Notes and observations from today's practice...
USC was in shells and shorts and practiced for close to two and a half hours.
Highlights from 7-on-7:
Sam Darnold completed five consecutive passes, to Darreus Rogers, Steven Mitchell Jr., JuJu Smith-Shuster on a crossing route, De'Quan Hampton and Ronald Jones II, who handled it cleanly. Darnold later hit Jalen Greene on a deep streak.
Max Browne completed three straight, to Aca'Cedric Ware, Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman over the deep middle. Browne then hit Hampton, who had a defender on his back. We haven't seen a lot of Hampton this year and I'm not sure why. He is a totally different body type than anyone else in the rotation and would seem to be at least a third-down weapon.
Jordan Iosefa made a really nice deflection in this period as well.
***
Highlights from 11-on-11:
Sam Darnold connects with Hampton again.
Darnold hits Taylor McNamara.
Darnold completes a short pass to JuJu.
Darnold throws a bomb to Hampton for a TD.
***
Darnold hits Tyler Vaughns for a first down.
Darnold, amid pressure, lobs an easy screen to Justin Davis.
Darnold completes a first down to JuJu.
Darnold rolls to his left and throws a sharp pass to the outside to Rogers for a nice gain.
***
Browne, who got more reps today than he did yesterday -- Greene practiced at receiver -- makes a strong throw to Cary Angeline downfield but Angeline isn't able to hang on. It was good to see Browne put less air under it. He certainly has the arm strength to do so.
Practice ended soon after. Helton said afterward the defensive front worked on generating pressure and getting to the quarterback. It's been a serious issue thus far.
Helton also discussed needing to use more players on defense and specifically mentioned LBs Connor Murphy, Jordan Iosefa, John Houston and Olajuwon Tucker.
The next edition of They Said It will feature DC Clancy Pendergast, CB Adoree' Jackson, S Chris Hawkins and LB Cam Smith.
USC was in shells and shorts and practiced for close to two and a half hours.
Highlights from 7-on-7:
Sam Darnold completed five consecutive passes, to Darreus Rogers, Steven Mitchell Jr., JuJu Smith-Shuster on a crossing route, De'Quan Hampton and Ronald Jones II, who handled it cleanly. Darnold later hit Jalen Greene on a deep streak.
Max Browne completed three straight, to Aca'Cedric Ware, Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman over the deep middle. Browne then hit Hampton, who had a defender on his back. We haven't seen a lot of Hampton this year and I'm not sure why. He is a totally different body type than anyone else in the rotation and would seem to be at least a third-down weapon.
Jordan Iosefa made a really nice deflection in this period as well.
***
Highlights from 11-on-11:
Sam Darnold connects with Hampton again.
Darnold hits Taylor McNamara.
Darnold completes a short pass to JuJu.
Darnold throws a bomb to Hampton for a TD.
***
Darnold hits Tyler Vaughns for a first down.
Darnold, amid pressure, lobs an easy screen to Justin Davis.
Darnold completes a first down to JuJu.
Darnold rolls to his left and throws a sharp pass to the outside to Rogers for a nice gain.
***
Browne, who got more reps today than he did yesterday -- Greene practiced at receiver -- makes a strong throw to Cary Angeline downfield but Angeline isn't able to hang on. It was good to see Browne put less air under it. He certainly has the arm strength to do so.
Practice ended soon after. Helton said afterward the defensive front worked on generating pressure and getting to the quarterback. It's been a serious issue thus far.
Helton also discussed needing to use more players on defense and specifically mentioned LBs Connor Murphy, Jordan Iosefa, John Houston and Olajuwon Tucker.
The next edition of They Said It will feature DC Clancy Pendergast, CB Adoree' Jackson, S Chris Hawkins and LB Cam Smith.
