USC held its second spring practice Thursday. Here's a rundown of the news...
Saturday's practice has been moved to Friday and is set to begin at 3:15 p.m. Coach Clay Helton mentioned he wants a clean practice because of limited numbers and therefore is trying to avoid the forecasted rain for this weekend. They'll be in shells tomorrow.
Velus Jones took reps from the slot and out of the backfield for the second consecutive practice. He was with the receivers for the individual drills. Guess we can call him a slot back. I asked Helton what the plan is with him moving forward, particularly since Jones took quite a few handoffs today. Helton seemed to downplay a potentially evolving role, noting Jones came out of the backfield at times last year. FWIW, we did not see him come out of the backfield this much in practice last year.
When I asked if anyone else would be given a look at tailback or potentially switch there, Helton said with only two healthy scholarship tailbacks they plan to utilize their Super package more this spring, which involves a receiver lining up in the backfield.
Dominic Davis was present after missing Tuesday's workout and he practiced exclusively at tailback. He flashed his speed and athleticism on a few occasions. A better test for him will be when they put on the pads. Everyone knows he is dynamic in what is essentially a glorified 7-on-7.
Christian Rector continues to do individual drills with the outside linebackers but take the bulk of his reps at defensive end.
Connor Murphy is at 260 pounds, and Helton sees him being able to play the 3-technique and then the 5-technique when USC is facing non-zone read teams.
After spending a good portion of Tuesday's practice at Predator, Jordan Iosefa was at SAM on Thursday. He clarified for me that SAM is his primary spot but all the OLBs will continue to work on both sides.
OLB Porter Gustin considerably increased his workload from Tuesday, and he was a nuisance in the backfield while also setting the edge quite well.
Ajene Harris is getting some work at cornerback when USC isn't in nickel.
Helton singled out the play of CBs Biggie Marshall and Isaiah Langley.
WR Josh Imatorhebhe was absent because he had an undisclosed medical procedure. Helton said he'll be available when the team returns from spring break.
Walk-ons Austin Applebee and Jake Russell injured their hamstrings.
--Helton on the makeup of this team
"I think this team is going to have to play extremely well together -- where last year you felt offense had a really good day, maybe the defense was off. Then defense had a good day and offense was off. This is going to have to be a collective effort between this group to get to where we want to go."
--Helton on the quarterbacks
"This is an educational time for both of them. I don't want them thinking, oh God, I made a bad throw, did that cost me the job? I want them to try to get better form Practice 1 to Practice 15. How much progress can we make? That's all I'm focused on right now. Can we get those kids that are practicing right now to where they can play on Saturdays. Because they don't have a lot of reps and they've got so much progress that they need to make."
Helton said Sears, who primarily worked with the first team, showed great anticipation and decision-making. He added that neither Sears nor Matt Fink is playing timid.
I spoke with redshirt freshman safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and he said he's not sure if he'll be able to participate in contact drills this spring. Understandably, they want to ease him into full contact coming off shoulder surgery. He noted that his shoulders were bad before arriving at USC and surgery was inevitable given the subluxations. Still, he said he currently feels "great."
Notes:
USC is not taking its ball security and stripping lightly. The players rotated between four different stations for a good portion of practice early on.
Later, QBs coach Bryan Ellis was urging the quarterbacks to push off fast and hard with their drops. It was nice to see him coaching up close. He has their ears.
Some changes from Tuesday with the first- and second-team offense and defense:
1O: Jackson at LT, Sidney in the slot, Sears at QB
2O: Vera-Tucker at RG, McKenzie at RT
1D: Iosefa at SAM, Gustin at Predator, Ross at SS, Tell at FS
2D: Falaniko and Echols at OLB, Lichtenstein at DL, Lockett at CB, Pollard at SS, Johnson at CB, Jones and Peters at ILB
Highlights:
(7-on-7)
Dom makes a couple people miss and runs for a long gain.
Sears' pass is tipped by Cam Smith and intercepted by Tell.
Jay Tufele stops Aca'Cedric Ware.
Ykili records a TFL on Velus.
Fink hits Vaughns downfield but the whistle is blown -- Gustin gets the sack.
***
Gustin records a TFL on Ware.
Gustin sacks Fink.
Sears hits Dom short -- Reuben Peters and Co. were on it.
Jones picks up a handful before he's stopped by Je'Quari Godfrey.
Sears hits Falo short.
***
Sears tries downfield for Vaughns and Williams forces him off his route and toward the boundary. Excellent D.
Fink goes deep to Pittman and it's picked off by Ajene, who earlier had a great PBU as well.
Caleb Tremblay registers a TFL on Ware.
Sears throws over the top and in-between two defenders to hit Sidney for a long TD. One of the best throws I've seen from him.
***
Fink misses Keyshawn Young over the middle.
Jones is stopped.
Holden Thomas targets Randal Grimes, who snatches the ball away from a defender for the catch (and he prevents an INT in the process).
Thomas hits Vaughns over the middle.
Tufele and Kana'i Mauga combine for a sack.
Talanoa Hufanga takes down Dom in the backfield for a TFL (with the aid of Tufele).
***
And that was your second practice of spring. We have video interviews posted with DC Clancy Pendergast, LB Jordan Iosefa, S Isaiah Pola-Mao, DE Connor Murphy, DT Brandon Pili, LB Porter Gustin, S Marvell Tell and DB Ajene Harris.
Saturday's practice has been moved to Friday and is set to begin at 3:15 p.m. Coach Clay Helton mentioned he wants a clean practice because of limited numbers and therefore is trying to avoid the forecasted rain for this weekend. They'll be in shells tomorrow.
