Notes and observations from Saturday's practice...
Today was the first workout in full pads.
***
Johnny Nansen has always been intense but it seems to translate better at linebacker. Time will tell, of course. During a thud drill, he implores John Houston to set his feet so that he hits with more power. Nansen then shows Wole Betiku how to raise his hands at the point of attack.
1-on-1s:
JuJu Smith-Schuster drops the first rep and waves off the WR behind him so he can go again. He catches the next one and delivers a strong stiff arm to Isaiah Langley.
Deontay Burnett shows great footwork as he catches a curl and quickly spins toward the sideline, running by Leon McQuay in the process.
Michael Pittman is a bit slender but he's already a physical mismatch.
Darreus Rogers beats Johnathan Lockett on a slant.
De'Quan Hampton catches a short pass and makes a nice inside move to get free. He needs to play with more confidence.
11-on-11s:
(Unfortunately, this run-only period was in the far corner of the field and there was an entire sideline of guests obstructing our view.)
What I noticed is that USC was primarily in nickel, with McQuay, John Plattenburg and Marvell Tell on the field together along with CBs Biggie Marshall and Langley. Quinton Powell and Michael Hutchings were the first-team inside linebackers for most of the day. It had been Olajuwon Tucker and John Houston earlier in the week. I'm guessing that was by design.
Ronald Jones II had a 20-yard run outside in which he ran through a couple defenders. He says he's 190, which is about where he played at last year. But he's a little thicker in the torso and chest.
***
Individuals:
Matt Boermeester unofficially made five of eight field-goal tries. He connected from 20, 25, 27, 30 and 40 and missed from 34, 38 and 44. He was the only kicker to get reps. The holders were Reid Budrovich, Sam Darnold and Jackson Boyer.
A lot of the individuals took place far from the media's designated area, preventing us from getting a good look at those drills. We did get to see the receivers and then later more 1-on-1s between them and the defensive backs.
Max Browne connects deep with Michael Pittman. Such a fluid motion and release for Browne.
Browne hits TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe up the seam.
Browne lofts one to JuJu downfield. One gripe with Browne is that I think he sometimes puts too much under his long passes.
A moment later, Sam Darnold goes downfield and delivers a strong, level throw. I find that to be much better and tougher to intercept. Maybe it's just a matter of preference.
***
Darnold connect with Hampton on the sideline. he ha d atight window as Biggie was playing good coverage.
A good curl route by WR Josh Imatorbhebhe frees him for a reception.
Biggie closely guards JuJu and Darnold overthrows it.
Biggie sticks JuJu again and causes Browne to throw it in the ground. Biggie's aggressiveness creates pressure for opposing QBs.
7-on-7s:
Langley picks off Browne on the very first rep. Browne was trying to throw a screen to Dom Davis and Langley was all over it. Easy pick-six.
USC is doing a lot of nickel again with the same group as I noted above.
Browne doesn't get the throw off in time so it goes down as a sack.
Darnold makes a strong throw outside to Dom.
Jalen Greene throws a 10-yard pass to Ajene Harris, who spins and runs past three defenders for about 30 more yards. He's a max-effort guy. Had a solid day today. He always impresses when healthy. Hopefully the double hip surgery he had last summer will eliminate the issues he was having with his hamstring.
Powell thumps D. Imatorbhebhe. Looks like he's been totally rejuvenated under Clancy. Same for McQuay.
Aca'Cedric Ware catches a pass over the middle and picks up a first down. It feels like he's the odd-man out at running back but the guy is really well-rounded. Would be a shame if he ultimately decides to transfer. He can play.
Matt Fink throws a 25-yard pass to Dom for a TD. Dom is so good at catching the ball in traffic. He has great receiver instincts.
Darnold is sacked on two of three plays. (The QBs were again pretty indecisive in this period.)
Darnold then shows great anticipation as he throws 20 yards over the middle to Taylor McNamara, only McNamara didn't look up in time and missed a touchdown grab. He was by himself.
