Notes and observations from practice ...
There was a training camp vibe at practice, as USC had extended 11-on-11 periods. As I noted in Quick Hits, there were no scout team periods, allowing for the freshmen who are redshirting to get more reps. Practice was also more physical than usual.
***
Christian Tober makes a leaping catch down the sideline on a good ball from Cody Kessler. (Tober might have been shaken up on the play but he returned.)
Deontay Burnett catches a swing pass from Kessler.
Jalen Greene beats Isaiah Langley on a hook route. Another good ball from Kessler.
Uchenna Nwosu stuffs Aca'Cedric Ware in the backfield.
Rasheem Green, Kenny Bigelow Jr. and Claude Pelon made up the second-team defensive line.
***
Dom Davis takes an inside run into the secondary.
Kessler hits Steven Mitchell for an 18-yard TD pass (although the play seemed to be called dead as Lamar Dawson got a hand on Kessler).
Alex Wood missed from 42 yards out but later hit from 48-49.
Rasheem Green sacks Max Browne.
De'Quan Hampton catches consecutive passes from Browne. (This bye week is critical for him as he still seems to be getting acclimated to playing at this level.)
***
Burnett makes a great cut inside after catching a bubble screen.
Nwosu records another TFL, this time on a keeper from Browne.
Browne hits Isaac Whitney for a 5-yard TD off a bootleg.
Ronald Jones II takes two straight runs into the secondary.
Ware powers across the goal line for a TD.
***
Isaiah Langley picked off a Kessler pass to Jalen Greene.
Ronald Jones drops a gimme in the open field. He has a ways to go in this area. Has dropped too many passes in practice.
Caleb Wilson tips a pass to himself while being guarded by John Houston Jr. Wilson looks like he'll be a contributor in the passing game once he physically develops.
Ykili Ross and Isaiah Langley break up back-to-back passes from Max Browne. Both freshmen got a lot of work today as many of the veterans were held back. (I'm still surprised Ross is being redshirted. There's just so much to work with there and the secondary, while much improved, isn't exactly loaded with depth.)
Lopes lays out David Mellstrom, who holds onto a throw over the middle.
***
Sam Darnold throws a nice, decisive fade to Jackson Boyer for a touchdown. Darnold took his most reps since training camp and had a great showing.
Darnold is sacked (couldn't see who got there first).
Darnold picks up a nice gain on a keeper.
Darnold connects with Yoofi Quansah on a slant and then downfield.
Wilson catches a TD from Darnold.
***
Rasheem green records a TFL.
Kenny Bigelow Jr. sacks Max Browne.
Jabari Ruffin records a sack on what was an excellent play on multiple levels for the D. Nwosu was also deep in the backfield while Bigelow flattened an offensive lineman.
Spears gets his fingertips on a pass downfield and Ross picks it off.
Olajuwon Tucker got nicked up in practice and missed a good part of it.
***
Kessler hits Mitchell over the middle. The throw was slightly behind Mitchell, spoiling a potentially big gain.
John Plattenburg picks off Kessler, who was trying to hit Tyler Petite in the deep middle. (Let's not forget, Kessler was working without JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers today.)
Burnett hauls in a post route.
Nwosu rocks Greene on a throw over the middle and appeared to jar the ball loose.
Browne effortlessly throws to the deep middle and Burnett snags it with one hand. While running upfield he was stripped from behind by Matt Lopes, who then recovered the ball. Great hustle by Lopes and good times all around.
Osa Masina registers a sack.
Biggie Marshall stuffs Jones near the line of scrimmage.
***
The team will practice again tomorrow before taking the following two days off.
There was a training camp vibe at practice, as USC had extended 11-on-11 periods. As I noted in Quick Hits, there were no scout team periods, allowing for the freshmen who are redshirting to get more reps. Practice was also more physical than usual.
***
Christian Tober makes a leaping catch down the sideline on a good ball from Cody Kessler. (Tober might have been shaken up on the play but he returned.)
Deontay Burnett catches a swing pass from Kessler.
Jalen Greene beats Isaiah Langley on a hook route. Another good ball from Kessler.
Uchenna Nwosu stuffs Aca'Cedric Ware in the backfield.
Rasheem Green, Kenny Bigelow Jr. and Claude Pelon made up the second-team defensive line.
***
Dom Davis takes an inside run into the secondary.
Kessler hits Steven Mitchell for an 18-yard TD pass (although the play seemed to be called dead as Lamar Dawson got a hand on Kessler).
Alex Wood missed from 42 yards out but later hit from 48-49.
Rasheem Green sacks Max Browne.
De'Quan Hampton catches consecutive passes from Browne. (This bye week is critical for him as he still seems to be getting acclimated to playing at this level.)
***
Burnett makes a great cut inside after catching a bubble screen.
Nwosu records another TFL, this time on a keeper from Browne.
Browne hits Isaac Whitney for a 5-yard TD off a bootleg.
Ronald Jones II takes two straight runs into the secondary.
Ware powers across the goal line for a TD.
***
Isaiah Langley picked off a Kessler pass to Jalen Greene.
Ronald Jones drops a gimme in the open field. He has a ways to go in this area. Has dropped too many passes in practice.
Caleb Wilson tips a pass to himself while being guarded by John Houston Jr. Wilson looks like he'll be a contributor in the passing game once he physically develops.
Ykili Ross and Isaiah Langley break up back-to-back passes from Max Browne. Both freshmen got a lot of work today as many of the veterans were held back. (I'm still surprised Ross is being redshirted. There's just so much to work with there and the secondary, while much improved, isn't exactly loaded with depth.)
Lopes lays out David Mellstrom, who holds onto a throw over the middle.
***
Sam Darnold throws a nice, decisive fade to Jackson Boyer for a touchdown. Darnold took his most reps since training camp and had a great showing.
Darnold is sacked (couldn't see who got there first).
Darnold picks up a nice gain on a keeper.
Darnold connects with Yoofi Quansah on a slant and then downfield.
Wilson catches a TD from Darnold.
***
Rasheem green records a TFL.
Kenny Bigelow Jr. sacks Max Browne.
Jabari Ruffin records a sack on what was an excellent play on multiple levels for the D. Nwosu was also deep in the backfield while Bigelow flattened an offensive lineman.
Spears gets his fingertips on a pass downfield and Ross picks it off.
Olajuwon Tucker got nicked up in practice and missed a good part of it.
***
Kessler hits Mitchell over the middle. The throw was slightly behind Mitchell, spoiling a potentially big gain.
John Plattenburg picks off Kessler, who was trying to hit Tyler Petite in the deep middle. (Let's not forget, Kessler was working without JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers today.)
Burnett hauls in a post route.
Nwosu rocks Greene on a throw over the middle and appeared to jar the ball loose.
Browne effortlessly throws to the deep middle and Burnett snags it with one hand. While running upfield he was stripped from behind by Matt Lopes, who then recovered the ball. Great hustle by Lopes and good times all around.
Osa Masina registers a sack.
Biggie Marshall stuffs Jones near the line of scrimmage.
***
The team will practice again tomorrow before taking the following two days off.
