Notes and observations from Sunday's practice...
USC was again in full pads.
11-on-11:
Cody Kessler to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a first down.
Kessler overthrows Darreus Rogers downfield.
Uchenna Nwosu tackles Tre Madden.
Steven Mitchell Jr. catches a screen and runs it in for a short TD.
Joel Foy records a TFL on Aca'Cedric Ware. The O-line has just been OK thus far in camp, which is a bit surprising.
Max Browne throws a quick pass to Robby Kolanz in the slot for a TD.
***
Sam Darnold hits Jahleel Pinner for a long gain. I think it's worth noting the pass was forward. We've seen less of the sideways passes to the fullbacks. Can't say the same about those to wide receivers.
Kessler short-arms a ball to JuJu.
John Houston Jr. stops a run.
Kessler takes a coverage sack.
Ware runs to the left for a nice gain.
Ronald Jones II goes to the left for another nice gain.
Osa Masina and Claude Pelon combine to stop a run.
***
JuJu beats Su'a Cravens over the middle for a reception. Kessler threw the ball behind him, which has ben somewhat of an issue for him when targeting JuJu and Mitchell on crossing patterns.
Anthony Sarao tackles Justin Davis, who had a few carries in team periods.
Madden run for a few yards.
Madden catches a screen and goes for a first down.
Sam Darnold completes three in a row, to Deontay Burnett, Caleb Wilson and Jalen Greene.
Dominic Davis runs right and falls a bit prematurely.
***
Porter Gustin lines up in front of a tight end and covers him. He wasn't targeted but it was interesting to see Gustin be asked to do that. There really is no clear leader in the competition at rush end. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gustin ultimately won it, by the end of September if not before the season.
Darnold rolls to his right and throws a crisp pass to George Katrib. Good-looking play from Darnold.
Dom Davis goes down after a short gain. He's been getting a good amount of carries early on, seemingly to get him up to speed as a ball-carrier.
Davis runs hard on the next play and picks up a few yards.
7-on-7:
Kessler goes deep to Justin Davis and it falls incomplete. Encouraging, though, that Davis would even be called to run downfield for a pass after hardly practicing the past week.
Kessler throws behind JuJu.
Kessler hits JuJu over the middle.
Browne completes three straight, to Whitney, Jones and Greene.
***
Kessler throws it behind Mitchell and then too high for JuJu.
Kessler then hits JuJu over the middle.
Safety Marvell Tell seems to be getting a significant amount of reps of late.
Browne completes it to Katrib.
Browne goes deep to Koland and it's out of his reach.
Kolanz drops a pass from Browne. Would be great to see Browne get more (some?) reps with JuJu, Mitchell and Darreus.
***
Field goals:
Wood: 47 - good, 49 - good, 52 - good, 54 - no good, 54 - good
Boermeester: 47 - no good, 49 - good, 52 - good, 54 - no good
I believe it was the first time this fall that Wood went first and also the first time he was given an extra attempt.
11-on-11:
Kessler throws it high to JuJu. Obviously an off day for Kessler.
Kessler goes back to JuJu for a completion.
Mitchell goes over the middle and beats the zone for a god pick-up.
Chris Hawkins, who took reps at CB, breaks up a pass to Darreus.
Jabari Ruffin is also increasing his workload.
A bubble screen to Tober goes for negative yards. USC simply can't let this play go.
Browne hits Katrib deep. Excellent falling catch from Katrib.
Browne hits Ware on a swing and Lockett knocks him out of bounds, to the applause of a grad assistant.
Browne's quick sideline pass to Tober is incomplete.
***
Nwosu and Jordan Simmons combine for a sack.
Gustin goes right though the middle of the line for a sack.
Gustin and Greg Townsend are consistently getting in the backfield.
Connor Spears catches a quick pass.
It's also worth noting we're seeing more reps for Taylor McNamara.
JuJu makes a good catch on a good, strong throw from Kessler. Biggie Marshall was right on JuJu and JuJu prevailed.
Kessler hits Kolanz.
Mitchell dives for a long reception. Another good throw from Kessler.
***
Darnold finds De'Quan Hampton deep.
Ykili Ross breaks up a pass to Isaac Whitney.
James Toland catches a pass and runs up the sideline for a TD.
RoJo breaks a couple tackles for a first down.
Browne hits RoJo for a short pass.
Browne scrambles for a nice gain.
***
Final challenge (two-point conversions):
Kessler hits Dom Davis for a score.
Lockett breaks up a pass to Mitchell.
Delvon tackles Davis at the 1.
Lockett jumps high and intercepts a Kessler pass intended for Mitchell in the back of the end zone.
***
Cam Smith stayed after practice to work on long-snapping.
The first-team OL included more Chad Wheeler at LT and Toa Lobendahn at RG.
The second-team OL included Nico Falah at LT and Chris Brown at RG. The two would later switch.
USC will practice twice Monday. The evening practice (6:30 p.m.) will feature scrimmaging and is open to the public.