11-on-11s:
The defense again works heavily out of a nickel front. Jacob Daniel is initially the nose tackle but is soon pulled and it's just Rasheem Green and Kenny Bigelow up front.
Browne, under pressure, forces a ball downfield and Isaac Whitney plays good D to prevent a Langley INT.
Darnold goes to Dom in the flat and he makes someone miss, soon drawing the entire defense. He is great in space.
McQuay stuffs Hampton on a pass underneath.
Browne is sacked by Grant Moore.
Justin Davis runs on consecutive plays and picks up a first down. He's not a huge focal point this spring but he always practices at a high level.
Platt pushes Burnett out of bounds to minimize the damage on a quick out.
***
Steven Mitchell Jr. is open in the slot and Darnold misses him. Would have been a TD.
Darnold is sacked by Joel Foy.
Browne completes a first down to JuJu.
Browne throws an incomplete pass.
Browne goes back to JuJu and hits him on a corner post for a TD. Biggie and Platt were in coverage.
A pass to Hampton falls incomplete and Coach Ronnie Bradford lays into the secondary for their (lack of) coverage. He then yells toward Hampton, "Throw that (ball) to somebody else." Bradford isn't playing around.
Greene zips one over the middle to Ajene.
Greene then misses a throw underneath. His accuracy remains inconsistent. But quarterback is were he wants to play.
***
It wasn't clear when the final challenge began but here is what I wrote own for the last sequence of practice:
Browne goes to Rogers over the middle and Langley tips it to McQuay for an interception.
Darnold enter and completes a first down to Burnett.
Browne re-enters and tries to hit JuJu over the middle. Hutchings is there and the pass caroms off either him or JuJu and right into McQuay's hands for another INT. He returns this one for a TD.
Darnold enters and is sacked. Lockett was in there with several others.
Browne throws a deep ball to the corner of the end zone and JuJu holds on with his fingertips for a TD. he beat Biggie and McQuay this time. With that, practice is over.
***
USC is off until Tuesday, March 22.
I have another edition of They Said It coming Sunday.
Today was the first workout in full pads.
***
Johnny Nansen has always been intense but it seems to translate better at linebacker. Time will tell, of course. During a thud drill, he implores John Houston to set his feet so that he hits with more power. Nansen then shows Wole Betiku how to raise his hands at the point of attack.
1-on-1s:
JuJu Smith-Schuster drops the first rep and waves off the WR behind him so he can go again. He catches the next one and delivers a strong stiff arm to Isaiah Langley.
Deontay Burnett shows great footwork as he catches a curl and quickly spins toward the sideline, running by Leon McQuay in the process.
Michael Pittman is a bit slender but he's already a physical mismatch.
Darreus Rogers beats Johnathan Lockett on a slant.
De'Quan Hampton catches a short pass and makes a nice inside move to get free. He needs to play with more confidence.
11-on-11s:
(Unfortunately, this run-only period was in the far corner of the field and there was an entire sideline of guests obstructing our view.)
What I noticed is that USC was primarily in nickel, with McQuay, John Plattenburg and Marvell Tell on the field together along with CBs Biggie Marshall and Langley. Quinton Powell and Michael Hutchings were the first-team inside linebackers for most of the day. It had been Olajuwon Tucker and John Houston earlier in the week. I'm guessing that was by design.
Ronald Jones II had a 20-yard run outside in which he ran through a couple defenders. He says he's 190, which is about where he played at last year. But he's a little thicker in the torso and chest.
***
Individuals:
Matt Boermeester unofficially made five of eight field-goal tries. He connected from 20, 25, 27, 30 and 40 and missed from 34, 38 and 44. He was the only kicker to get reps. The holders were Reid Budrovich, Sam Darnold and Jackson Boyer.
A lot of the individuals took place far from the media's designated area, preventing us from getting a good look at those drills. We did get to see the receivers and then later more 1-on-1s between them and the defensive backs.
Max Browne connects deep with Michael Pittman. Such a fluid motion and release for Browne.
Browne hits TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe up the seam.
