News updates from Thursday's practice:
USC practiced in full pads for two hours and 15 minutes on this rainy afternoon.
Noah Jefferson (back) participated in some team periods and worked with the first team at times.
OTs Chad Wheeler (ankle) and Chuma Edoga (wrist) were full-go.
LB John Houston continues to increase his workload. It's safe to say LB Osa Masina is fully integrated at this point.
S John Plattenburg (ankle), CB Jonathan Lockett (concussion) and OT Clayton Johnston (concussion) remained out.
Ajene Harris exclusively practiced on defense.
DT Malik Dorton had a good practice. I asked Coach Clay Helton about him and he said Dorton fits better in Clancy Pendergast's system than he did Justin Wilcox's.
"Malik is not an incredibly big guy, we know that. In a two-gap system, it's pretty hard for him," Helton said. "But when he's put on the edges, his strength is his quick-twitch ability and ability to get up the field and penetrate. I think you're seeing that. We're playing to some of our kids' strengths."
Helton then said he thinks Pendergast's D also benefits Rasheem Green, Porter Gustin and Jabari Ruffin similarly.
"By Clancy putting them on some edges, those guys get upfield pretty fast," Helton said. "You know that quarterback feels that. He's having to step up in the pocket, he's having to move over and find throwing lanes. They're doing a nice job with the pass rush. The blitz package that Clancy has put together in this camp has been phenomenal. I think it's going to cause some havoc."
Helton added that stopping the run will require a full team effort and the D-line playing on the offense's side of the ball.
Something else worth noting: I did not see Dom Davis get a single touch today in team periods.
Saturday's practice is at 10 a.m. at Howard Jones. (If you're coming, it's best to arrive before 10 a.m. because of the book festival on campus.)
Find more details from today's practice in Footnotes.
USC practiced in full pads for two hours and 15 minutes on this rainy afternoon.
Noah Jefferson (back) participated in some team periods and worked with the first team at times.
OTs Chad Wheeler (ankle) and Chuma Edoga (wrist) were full-go.
LB John Houston continues to increase his workload. It's safe to say LB Osa Masina is fully integrated at this point.
S John Plattenburg (ankle), CB Jonathan Lockett (concussion) and OT Clayton Johnston (concussion) remained out.
Ajene Harris exclusively practiced on defense.
DT Malik Dorton had a good practice. I asked Coach Clay Helton about him and he said Dorton fits better in Clancy Pendergast's system than he did Justin Wilcox's.
"Malik is not an incredibly big guy, we know that. In a two-gap system, it's pretty hard for him," Helton said. "But when he's put on the edges, his strength is his quick-twitch ability and ability to get up the field and penetrate. I think you're seeing that. We're playing to some of our kids' strengths."
Helton then said he thinks Pendergast's D also benefits Rasheem Green, Porter Gustin and Jabari Ruffin similarly.
"By Clancy putting them on some edges, those guys get upfield pretty fast," Helton said. "You know that quarterback feels that. He's having to step up in the pocket, he's having to move over and find throwing lanes. They're doing a nice job with the pass rush. The blitz package that Clancy has put together in this camp has been phenomenal. I think it's going to cause some havoc."
Helton added that stopping the run will require a full team effort and the D-line playing on the offense's side of the ball.
Something else worth noting: I did not see Dom Davis get a single touch today in team periods.
Saturday's practice is at 10 a.m. at Howard Jones. (If you're coming, it's best to arrive before 10 a.m. because of the book festival on campus.)
Find more details from today's practice in Footnotes.
