Notes and observations from Tuesday ...
Steven Mitchell Jr. looks very natural at punt returning. (We would find out later that Sark intends to use Adoree' Jackson as the primary punt returner and kickoff returner. That would seem to be an obvious selection, though Adoree' admits he is still getting used to returning punts.) Mitchell has similar sensibilities and wouldn't be a shabby alternative. Not only is he a comparable threat in the open field but he looks very comfortable receiving punts.
Watching Olajuwon Tucker go through drills and he's a really good-looking athlete -- long, hulking.
Similarly, Osa Masina is really agile. He's already one of the better athletes among the linebacking corps.
Jabari Ruffin has also impressed in individuals. Waiting for him to make some more noise in team periods.
Taylor McNamara had a rough day. Dropped a couple balls right in his hands. Has some room to improve athletically, too. Caleb Wilson, Tyler Petite and Daniel Imatorbhebhe all look further along as receivers. Connor Spears is looking more and more reliable. Don't be surprised if he's the guy to begin the season.
Darreus Rogers had an exquisite catch in individuals.
11-on-11s:
JuJu Smith-Schuster caught a deep pass over the middle from Cody Kessler for a TD. Chris Hawkins tried to help but bounced off Smith while Kevon Seymour trailed. JuJu punctuated his great play by dunking it over the goalpost.
De'Quan Hampton reached high for a ball in the corner. Someone made a comp to Patrick Turner. They are built similarly but Hampton definitely seems faster.
Tre Madden had a pair of nice cuts -- first on linebacker Reuben Peters and then Adoree' -- for a big gain. He's moving really well.
Ronald Jones II couldn't hang onto a swing pass from Max Browne.
***
Uchenna Nwosu put a good hit on Aca'Cedric Ware on a pass to the flat.
Whitney secured a reception by getting in front of Jonathan Lockett.
Browne read the blitz in time and finds Robby Kolanz short. Browne is sacked by Joel Foy a moment later. Still, I'd say Browne has improved in this area.
Browne then leads Jones on a swing pass and Jones makes a really nice reaching grab and takes it to the house. Best play in camp from Jones thus far. This was his best practice too.
Masina closes fast and forces an incompletion on a short pass to Ware.
1-on-1s:
11-on-11s:
Cody completes two quick ones, to Mitchell and then JuJu
Ware gets some work with the first-team and picks up a nice gain. He's shifty, moves well behind the scrimmage to avoid TFLs. He looks to be further along than Jones, probably because he was in summer workouts earlier.
Kessler throws it behind Mitchell and it's incomplete.
Browne throws a beautiful deep ball down the middle of the field but it's out of reach for a shorter receiver (We had an awful view for this sequence so I couldn't make out which walk-on it was.)
***
Michael Hutchings and Christian Rector combine to blow up the line -- Rector is off to a good start.
Toa Lobendahn picks up the rush from Jabari Ruffin, which affords Cody time to hit Rogers.
A great block by Hampton on Biggie frees Isaac Whitney for a big gain.
Dom Davis scoots up the left side for a long run.
Jones follows with a big gain.
***
Browne hits Ware on a swing pass.
Sack by Masina.
Jones runs to his right and picks up a first down.
Ricky Town makes a strong throw over the middle (I think it was to Deontay Burnett -- our view is almost completely obstructed at this point).
More 1-on1s:
Field goals:
Matt Boermeester (distances unknown) - good, blocked by Delvon Simmons and returned by Adoree', good, good
Alex Wood - good, good, not good
That's two days now in which Boermeester received an extra attempt
11-on-11s:
Kessler to Mitchell over the middle with Su'a Cravens in coverage.
Kessler targets Spears but it goes over his head. Spears needed to get more separation there.
Cody throws it too low for Tyler Petite but the freshman holds on.
Kevon cuts off Hampton and forces an incompletion
***
Lockett records a deflection with help from Ykili. (Gustin blew past Roy Hemsley and Browne got it out fast.)
Lockett with the interception. -- this is one of his best practices at USC
Lockett with the deflection (but he's called for PI -- looked questionable)
Adoree' deflects a pass to Rogers.
***
Madden busts through the hole and picks up a massive gain down the right side. This was the play of the night.
In a throwback to spring, JuJu and Kevon are really getting physical tonight and JuJu wins another battle.
JuJu finds a crease in the zone for a big gain.
Madden has another big run.
***
Vainuku goes up the middle for a nice gain.
Vainuku bowls over Reuben Peters for another nice gain.
Adoree' knocks into Dom Davis and then strips the ball and runs the other way. Just an outstanding play.
John Houston Jr. lays a strong hit on Jones.
***
Final challenge:
Another 2.5-hour session. None have been light, either. More team periods than I recall there being during the first week last year.
They'll be in full pads tomorrow. Practice starts at 5:30 and is open to the public.
Steven Mitchell Jr. looks very natural at punt returning. (We would find out later that Sark intends to use Adoree' Jackson as the primary punt returner and kickoff returner. That would seem to be an obvious selection, though Adoree' admits he is still getting used to returning punts.) Mitchell has similar sensibilities and wouldn't be a shabby alternative. Not only is he a comparable threat in the open field but he looks very comfortable receiving punts.
Watching Olajuwon Tucker go through drills and he's a really good-looking athlete -- long, hulking.
Similarly, Osa Masina is really agile. He's already one of the better athletes among the linebacking corps.
Jabari Ruffin has also impressed in individuals. Waiting for him to make some more noise in team periods.
Taylor McNamara had a rough day. Dropped a couple balls right in his hands. Has some room to improve athletically, too. Caleb Wilson, Tyler Petite and Daniel Imatorbhebhe all look further along as receivers. Connor Spears is looking more and more reliable. Don't be surprised if he's the guy to begin the season.