USC was again in full pads.
11-on-11:
Cody Kessler to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a first down.
Kessler overthrows Darreus Rogers downfield.
Uchenna Nwosu tackles Tre Madden.
Steven Mitchell Jr. catches a screen and runs it in for a short TD.
Joel Foy records a TFL on Aca'Cedric Ware. The O-line has just been OK thus far in camp, which is a bit surprising.
Max Browne throws a quick pass to Robby Kolanz in the slot for a TD.
***
Sam Darnold hits Jahleel Pinner for a long gain. I think it's worth noting the pass was forward. We've seen less of the sideways passes to the fullbacks. Can't say the same about those to wide receivers.
Kessler short-arms a ball to JuJu.
John Houston Jr. stops a run.
Kessler takes a coverage sack.
Ware runs to the left for a nice gain.
Ronald Jones II goes to the left for another nice gain.
Osa Masina and Claude Pelon combine to stop a run.
***
JuJu beats Su'a Cravens over the middle for a reception. Kessler threw the ball behind him, which has ben somewhat of an issue for him when targeting JuJu and Mitchell on crossing patterns.
Anthony Sarao tackles Justin Davis, who had a few carries in team periods.
Madden run for a few yards.
Madden catches a screen and goes for a first down.
Sam Darnold completes three in a row, to Deontay Burnett, Caleb Wilson and Jalen Greene.
Dominic Davis runs right and falls a bit prematurely.
***
Porter Gustin lines up in front of a tight end and covers him. He wasn't targeted but it was interesting to see Gustin be asked to do that. There really is no clear leader in the competition at rush end. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gustin ultimately won it, by the end of September if not before the season.
Darnold rolls to his right and throws a crisp pass to George Katrib. Good-looking play from Darnold.
Dom Davis goes down after a short gain. He's been getting a good amount of carries early on, seemingly to get him up to speed as a ball-carrier.
Davis runs hard on the next play and picks up a few yards.
7-on-7:
Kessler goes deep to Justin Davis and it falls incomplete. Encouraging, though, that Davis would even be called to run downfield for a pass after hardly practicing the past week.
Kessler throws behind JuJu.
Kessler hits JuJu over the middle.
Browne completes three straight, to Whitney, Jones and Greene.
***
Kessler throws it behind Mitchell and then too high for JuJu.
Kessler then hits JuJu over the middle.
Safety Marvell Tell seems to be getting a significant amount of reps of late.
Browne completes it to Katrib.
Browne goes deep to Koland and it's out of his reach.
Kolanz drops a pass from Browne. Would be great to see Browne get more (some?) reps with JuJu, Mitchell and Darreus.
***
Field goals:
Wood: 47 - good, 49 - good, 52 - good, 54 - no good, 54 - good
Boermeester: 47 - no good, 49 - good, 52 - good, 54 - no good
I believe it was the first time this fall that Wood went first and also the first time he was given an extra attempt.
11-on-11:
Kessler throws it high to JuJu. Obviously an off day for Kessler.
Kessler goes back to JuJu for a completion.
Mitchell goes over the middle and beats the zone for a god pick-up.
Chris Hawkins, who took reps at CB, breaks up a pass to Darreus.
Jabari Ruffin is also increasing his workload.
A bubble screen to Tober goes for negative yards. USC simply can't let this play go.
Browne hits Katrib deep. Excellent falling catch from Katrib.
Browne hits Ware on a swing and Lockett knocks him out of bounds, to the applause of a grad assistant.
Browne's quick sideline pass to Tober is incomplete.
***
Nwosu and Jordan Simmons combine for a sack.
Gustin goes right though the middle of the line for a sack.
Gustin and Greg Townsend are consistently getting in the backfield.
Connor Spears catches a quick pass.
It's also worth noting we're seeing more reps for Taylor McNamara.
JuJu makes a good catch on a good, strong throw from Kessler. Biggie Marshall was right on JuJu and JuJu prevailed.
Kessler hits Kolanz.
Mitchell dives for a long reception. Another good throw from Kessler.
***
Darnold finds De'Quan Hampton deep.
Ykili Ross breaks up a pass to Isaac Whitney.
James Toland catches a pass and runs up the sideline for a TD.
RoJo breaks a couple tackles for a first down.
Browne hits RoJo for a short pass.
Browne scrambles for a nice gain.
***
Final challenge (two-point conversions):
Kessler hits Dom Davis for a score.
Lockett breaks up a pass to Mitchell.
Delvon tackles Davis at the 1.
Lockett jumps high and intercepts a Kessler pass intended for Mitchell in the back of the end zone.
***
Cam Smith stayed after practice to work on long-snapping.
The first-team OL included more Chad Wheeler at LT and Toa Lobendahn at RG.
The second-team OL included Nico Falah at LT and Chris Brown at RG. The two would later switch.
USC will practice twice Monday. The evening practice (6:30 p.m.) will feature scrimmaging and is open to the public.
