Notes and observations from today's practice ...
USC again had lengthy team periods (and no scout work). Practice ended maybe 20 minutes earlier than a usual Wednesday, yet it was another one of its more physical practices. This is the team's only bye week. In theory, this Tuesday and Wednesday are the two least important practices during the season, but USC didn't approach them as such.
***
Cody Kessler throws a screen to Steven Mitchell Jr., who turns upfield for a long gain. Isaac Whitney provided a key block. The perimeter blocking from the receivers has quietly had a major impact on the Trojans' offense.
Delvon Simmons blocked a field goal, which Biggie Marshall returned for a TD.
Aca'Cedric Ware goes up the right side for a huge gain.
A play later, Ware drops his shoulder for a nice gain in the red zone. He's a polished runner. Good instincts.
***
John Plattenburg makes a nice open-field tackle on Mitchell.
Mitchell beats Chris Hawkins on a deep post.
Hawkins plays tight coverage (couldn't make out the receiver) and forces an incompletion.
Delvon Simmons registers a sack.
***
Simmons comes back with a TFL on Ronald Jones II.
Whitney catches a short pass and is met by Biggie, who delivers a vicious hit and then strips the ball. Adoree' Jackson and Jalen Greene also collided in the area as Jackson was there to help Biggie. Pretty awesome sequence.
Jones catches a wheel and beats Osa Masina to the edge and scores. Jones showed great awareness.
Sam Darnold fires a quick pass to George Katrib for a TD.
***
Rasheem Green sacks Max Browne.
Kessler throws deep to Whitney, but it's to the wrong shoulder and Biggie prevents Whitney from adjusting.
Robby Kolanz makes a leaping catch over a defender on a nice ball from Browne.
Davonte Nunnery picks off Darnold.
***
Kessler is almost picked off on a throw to no man's land. Looked like he and Whitney were on different pages there.
Kessler goes back to Whitney on a slant and he can't hang on to what would have been a tough catch.
Kessler takes a coverage sack.
Jonathan Lockett plays good D on De'Quan Hampton to force an incompletion.
***
Don Hill and Malik Dorton combine for a sack on Browne.
Daniel Imatorbhebhe came down with a jump ball near the sideline. He's always impressive.
Kevon Seymour had a telling moment. He was in soft coverage against David Mellstrom and when he tried to come up for a tackle his leg appeared to lock. Seymour then hobbled off the field.
Afterward, Sark expressed enthusiasm about Seymour's movement and activity — he did more today than he has in weeks. But he still doesn't look right. He doesn't appear able to fully plant his foot and, despite all the reps, he clearly wasn't running full sped. It looked more like what you'd see in a walk-through.
***
Biggie and Isaiah Langley remained on the practice field for about half an hour to work on press techniques. Biggie, as I've noted before, gets extra work in after nearly every practice.
USC has the next two days off before returning to practice late Saturday afternoon.
USC again had lengthy team periods (and no scout work). Practice ended maybe 20 minutes earlier than a usual Wednesday, yet it was another one of its more physical practices. This is the team's only bye week. In theory, this Tuesday and Wednesday are the two least important practices during the season, but USC didn't approach them as such.
***
Cody Kessler throws a screen to Steven Mitchell Jr., who turns upfield for a long gain. Isaac Whitney provided a key block. The perimeter blocking from the receivers has quietly had a major impact on the Trojans' offense.
Delvon Simmons blocked a field goal, which Biggie Marshall returned for a TD.
Aca'Cedric Ware goes up the right side for a huge gain.
A play later, Ware drops his shoulder for a nice gain in the red zone. He's a polished runner. Good instincts.
***
John Plattenburg makes a nice open-field tackle on Mitchell.
Mitchell beats Chris Hawkins on a deep post.
Hawkins plays tight coverage (couldn't make out the receiver) and forces an incompletion.
Delvon Simmons registers a sack.
***
Simmons comes back with a TFL on Ronald Jones II.
Whitney catches a short pass and is met by Biggie, who delivers a vicious hit and then strips the ball. Adoree' Jackson and Jalen Greene also collided in the area as Jackson was there to help Biggie. Pretty awesome sequence.
Jones catches a wheel and beats Osa Masina to the edge and scores. Jones showed great awareness.
Sam Darnold fires a quick pass to George Katrib for a TD.
***
Rasheem Green sacks Max Browne.
Kessler throws deep to Whitney, but it's to the wrong shoulder and Biggie prevents Whitney from adjusting.
Robby Kolanz makes a leaping catch over a defender on a nice ball from Browne.
Davonte Nunnery picks off Darnold.
***
Kessler is almost picked off on a throw to no man's land. Looked like he and Whitney were on different pages there.
Kessler goes back to Whitney on a slant and he can't hang on to what would have been a tough catch.
Kessler takes a coverage sack.
Jonathan Lockett plays good D on De'Quan Hampton to force an incompletion.
***
Don Hill and Malik Dorton combine for a sack on Browne.
Daniel Imatorbhebhe came down with a jump ball near the sideline. He's always impressive.
Kevon Seymour had a telling moment. He was in soft coverage against David Mellstrom and when he tried to come up for a tackle his leg appeared to lock. Seymour then hobbled off the field.
Afterward, Sark expressed enthusiasm about Seymour's movement and activity — he did more today than he has in weeks. But he still doesn't look right. He doesn't appear able to fully plant his foot and, despite all the reps, he clearly wasn't running full sped. It looked more like what you'd see in a walk-through.
***
Biggie and Isaiah Langley remained on the practice field for about half an hour to work on press techniques. Biggie, as I've noted before, gets extra work in after nearly every practice.
USC has the next two days off before returning to practice late Saturday afternoon.