Darreus Rogers had an exquisite catch in individuals.
11-on-11s:
JuJu Smith-Schuster caught a deep pass over the middle from Cody Kessler for a TD. Chris Hawkins tried to help but bounced off Smith while Kevon Seymour trailed. JuJu punctuated his great play by dunking it over the goalpost.
De'Quan Hampton reached high for a ball in the corner. Someone made a comp to Patrick Turner. They are built similarly but Hampton definitely seems faster.
Tre Madden had a pair of nice cuts -- first on linebacker Reuben Peters and then Adoree' -- for a big gain. He's moving really well.
Ronald Jones II couldn't hang onto a swing pass from Max Browne.
***
Uchenna Nwosu put a good hit on Aca'Cedric Ware on a pass to the flat.
Whitney secured a reception by getting in front of Jonathan Lockett.
Browne read the blitz in time and finds Robby Kolanz short. Browne is sacked by Joel Foy a moment later. Still, I'd say Browne has improved in this area.
Browne then leads Jones on a swing pass and Jones makes a really nice reaching grab and takes it to the house. Best play in camp from Jones thus far. This was his best practice too.
Masina closes fast and forces an incompletion on a short pass to Ware.
1-on-1s:
- Hawkins tight on Mitchell but Mitchell makes a lunging catch.
- JuJu pushes off on Kevon off the line and catches it.
- Hampton catches it over the top vs. Isaiah Langley.
- Jalen Greene beats Leon McQuay.
- Lockett gets an INT vs. Kolanz
- Kevon deflects a pass to JuJu (Kevon hustled for that one as JuJu initially caught it but Kevon jarred it loose)
- Darreus gets inside of Adoree' for a completion
- Langley, after commiting PI, recovers well late in the play to prevent a completion to Hampton
- Adoree' has tight coverage on Rogers and the pass falls way incomplete. Miscommunication there.
- JuJu beats Kevon again, this time outside
- Biggie Marshall with good D vs. Whitney for an incompletion (pass was well behind Whitney)
- Whitney beats Biggie inside for a catch
- Rogers throws a double move on Adoree' but doesn't gain separation. A perfect (and long) throw from Browne beats the coverage as Rogers secures it.
- Kolanz beats Biggie inside -- Biggie has been a little vulnerable on these inside routes. (I guess it's worth noting that Biggie has practiced exclusively at corner. Sark and DC Justin Wilcox intimated that's his home.)
- Langley with great D on David Mellstrom
- Kevon deflects a pass to JuJu
- Cody drops one in to Whitney over Biggie down the sideline
- Langley is whistled for another flag
11-on-11s:
Cody completes two quick ones, to Mitchell and then JuJu
Ware gets some work with the first-team and picks up a nice gain. He's shifty, moves well behind the scrimmage to avoid TFLs. He looks to be further along than Jones, probably because he was in summer workouts earlier.
Kessler throws it behind Mitchell and it's incomplete.
Browne throws a beautiful deep ball down the middle of the field but it's out of reach for a shorter receiver (We had an awful view for this sequence so I couldn't make out which walk-on it was.)
***
Michael Hutchings and Christian Rector combine to blow up the line -- Rector is off to a good start.
Toa Lobendahn picks up the rush from Jabari Ruffin, which affords Cody time to hit Rogers.
A great block by Hampton on Biggie frees Isaac Whitney for a big gain.
Dom Davis scoots up the left side for a long run.
Jones follows with a big gain.
***
Browne hits Ware on a swing pass.
Sack by Masina.
Jones runs to his right and picks up a first down.
Ricky Town makes a strong throw over the middle (I think it was to Deontay Burnett -- our view is almost completely obstructed at this point).
More 1-on1s:
- Zach Banner eats up Porter Gustin on consecutive reps
- Gustin drives Banner back on their next face-off.
- McQuay secures an interception as the ball goes off Whitney's fingertips.
- Ykili Ross strips Jones and Nwosu plucks it out of the air for a pick-six. (Keith Heyward has said Ykili has the best mind of the freshmen DBs at this point.)
Field goals:
Matt Boermeester (distances unknown) - good, blocked by Delvon Simmons and returned by Adoree', good, good
Alex Wood - good, good, not good
That's two days now in which Boermeester received an extra attempt
11-on-11s:
Kessler to Mitchell over the middle with Su'a Cravens in coverage.
Kessler targets Spears but it goes over his head. Spears needed to get more separation there.
Cody throws it too low for Tyler Petite but the freshman holds on.
Kevon cuts off Hampton and forces an incompletion
***
Lockett records a deflection with help from Ykili. (Gustin blew past Roy Hemsley and Browne got it out fast.)
Lockett with the interception. -- this is one of his best practices at USC
Lockett with the deflection (but he's called for PI -- looked questionable)
Adoree' deflects a pass to Rogers.
***
Madden busts through the hole and picks up a massive gain down the right side. This was the play of the night.
In a throwback to spring, JuJu and Kevon are really getting physical tonight and JuJu wins another battle.
JuJu finds a crease in the zone for a big gain.
Madden has another big run.
***
Vainuku goes up the middle for a nice gain.
Vainuku bowls over Reuben Peters for another nice gain.
Adoree' knocks into Dom Davis and then strips the ball and runs the other way. Just an outstanding play.
John Houston Jr. lays a strong hit on Jones.
***
Final challenge:
- Madden picks up a chunk of yards.
- fumbled snap kills the next play
- JuJu beats Kevon deep
- Townsend sacks Kessler
- Felix sacks Kessler with Townsend pressuring -- defense wins
Another 2.5-hour session. None have been light, either. More team periods than I recall there being during the first week last year.
They'll be in full pads tomorrow. Practice starts at 5:30 and is open to the public.
