #5 and facing #12 Louisiana. I thought Az won by 16! And UCLA found themselves at 11 seed facing #6 seed Nevada ( a very good team). Of course this is subject to the latest zephyr of an Eastern whim.

Mind you that the ACC here has 9 selections from 15 teams, and the SEC has 8 selections from 14 teams. Note: The PAC12 is 7-2 versus the SEC this season. BTW the "Brraacck" comes from some old collected Mad magazines in which some character makes that sound anytime something distasteful has happened. Fits!

The game…USC has better athletes than Oregon State and beat them by 13 after beating them twice this season. Tres Tinkle is their best (or 2nd best) player and his ankle injury from Wednesday's game literally hurt the Beavers chances, but also ended Walton calling them the "Beaver Damnation". Thank you Trojans. USC had tough D and got a lead of double digits that was challenged once to a 6 point lead before building up again. The game was tied for less than 2 minutes of the game. USC was ahead the other 38:19 minutes.

USC was down to using only 7 players with Thornton out with a stomach flu. This led in part to USC walking the ball up and killing clock, and not playing at their normal clip. They dominated the paint (24 points-14), and got few fast break points (8 points to 0). The bench (both of them) chipped in for 7 points. Metu (22 points11 rebs, 2 blocks) was the star with McLaughlin (13 points, 5 rebs, 4 assists and 4 steals). The 3/4 court pass to Metu above the rim for a slam is a keeper of a video. Gonna miss those guys. Jonah Matthews was a big first half lift with his 3 pointers (3 of them) and helped put up distance in the score.

Next….I kind of wish Utah had beaten Oregon. The latter matches up better with USC court speed. But USC squeaked by with 5 and 2 point wins in conference play. The Trojans need to up their game. Its at 8:30PM on FS1. They say the third time is hardest but I think that this tournament results so far reneges that idea. Another squeaker…USC by 3.

Next time you're upset about something @MFarrell writes, please refer to this topic:

https://forums.rivals.com/threads/jamal-adams-calls-mike-farrell-a-clown.805277/

Hi everyone, it's Mr. 305.

Spoke to Munir McClain. USC mentioned in the story.

https://colorado.rivals.com/news/options-growing-for-2019-wr-munir-mcclain

Anyone hearing this?

Featuring DC Clancy Pendergast, LB Jordan Iosefa, S Isaiah Pola-Mao, DE Connor Murphy, DT Brandon Pili, LB Porter Gustin, S Marvell Tell and DB Ajene Harris

Video Interviews - Defense

OC TEE MARTIN
--on what he saw from the quarterbacks on Day 1
“Both were really efficient today. That’s the one thing you really want to look for is that efficiency and decision making. It popped out with both of them. When it was there, they threw good balls and made the catches and made the plays and when it wasn’t there, they did a good job of finding the running backs, checking it down and getting the ball into play. And when you’re a young quarterback in a competition like this, an opportunity to show us what you have, that’s what we’re looking for. I thought both of them did a really good job and their recall and understanding was there. We were really happy with what we saw today and we’ll watch the film in a few minutes and come back out Thursday and do it over again.”

--on what Tim Drevno brings to the team
“We’ve worked together before here when he was the offensive line coach and we were going from one system to another and we kind of all made that transition together. But since he left, at Michigan they were a little bit something different than what we’ve been. And so, fundamentally with ideas and things like that. But his knowledge of the game, he’s coached running backs before in his career and to have that viewpoint from him and Neil Callaway, guys who have had years and years of experience on the offensive line. But to coach running backs from the viewpoint of the offensive line, I think is really special and I really compare it to me being a former quarterback and coaching wide receivers. It’s really cool to have on our staff and then Keary Colbert and what he brings coming from a viewpoint of a former wide out coaching tight ends, I think is an upgrade and what we’ve been wanting to do schematically and ideas wise and I just look forward to gelling with them and working more with them. We haven’t gotten into our ideas more yet, we’re really just in our early stages of install. We haven’t gotten the opportunity as a staff to really sit down and throw stuff on the board and rebuild the system to what fits our players this year.”

--on if he feels like the offense is becoming more his going into Year 3 as the OC
“The first thing we did in the spring, going into the ‘16 season is tear the offense down and rebuild it. From the very start, it was just something different than we did when Sark was here, when Lane (Kiffin) was here, it was a combination of a lot of different things to fit what we were at that time. And at that time we were Max Browne and Sam Darnold, quarterback competition, so you erally had to build two different things. It was a little difficult. But once the season started, we were able to run the system for that quarterback. Then when it changed to Sam, we were able to do some, smore things that fit that quarterback. And it’s all based on the quarterback, what his capabilities are. The system is the system, but play selection and things that you do and how you do it change based on the quarterback. I can’t expect the type of talent that Sam Darnold had, he’s way different than everyone else before him and it will be hard to see guys that’s like him after him. You’re different as an offense; your identity changes. But it’s up for us to look at what we are in the spring, how much we’ve learned and how much better we’ve gotten at all positions. And then from a play selection and style standpoint, put it together based on the guys we have.”

