I did not attend but I did watch the televised event of it on PAC12 network. Still there was some things to see and hear (via interviews). It was a 1 1/4 hour practice with pads. . Most time was taken up with individual drills, 9 on 7 and 7 on 7 team practices and ended in a pseudo scrimmage-no tackling.
This is a team that has lost some heavy hitters on O with 7 starters returning. 2 at WR, 1 at TE, and 4 at OL. The latter is a big deal since USC had sputtered at times in 2017 behind an OL that lost 3 big starters. They wil be deeper with 3 seniors, and 2 sophs in the starting lineups bringing back 51 starts among them. It should be one of the better OLs in the country. And it is depended on to being that since the team will run more this year according to HC Helton. USC was decent on offense last year (2017) USC averaged 184 yards running (#4 PAC12, #39 Nationally), 297 yards passing (#3 P12, N16), Total Yards 484 yards (#2P12, N13), and Scoring offense 32.6 (#4P12, N35). But what happens with RB (Ron Jones II) and WR losses (Burnett and Mitchell) and of course QB (Sam Darnold). The first 2 units seem pretty well stocked especially at the TE spot (another run enabler?). QB is key and it will not be decided until fall but the last week improvements of Fink and Sears are starting to calm some of those worries. Both had good days and some plays spotlighted their strengths. Fink on an option play (another play to be added?) pulled it back for a 35 yard TD run. Sears in his turn showed a good arm and threw a 35-40 yard strike for a TD. Both were comfortable under defensive pressure. No interceptions, 1 fumble by a running back. 2 drops by receivers.
The defense returns 8 starters with the biggest loss in the DL where 1 starter returns. LBs are back and the entire DB returns. All together that’s 103 starts. The D combined for 46 sacks last year, tied for 5th in the country. They had 16 interceptions tied for 19th in FBS. The whole defense could be special ( said to be the best in 10 years) and the DL has some impressive new players coming up. They could be the top unit in the P12 and high rated overall. That will be needed to smooth the QB transition. Like the OL the DL recruiting is starting to shape the future of this club.
What's impressive is that in the last few weeks the team isn't giving up many turnovers. Last year USC Defense had 25 takeaways ranking them #25 nationally , but the offense gave up 27 ranking them #120 nationally. 9 of those in the 3 losses. That needs work. The Sporting News does have USC as an early #12 ranking.
This is a team that has lost some heavy hitters on O with 7 starters returning. 2 at WR, 1 at TE, and 4 at OL. The latter is a big deal since USC had sputtered at times in 2017 behind an OL that lost 3 big starters. They wil be deeper with 3 seniors, and 2 sophs in the starting lineups bringing back 51 starts among them. It should be one of the better OLs in the country. And it is depended on to being that since the team will run more this year according to HC Helton. USC was decent on offense last year (2017) USC averaged 184 yards running (#4 PAC12, #39 Nationally), 297 yards passing (#3 P12, N16), Total Yards 484 yards (#2P12, N13), and Scoring offense 32.6 (#4P12, N35). But what happens with RB (Ron Jones II) and WR losses (Burnett and Mitchell) and of course QB (Sam Darnold). The first 2 units seem pretty well stocked especially at the TE spot (another run enabler?). QB is key and it will not be decided until fall but the last week improvements of Fink and Sears are starting to calm some of those worries. Both had good days and some plays spotlighted their strengths. Fink on an option play (another play to be added?) pulled it back for a 35 yard TD run. Sears in his turn showed a good arm and threw a 35-40 yard strike for a TD. Both were comfortable under defensive pressure. No interceptions, 1 fumble by a running back. 2 drops by receivers.
The defense returns 8 starters with the biggest loss in the DL where 1 starter returns. LBs are back and the entire DB returns. All together that’s 103 starts. The D combined for 46 sacks last year, tied for 5th in the country. They had 16 interceptions tied for 19th in FBS. The whole defense could be special ( said to be the best in 10 years) and the DL has some impressive new players coming up. They could be the top unit in the P12 and high rated overall. That will be needed to smooth the QB transition. Like the OL the DL recruiting is starting to shape the future of this club.
What's impressive is that in the last few weeks the team isn't giving up many turnovers. Last year USC Defense had 25 takeaways ranking them #25 nationally , but the offense gave up 27 ranking them #120 nationally. 9 of those in the 3 losses. That needs work. The Sporting News does have USC as an early #12 ranking.
