TrojanSports.com caught up with USC defensive line coach Chris Wilson about the new leaders on the defensive line, the rotation in camp, the freshmen and more.
What stands out to you about the DLine?
Chris Wilson: “One thing thats been nice is the effort. That part is really standing out. Also is the attention to detail. They know what they’re doing. Obviously a year into the system and the commitment and investment they’ve made in it, they know what to do. Now what you have to do is really work hard at cleaning up the fundamentals. So that’s my job. Their job is to know what to do and my job is to teach them how to do it.”
Why has the rotation been switched up at times?
CW: “We’re working with every combination, creating competition with everybody. And the goal at the end of the day is to have two platoons of guys that are going and competing instead of saying, we have a one and a two. Two platoons, three platoons of guys, how many we can get that can play. If you’re going to win in any league, you have to be dominant up front and that’s where we have to get to.”
Do you feel like having multiple platoons can be accomplished?
CW: “Absolutely. We have a lot of college football players out here right now. The deal is we have a lot of college football players at different points in their career and what we have to do is expedite the learning curve for our young guys. That’s what we’re doing, we’re playing them early and getting them ready and ready to go.
What stands out about the young guys?
CW: “Size, athleticism. That’s what I like more than anything. They’re big athletes. What that means is they can change direction, they can play in space. When you get guys like that, it makes you different.”
Could the freshmen move positions too?
CW: “Absolutely. That’s what you really want to be, you want to be as interchangeable as you can possibly be. Right now, we’re tinkering, we don’t know that for sure yet, so we’re moving guys to different positions and seeing what they can do instead of boxing them in.”
Is there anyone who seems like a Leonard Williams replacement?
CW: “I don’t know if you can replace Leonard with one guy. I don’t know if that’s really an honest statement. What you have to do is have a committee of guys who really play at their best. That’s the most important thing we do.We have to have 22 guys on defense, or more, who can go in and out without any drop off. When you do that, you have a really good team, not a talented team, you have a good football team.”
Does it seem like the defensive line is better at being a committee of guys?
CW: “I think obviously we know each other a lot better than we did last year at this time. We’ve spent a lot of time with each other, on and off the field. We know each other well, we know what the expectations are with Coach (Steve) Sarkisian. We’re a lot further along than we were 18 months ago.”
Who are the current leaders on the defensive line?
CW: “Antwaun Woods and Delvon (Simmons) are not only taking an on the field role but also taking a leadership role. They’re doing an excellent job of making a concerted effort to get to know these young guys and develop relationships.”
What stands out to you about the DLine?
Chris Wilson: “One thing thats been nice is the effort. That part is really standing out. Also is the attention to detail. They know what they’re doing. Obviously a year into the system and the commitment and investment they’ve made in it, they know what to do. Now what you have to do is really work hard at cleaning up the fundamentals. So that’s my job. Their job is to know what to do and my job is to teach them how to do it.”
Why has the rotation been switched up at times?
CW: “We’re working with every combination, creating competition with everybody. And the goal at the end of the day is to have two platoons of guys that are going and competing instead of saying, we have a one and a two. Two platoons, three platoons of guys, how many we can get that can play. If you’re going to win in any league, you have to be dominant up front and that’s where we have to get to.”
Do you feel like having multiple platoons can be accomplished?
CW: “Absolutely. We have a lot of college football players out here right now. The deal is we have a lot of college football players at different points in their career and what we have to do is expedite the learning curve for our young guys. That’s what we’re doing, we’re playing them early and getting them ready and ready to go.
What stands out about the young guys?
CW: “Size, athleticism. That’s what I like more than anything. They’re big athletes. What that means is they can change direction, they can play in space. When you get guys like that, it makes you different.”
Could the freshmen move positions too?
CW: “Absolutely. That’s what you really want to be, you want to be as interchangeable as you can possibly be. Right now, we’re tinkering, we don’t know that for sure yet, so we’re moving guys to different positions and seeing what they can do instead of boxing them in.”
Is there anyone who seems like a Leonard Williams replacement?
CW: “I don’t know if you can replace Leonard with one guy. I don’t know if that’s really an honest statement. What you have to do is have a committee of guys who really play at their best. That’s the most important thing we do.We have to have 22 guys on defense, or more, who can go in and out without any drop off. When you do that, you have a really good team, not a talented team, you have a good football team.”
Does it seem like the defensive line is better at being a committee of guys?
CW: “I think obviously we know each other a lot better than we did last year at this time. We’ve spent a lot of time with each other, on and off the field. We know each other well, we know what the expectations are with Coach (Steve) Sarkisian. We’re a lot further along than we were 18 months ago.”
Who are the current leaders on the defensive line?
CW: “Antwaun Woods and Delvon (Simmons) are not only taking an on the field role but also taking a leadership role. They’re doing an excellent job of making a concerted effort to get to know these young guys and develop relationships.”