--on QBs coach Bryan Ellis
“He’s nice -- a breath of fresh air, young, energetic, great ideas, played quarterback himself, successful, so I respect that. He speaks my language, so to speak. We’re southern dudes that kind of sees the same thing. His talent evaluation is really clear cut. I really like what he sees in evaluating high school quarterbacks. I like his attitude with coaching quarterbacks. You want a guy that’s going to be tough on them and get the most out of them. “


RBs COACH TIM DREVNO
--on what exactly pass protection coordinator means
“I think just in terms of looking at the third down and the base, if there’s some type of adjustments you need to do on third down and looking where the best way to attack and where their best pass rusher is, if you need to put a sideboard on him and different keys that will help the protection to solidify. You get to third down, most of the time, things are going to change, they’re going to bring a different personnel group on the field, they’re going to do some different pressures and different coverages. Just whatever I can do to help Neil Callaway in that area I will.”

--on what he stresses in coaching running backs
“Pass protection is huge, you got to be able to pass protect, and you got to be able to take care of the football. Those are the most important things. In terms of running the football, that’s God-given ability and the feel. But those two things are really, really important that you got to teach running backs.”

--on what he took from his first stint at USC
“This is a special place to me. My dad went to school here, my sister went to school here. I went to the Coliseum when I was a young kid and watched USC football. I dreamed of playing at USC; I wasn’t good enough. This is home. There’s nothing like paradise and sunshine down on your forehead, with these great athletes, this great institution, what it offers academically and the support that we have here. It’s a no-brainer.”

--on if he views this second stint at USC as an opportunity to be here for a while
“Absolutely. That’s something that my wife and I talked about. I want to be here for a long time. Being here and being home at this place and this university means a lot to me. If I can stay forever, I’ll stay forever and grow old. It’s Trojan football, baby.”

Continued below...

USC held its first spring practice today. Here's a rundown of the news...

• Coach Clay Helton confirmed our report from Saturday that CB Jack Jones will not participate in spring practice so that he can focus on academics and that he has been suspended for the season opener because of a violation of team rules.
• WR Jalen Greene and OL Roy Hemsley are exploring graduate transfers.
• DB Jamel Cook is still at USC and focusing on academics. He's planning to transfer at the end of spring.
  
• OL Cole Smith and Nathan Smith, both of whom are taking medical retirements, will remain with the team as student-coaches and plan to earn masters degrees while at USC.
• CB Greg Johnson and S Isaiah Pola-Mao will be "limited in contact" this spring. Not sure if that meant they won't be involved in as much contact as others or completely held out of contact periods. I'll let you know once when we get there.
• S Marvell Tell is not practicing this week because of a groin injury. He's expected to be back after spring break, which is next week.
• LB Tayler Katoa has returned from his torn ACL. He'll be evaluated again to determine whether he is ready for contact.
• OL Toa Lobendahn (knee soreness) and Frank Martin (knee soreness) are out and will be evaluated after spring break for a possible return.
• TB Vavae Malepeai (hamstring tightness) will be limited this week. They hope he'll be full speed after spring break.
• I was able to confirm OLB Wole Betiku did undergo surgery on both hips. Helton said it's a six-month recovery and they're hopeful he will return by training camp.
  
• TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe is being held out for spring because he's still hampered by the torn quad he originally suffered in June of last year. "We're making an investment to really try to get that muscle strain fully healed," Helton said.
• As I reported previously, DT Marlon Tuipulotu (back) and TB Stephen Carr (back) are out for spring. Helton said he's hoping Tuipulotu will be back by training camp and that Carr's rehab will entail at least three months from surgery, which was in mid-February. Helton added Carr is doing a half-mile to a mile of walking already.

***
Positions/rotations
QB Matt Fink got the majority of first-team reps, though he and Jack Sears received about an equal amount overall. Helton noted he will not be deciding on a starter at the end of spring practice.

"At all positions, the man that's playing the best by the time we get to Game 1 is going to go out there," he said. "The best man's got to play, in that moment, whoever it might be."

Helton said he plans to give the first and second teams an equal amount of reps throughout spring while rotating as many players as possible on both teams to see how they respond.

Reuben Peters practiced exclusively at linebacker and Helton said Dominic Davis, who was absent, is going to practice at tailback. This is where I'd expect them to remain for the spring.

TE Tyler Petite got the majority of first-team reps.

Clayton Johnston was the first-team left tackle, while Austin Jackson worked with the second team.

Brett Neilon was the first-team center.

Christian Rector and Connor Murphy played defensive end. Could be a sign that we'll see more 3-4 and less nickel this season. Or perhaps 3-3-5?

Jordan Iosefa took the majority of first-team reps at Predator, ahead of Porter Gustin. It's evident Helton (and Clancy Pendergast) are very high on Iosefa right now.

Juliano Falaniko got the first-team reps at strong-side linebacker.