Velus Jones took reps from the slot and out of the backfield for the second consecutive practice. He was with the receivers for the individual drills. Guess we can call him a slot back. I asked Helton what the plan is with him moving forward, particularly since Jones took quite a few handoffs today. Helton seemed to downplay a potentially evolving role, noting Jones came out of the backfield at times last year. FWIW, we did not see him come out of the backfield this much in practice last year.
When I asked if anyone else would be given a look at tailback or potentially switch there, Helton said with only two healthy scholarship tailbacks they plan to utilize their Super package more this spring, which involves a receiver lining up in the backfield.
Dominic Davis was present after missing Tuesday's workout and he practiced exclusively at tailback. He flashed his speed and athleticism on a few occasions. A better test for him will be when they put on the pads. Everyone knows he is dynamic in what is essentially a glorified 7-on-7.
Christian Rector continues to do individual drills with the outside linebackers but take the bulk of his reps at defensive end.
Connor Murphy is at 260 pounds, and Helton sees him being able to play the 3-technique and then the 5-technique when USC is facing non-zone read teams.
After spending a good portion of Tuesday's practice at Predator, Jordan Iosefa was at SAM on Thursday. He clarified for me that SAM is his primary spot but all the OLBs will continue to work on both sides.
OLB Porter Gustin considerably increased his workload from Tuesday, and he was a nuisance in the backfield while also setting the edge quite well.
Ajene Harris is getting some work at cornerback when USC isn't in nickel.
Helton singled out the play of CBs Biggie Marshall and Isaiah Langley.
WR Josh Imatorhebhe was absent because he had an undisclosed medical procedure. Helton said he'll be available when the team returns from spring break.
Walk-ons Austin Applebee and Jake Russell injured their hamstrings.
--Helton on the makeup of this team
"I think this team is going to have to play extremely well together -- where last year you felt offense had a really good day, maybe the defense was off. Then defense had a good day and offense was off. This is going to have to be a collective effort between this group to get to where we want to go."
--Helton on the quarterbacks
"This is an educational time for both of them. I don't want them thinking, oh God, I made a bad throw, did that cost me the job? I want them to try to get better form Practice 1 to Practice 15. How much progress can we make? That's all I'm focused on right now. Can we get those kids that are practicing right now to where they can play on Saturdays. Because they don't have a lot of reps and they've got so much progress that they need to make."
Helton said Sears, who primarily worked with the first team, showed great anticipation and decision-making. He added that neither Sears nor Matt Fink is playing timid.
I spoke with redshirt freshman safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and he said he's not sure if he'll be able to participate in contact drills this spring. Understandably, they want to ease him into full contact coming off shoulder surgery. He noted that his shoulders were bad before arriving at USC and surgery was inevitable given the subluxations. Still, he said he currently feels "great."
Notes:
USC is not taking its ball security and stripping lightly. The players rotated between four different stations for a good portion of practice early on.
Later, QBs coach Bryan Ellis was urging the quarterbacks to push off fast and hard with their drops. It was nice to see him coaching up close. He has their ears.
Some changes from Tuesday with the first- and second-team offense and defense:
1O: Jackson at LT, Sidney in the slot, Sears at QB
2O: Vera-Tucker at RG, McKenzie at RT
1D: Iosefa at SAM, Gustin at Predator, Ross at SS, Tell at FS
2D: Falaniko and Echols at OLB, Lichtenstein at DL, Lockett at CB, Pollard at SS, Johnson at CB, Jones and Peters at ILB
Highlights:
(7-on-7)
- Sears hits Michael Pittman and then Tyler Vaughns, with the latter stretching out long to make the catch.
- Tell drops a surefire INT on a throw from Sears to Sidney. Langley was also helping in coverage.
- Fink hits Russell on a deep out and then connects with Velus Jones.
- Fink finds Dom in the flats and he badly jukes Chase Williams.
- Sears hits Josh Falo, Pittman downfield and then Pittman over the middle.
- A Sears pass to Sidney deep is broken up by Biggie. He really tracked the ball well there.
Dom makes a couple people miss and runs for a long gain.
Sears' pass is tipped by Cam Smith and intercepted by Tell.
Jay Tufele stops Aca'Cedric Ware.
Ykili records a TFL on Velus.
Fink hits Vaughns downfield but the whistle is blown -- Gustin gets the sack.
***
Gustin records a TFL on Ware.
Gustin sacks Fink.
Sears hits Dom short -- Reuben Peters and Co. were on it.
Jones picks up a handful before he's stopped by Je'Quari Godfrey.
Sears hits Falo short.
***
Sears tries downfield for Vaughns and Williams forces him off his route and toward the boundary. Excellent D.
Fink goes deep to Pittman and it's picked off by Ajene, who earlier had a great PBU as well.
Caleb Tremblay registers a TFL on Ware.
Sears throws over the top and in-between two defenders to hit Sidney for a long TD. One of the best throws I've seen from him.
***
Fink misses Keyshawn Young over the middle.
Jones is stopped.
Holden Thomas targets Randal Grimes, who snatches the ball away from a defender for the catch (and he prevents an INT in the process).
Thomas hits Vaughns over the middle.
Tufele and Kana'i Mauga combine for a sack.
Talanoa Hufanga takes down Dom in the backfield for a TFL (with the aid of Tufele).
***
And that was your second practice of spring. We have video interviews posted with DC Clancy Pendergast, LB Jordan Iosefa, S Isaiah Pola-Mao, DE Connor Murphy, DT Brandon Pili, LB Porter Gustin, S Marvell Tell and DB Ajene Harris.
