USC held its first spring practice today. Here's a rundown of the news...
Positions/rotations
QB Matt Fink got the majority of first-team reps, though he and Jack Sears received about an equal amount overall. Helton noted he will not be deciding on a starter at the end of spring practice.
"At all positions, the man that's playing the best by the time we get to Game 1 is going to go out there," he said. "The best man's got to play, in that moment, whoever it might be."
Helton said he plans to give the first and second teams an equal amount of reps throughout spring while rotating as many players as possible on both teams to see how they respond.
Reuben Peters practiced exclusively at linebacker and Helton said Dominic Davis, who was absent, is going to practice at tailback. This is where I'd expect them to remain for the spring.
TE Tyler Petite got the majority of first-team reps.
Clayton Johnston was the first-team left tackle, while Austin Jackson worked with the second team.
Brett Neilon was the first-team center.
Christian Rector and Connor Murphy played defensive end. Could be a sign that we'll see more 3-4 and less nickel this season. Or perhaps 3-3-5?
Jordan Iosefa took the majority of first-team reps at Predator, ahead of Porter Gustin. It's evident Helton (and Clancy Pendergast) are very high on Iosefa right now.
Juliano Falaniko got the first-team reps at strong-side linebacker.
Ykili Ross assumed Tell's first-team reps at free safety, with Bubba Bolden getting the first-team reps at strong safety.
Isaiah Pola-Mao was also at free safety.
***
Notes
"You really see some depth being developed," Helton said. "That's where our strength is. I really feel that there may not be a superstar on our team and I told this team that, that's not a bad thing. By the end of the year, let's hope we have a superstar. But right now I see strength in number and I see depth at each position."
Helton was asked directly if those numbers would be put to use more this season. He said they would. "That's one thing I've addressed with our coaches -- our strength in numbers -- let's be a fresh football team. It's OK for one kid to come out, put the other kid in and play more numbers. We're to that position now, we have experience on the field."
Additionally, Helton mentioned the need to address turnovers and penalties, two areas in which USC really struggled last season. I asked how specifically that would be emphasized in spring. He said both trace back to improving fundamentals, and we saw USC run a couple different drills today involving ball security and hand usage.
"It's really my goal, I remember myself as a good football coach, and to have the ability to teach fundamentals and technique to everybody. I think sometimes we get caught up on just focusing on defensive fundamentals and offensive fundamentals and sometimes we go to remember everybody what ball security is, teach everybody how to strip a ball and punch it out. Those are things I want to be attention to detail. That's my job, and I want to do a great job at it this year. That's my focus. You'll see that point of emphasis out here. ...
"The penalties, when you look at them, some of them are decision-making penalties, some are just penalties where you jump offside, but a lot of the ones I'm focusing on right now are with the hands. When you go back and look at the tape, I thought we were an average to a below average hands team. That created holding penalties, that created defensive back penalties, and that's where we got to get better. Some of the drills, even where we took two periods, just working the hands and getting the hands in the correct place, that's going to be a standard for us, not only this camp but training camp, and hopefully it pays off for us in the fall."
Highlights
I don't have as many plays charted as I typically do because they weren't in pads and the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods weren't particularly long. (USC has said the last four Saturday practices will involve scrimmaging.) But here's a few that caught my eye from Day 1:
Matt Fink completes three consecutive passes to Tyler Vaughns, whose shoulders always seem square to the ball.
Fink has Josh Imatorbhebhe downfield but PI from freshman Chase Williams prevents a completion.
Sears looks off a safety and tried downfield for Randal Grimes but missed him a bit high. Great idea, just gotta finish.
Sears airs one out to Michael Pittman who goes up and grabs it over Je'Quari Godfrey.
Sears hits Aca'Cedric Ware in the flats and he scoots upfield for a first down. Ware showed off his versatility as the lone scholarship tailback available today. You wonder, though, how much USC will be able to run the ball in practice this spring.
Fink connects with Michael Pittman on a deep out. It's a throw he wasn't attempting much in the past but will need to moving forward. Also, Pittman and Vaughns both look really confident.
Sears hits Imatorbbhebhe, who quickly changes gears and picks up a big chunk of yards after the catch. This might be his biggest strength.
Velus Jones runs a double reverse for a long gain. He can be really good with the ball in his hands. Body control is the X factor.
***
JuJu Smith-Schuster, incoming CB Olaijah Griffin and his father Warren G were among today's attendees. I also bumped into Rasheem Green and congratulated him on his 40 time at the combine. He told me we didn't see him maximize his speed last season because he was playing through injuries.
USC's next practice is Thursday at 3:15 at Howard Jones Field. All practices this spring are open to the public.
- Coach Clay Helton confirmed our report from Saturday that CB Jack Jones will not participate in spring practice so that he can focus on academics and that he has been suspended for the season opener because of a violation of team rules.
- WR Jalen Greene and OL Roy Hemsley are exploring graduate transfers.
- DB Jamel Cook is still at USC and focusing on academics. He's planning to transfer at the end of spring.
- OL Cole Smith and Nathan Smith, both of whom are taking medical retirements, will remain with the team as student-coaches and plan to earn masters degrees while at USC.
- CB Greg Johnson and S Isaiah Pola-Mao will be "limited in contact" this spring. Not sure if that meant they won't be involved in as much contact as others or completely held out of contact periods. I'll let you know once when we get there.
- S Marvell Tell is not practicing this week because of a groin injury. He's expected to be back after spring break, which is next week.
