Highlights from our interview with defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.
--on how much this defense will look like 2013’s
"We’re doing some things differently. We have different people, so it’s a feeling out process. We’re getting a feel of what our guys can and cannot do. And our opponents are a little bit different and the game has changed maybe some, so there’s some things I’ve studied and picked up and learned over the last couple years. There’s some new flavors. The biggest thing is we want alignment, assignment, technique."
--He said some players might still change positions over final two weeks of spring.
--on how having more depth impacts what he can do
"It’s really about the same, when you look at it. It really hasn’t changed all that much. It’s maybe one player heavier at all three levels of the defense. Secondary might be two guys more than we had before."
--He said USC will vary between 5-2, 3-4 and 4-3 fronts.
--on Quinton Powell
"He’s got a lot of things to work on. You can really see his ability flash in space. He’s very explosive and really can run sideline to sideline. … He diagnoses things very quickly."
--on whether his weight is a concern
"Not really. He still gets on and off blocks well. We play a lot of teams that play three, four wide receivers, so it will allow him to play in space a little bit more than some of the schemes in other conferences."
--on Porter Gustin
"Porter really works hard. He’s really improved his run technique up front and his pass rush continues to get better."
--on Kenny Bigelow
"We were real excited about the progress he had made. He was a completely different kid than when I was here in 2013. I was looking to a get a lot of quality work out of him. It was a big blow for the defense."
--on what he’s learned about the defense through eight practices
"That we’ve got a long ways to go. This group has been diligent, I will say that. You never know when taking over a group how they’re going to respond. These guys want to be good. That’s one step in the right direction."
--on how much this defense will look like 2013’s
"We’re doing some things differently. We have different people, so it’s a feeling out process. We’re getting a feel of what our guys can and cannot do. And our opponents are a little bit different and the game has changed maybe some, so there’s some things I’ve studied and picked up and learned over the last couple years. There’s some new flavors. The biggest thing is we want alignment, assignment, technique."
--He said some players might still change positions over final two weeks of spring.
--on how having more depth impacts what he can do
"It’s really about the same, when you look at it. It really hasn’t changed all that much. It’s maybe one player heavier at all three levels of the defense. Secondary might be two guys more than we had before."
--He said USC will vary between 5-2, 3-4 and 4-3 fronts.
--on Quinton Powell
"He’s got a lot of things to work on. You can really see his ability flash in space. He’s very explosive and really can run sideline to sideline. … He diagnoses things very quickly."
--on whether his weight is a concern
"Not really. He still gets on and off blocks well. We play a lot of teams that play three, four wide receivers, so it will allow him to play in space a little bit more than some of the schemes in other conferences."
--on Porter Gustin
"Porter really works hard. He’s really improved his run technique up front and his pass rush continues to get better."
--on Kenny Bigelow
"We were real excited about the progress he had made. He was a completely different kid than when I was here in 2013. I was looking to a get a lot of quality work out of him. It was a big blow for the defense."
--on what he’s learned about the defense through eight practices
"That we’ve got a long ways to go. This group has been diligent, I will say that. You never know when taking over a group how they’re going to respond. These guys want to be good. That’s one step in the right direction."