Browne lofts one to JuJu downfield. One gripe with Browne is that I think he sometimes puts too much under his long passes.
A moment later, Sam Darnold goes downfield and delivers a strong, level throw. I find that to be much better and tougher to intercept. Maybe it's just a matter of preference.
***
Darnold connect with Hampton on the sideline. he ha d atight window as Biggie was playing good coverage.
A good curl route by WR Josh Imatorbhebhe frees him for a reception.
Biggie closely guards JuJu and Darnold overthrows it.
Biggie sticks JuJu again and causes Browne to throw it in the ground. Biggie's aggressiveness creates pressure for opposing QBs.
7-on-7s:
Langley picks off Browne on the very first rep. Browne was trying to throw a screen to Dom Davis and Langley was all over it. Easy pick-six.
USC is doing a lot of nickel again with the same group as I noted above.
Browne doesn't get the throw off in time so it goes down as a sack.
Darnold makes a strong throw outside to Dom.
Jalen Greene throws a 10-yard pass to Ajene Harris, who spins and runs past three defenders for about 30 more yards. He's a max-effort guy. Had a solid day today. He always impresses when healthy. Hopefully the double hip surgery he had last summer will eliminate the issues he was having with his hamstring.
Powell thumps D. Imatorbhebhe. Looks like he's been totally rejuvenated under Clancy. Same for McQuay.
Aca'Cedric Ware catches a pass over the middle and picks up a first down. It feels like he's the odd-man out at running back but the guy is really well-rounded. Would be a shame if he ultimately decides to transfer. He can play.
Matt Fink throws a 25-yard pass to Dom for a TD. Dom is so good at catching the ball in traffic. He has great receiver instincts.
Darnold is sacked on two of three plays. (The QBs were again pretty indecisive in this period.)
Darnold then shows great anticipation as he throws 20 yards over the middle to Taylor McNamara, only McNamara didn't look up in time and missed a touchdown grab. He was by himself.
11-on-11s:
The defense again works heavily out of a nickel front. Jacob Daniel is initially the nose tackle but is soon pulled and it's just Rasheem Green and Kenny Bigelow up front.
Browne, under pressure, forces a ball downfield and Isaac Whitney plays good D to prevent a Langley INT.
Darnold goes to Dom in the flat and he makes someone miss, soon drawing the entire defense. He is great in space.
McQuay stuffs Hampton on a pass underneath.
Browne is sacked by Grant Moore.
Justin Davis runs on consecutive plays and picks up a first down. He's not a huge focal point this spring but he always practices at a high level.
Platt pushes Burnett out of bounds to minimize the damage on a quick out.
***
Steven Mitchell Jr. is open in the slot and Darnold misses him. Would have been a TD.
Darnold is sacked by Joel Foy.
Browne completes a first down to JuJu.
Browne throws an incomplete pass.
Browne goes back to JuJu and hits him on a corner post for a TD. Biggie and Platt were in coverage.
A pass to Hampton falls incomplete and Coach Ronnie Bradford lays into the secondary for their (lack of) coverage. He then yells toward Hampton, "Throw that (ball) to somebody else." Bradford isn't playing around.
Greene zips one over the middle to Ajene.
Greene then misses a throw underneath. His accuracy remains inconsistent. But quarterback is were he wants to play.
***
It wasn't clear when the final challenge began but here is what I wrote own for the last sequence of practice:
Browne goes to Rogers over the middle and Langley tips it to McQuay for an interception.
Darnold enter and completes a first down to Burnett.
Browne re-enters and tries to hit JuJu over the middle. Hutchings is there and the pass caroms off either him or JuJu and right into McQuay's hands for another INT. He returns this one for a TD.
Darnold enters and is sacked. Lockett was in there with several others.
Browne throws a deep ball to the corner of the end zone and JuJu holds on with his fingertips for a TD. he beat Biggie and McQuay this time. With that, practice is over.
***
USC is off until Tuesday, March 22.
I have another edition of They Said It coming Sunday.