Ykili Ross assumed Tell's first-team reps at free safety, with Bubba Bolden getting the first-team reps at strong safety.

Isaiah Pola-Mao was also at free safety.

***
Notes
"You really see some depth being developed," Helton said. "That's where our strength is. I really feel that there may not be a superstar on our team and I told this team that, that's not a bad thing. By the end of the year, let's hope we have a superstar. But right now I see strength in number and I see depth at each position."

Helton was asked directly if those numbers would be put to use more this season. He said they would. "That's one thing I've addressed with our coaches -- our strength in numbers -- let's be a fresh football team. It's OK for one kid to come out, put the other kid in and play more numbers. We're to that position now, we have experience on the field."

Additionally, Helton mentioned the need to address turnovers and penalties, two areas in which USC really struggled last season. I asked how specifically that would be emphasized in spring. He said both trace back to improving fundamentals, and we saw USC run a couple different drills today involving ball security and hand usage.

"It's really my goal, I remember myself as a good football coach, and to have the ability to teach fundamentals and technique to everybody. I think sometimes we get caught up on just focusing on defensive fundamentals and offensive fundamentals and sometimes we go to remember everybody what ball security is, teach everybody how to strip a ball and punch it out. Those are things I want to be attention to detail. That's my job, and I want to do a great job at it this year. That's my focus. You'll see that point of emphasis out here. ...

"The penalties, when you look at them, some of them are decision-making penalties, some are just penalties where you jump offside, but a lot of the ones I'm focusing on right now are with the hands. When you go back and look at the tape, I thought we were an average to a below average hands team. That created holding penalties, that created defensive back penalties, and that's where we got to get better. Some of the drills, even where we took two periods, just working the hands and getting the hands in the correct place, that's going to be a standard for us, not only this camp but training camp, and hopefully it pays off for us in the fall."

Highlights
I don't have as many plays charted as I typically do because they weren't in pads and the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods weren't particularly long. (USC has said the last four Saturday practices will involve scrimmaging.) But here's a few that caught my eye from Day 1:

Matt Fink completes three consecutive passes to Tyler Vaughns, whose shoulders always seem square to the ball.

Fink has Josh Imatorbhebhe downfield but PI from freshman Chase Williams prevents a completion.

Sears looks off a safety and tried downfield for Randal Grimes but missed him a bit high. Great idea, just gotta finish.

Sears airs one out to Michael Pittman who goes up and grabs it over Je'Quari Godfrey.

Sears hits Aca'Cedric Ware in the flats and he scoots upfield for a first down. Ware showed off his versatility as the lone scholarship tailback available today. You wonder, though, how much USC will be able to run the ball in practice this spring.

Fink connects with Michael Pittman on a deep out. It's a throw he wasn't attempting much in the past but will need to moving forward. Also, Pittman and Vaughns both look really confident.

Sears hits Imatorbbhebhe, who quickly changes gears and picks up a big chunk of yards after the catch. This might be his biggest strength.

Velus Jones runs a double reverse for a long gain. He can be really good with the ball in his hands. Body control is the X factor.

***
JuJu Smith-Schuster, incoming CB Olaijah Griffin and his father Warren G were among today's attendees. I also bumped into Rasheem Green and congratulated him on his 40 time at the combine. He told me we didn't see him maximize his speed last season because he was playing through injuries.

USC's next practice is Thursday at 3:15 at Howard Jones Field. All practices this spring are open to the public.

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So, I have predicted anywhere from 5-7 to 7-5.

Losses at stanford, texas, utah, nd, ucla.

However, i think if we could ever get Drevno coaching the oline, and the sooner the better, i think we could win at least a couple more games.

Not a bad coaching pick up, just not the coaching position i would have liked. We still have a little time......

Eh - TrojanGiftHorse - you still hating all my posts?

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Adam,

I was reading just thru your first 3 or 4 paragraphs of the spring football notes today, what a joke.
What is going on with this team, these young guys sound like a bunch of old maids. It is just the first spring practice and already there is an infirmary filled with a quarter of the team already. What happens after contact drills, more wear and tear and then into game season?
I've never seen anything like this, Daniel still nursing something that he had a problem with since last June, sore knees for others. I get Stephen and Marlon but the rest are crazy how long it is taking plus all the new ones after 1-day. These guys need to take better off season care and training then they are doing. What is your take on all of these injuries before anything even really started?

OL vs DL

Part 1

https://n.rivals.com/news/rcs-los-angeles-ol-vs-dl-part-one-2

Part 2

https://n.rivals.com/news/rcs-los-angeles-ol-vs-dl-part-two-2

RB vs LB

https://n.rivals.com/news/rcs-los-angeles-rbs-vs-dbs

WR vs DB

Part 1

https://n.rivals.com/news/rcs-los-angeles-wrs-vs-dbs-part-one

Part 2

https://n.rivals.com/news/rcs-los-angeles-wrs-vs-dbs-part-two