- LB Tayler Katoa has returned from his torn ACL. He'll be evaluated again to determine whether he is ready for contact.
- OL Toa Lobendahn (knee soreness) and Frank Martin (knee soreness) are out and will be evaluated after spring break for a possible return.
- TB Vavae Malepeai (hamstring tightness) will be limited this week. They hope he'll be full speed after spring break.
- I was able to confirm OLB Wole Betiku did undergo surgery on both hips. Helton said it's a six-month recovery and they're hopeful he will return by training camp.
- TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe is being held out for spring because he's still hampered by the torn quad he originally suffered in June of last year. "We're making an investment to really try to get that muscle strain fully healed," Helton said.
- As I reported previously, DT Marlon Tuipulotu (back) and TB Stephen Carr (back) are out for spring. Helton said he's hoping Tuipulotu will be back by training camp and that Carr's rehab will entail at least three months from surgery, which was in mid-February. Helton added Carr is doing a half-mile to a mile of walking already.
Positions/rotations
QB Matt Fink got the majority of first-team reps, though he and Jack Sears received about an equal amount overall. Helton noted he will not be deciding on a starter at the end of spring practice.
"At all positions, the man that's playing the best by the time we get to Game 1 is going to go out there," he said. "The best man's got to play, in that moment, whoever it might be."
Helton said he plans to give the first and second teams an equal amount of reps throughout spring while rotating as many players as possible on both teams to see how they respond.
Reuben Peters practiced exclusively at linebacker and Helton said Dominic Davis, who was absent, is going to practice at tailback. This is where I'd expect them to remain for the spring.
TE Tyler Petite got the majority of first-team reps.
Clayton Johnston was the first-team left tackle, while Austin Jackson worked with the second team.
Brett Neilon was the first-team center.
Christian Rector and Connor Murphy played defensive end. Could be a sign that we'll see more 3-4 and less nickel this season. Or perhaps 3-3-5?
Jordan Iosefa took the majority of first-team reps at Predator, ahead of Porter Gustin. It's evident Helton (and Clancy Pendergast) are very high on Iosefa right now.
Juliano Falaniko got the first-team reps at strong-side linebacker.
Ykili Ross assumed Tell's first-team reps at free safety, with Bubba Bolden getting the first-team reps at strong safety.
Isaiah Pola-Mao was also at free safety.
***
Notes
"You really see some depth being developed," Helton said. "That's where our strength is. I really feel that there may not be a superstar on our team and I told this team that, that's not a bad thing. By the end of the year, let's hope we have a superstar. But right now I see strength in number and I see depth at each position."
Helton was asked directly if those numbers would be put to use more this season. He said they would. "That's one thing I've addressed with our coaches -- our strength in numbers -- let's be a fresh football team. It's OK for one kid to come out, put the other kid in and play more numbers. We're to that position now, we have experience on the field."
Additionally, Helton mentioned the need to address turnovers and penalties, two areas in which USC really struggled last season. I asked how specifically that would be emphasized in spring. He said both trace back to improving fundamentals, and we saw USC run a couple different drills today involving ball security and hand usage.
"It's really my goal, I remember myself as a good football coach, and to have the ability to teach fundamentals and technique to everybody. I think sometimes we get caught up on just focusing on defensive fundamentals and offensive fundamentals and sometimes we go to remember everybody what ball security is, teach everybody how to strip a ball and punch it out. Those are things I want to be attention to detail. That's my job, and I want to do a great job at it this year. That's my focus. You'll see that point of emphasis out here. ...
"The penalties, when you look at them, some of them are decision-making penalties, some are just penalties where you jump offside, but a lot of the ones I'm focusing on right now are with the hands. When you go back and look at the tape, I thought we were an average to a below average hands team. That created holding penalties, that created defensive back penalties, and that's where we got to get better. Some of the drills, even where we took two periods, just working the hands and getting the hands in the correct place, that's going to be a standard for us, not only this camp but training camp, and hopefully it pays off for us in the fall."
Highlights
I don't have as many plays charted as I typically do because they weren't in pads and the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods weren't particularly long. (USC has said the last four Saturday practices will involve scrimmaging.) But here's a few that caught my eye from Day 1:
Matt Fink completes three consecutive passes to Tyler Vaughns, whose shoulders always seem square to the ball.
Fink has Josh Imatorbhebhe downfield but PI from freshman Chase Williams prevents a completion.
Sears looks off a safety and tried downfield for Randal Grimes but missed him a bit high. Great idea, just gotta finish.
Sears airs one out to Michael Pittman who goes up and grabs it over Je'Quari Godfrey.
Sears hits Aca'Cedric Ware in the flats and he scoots upfield for a first down. Ware showed off his versatility as the lone scholarship tailback available today. You wonder, though, how much USC will be able to run the ball in practice this spring.
Fink connects with Michael Pittman on a deep out. It's a throw he wasn't attempting much in the past but will need to moving forward. Also, Pittman and Vaughns both look really confident.
Sears hits Imatorbbhebhe, who quickly changes gears and picks up a big chunk of yards after the catch. This might be his biggest strength.
Velus Jones runs a double reverse for a long gain. He can be really good with the ball in his hands. Body control is the X factor.
***
JuJu Smith-Schuster, incoming CB Olaijah Griffin and his father Warren G were among today's attendees. I also bumped into Rasheem Green and congratulated him on his 40 time at the combine. He told me we didn't see him maximize his speed last season because he was playing through injuries.
USC's next practice is Thursday at 3:15 at Howard Jones Field. All practices this spring are open to the public.
