Highlights from our latest interviews with USC freshmen ...
LB Cam Smith
--His formula for leading the team in tackles thus far is fairly simple:
“I’m just trying to get to the ball and find the ball and when I get there, do the job that the team looks for me to do. I’m seeing the ball all right and trying to read the offensive line as quickly as possible and get there and make a play.”
--He arrived with high expectations (despite not being as decorated as the other incoming linebackers).
“I think you have to. I think you have to see yourself in the best place and best scenario possible. That was my goal to start and come in here and contribute as quickly as possible. I was envisioning that but I never knew it would end up turning out like this.”
--A few things in particular stand out in terms of how USC can improve its run defense.
“We still need to be more physical. We need to get off blocks a lot better and really take on blocks. But I think just the understanding of what we're supposed to be doing is still not there yet. So we need to get there and get our mindset straightened, understand as a whole what we’re trying to do.”
--He said more physical practices like the ones USC had Tuesday and Wednesday, which involved extended 11-on-11 periods, should help the cause.
“That’s exactly what we need. They’re tough to come out (of) but you got to do it.”
DL Rasheem Green
--He’s made some headway in his technique and overall awareness.
“I’m getting adjusted to the speed of the game. I feel like I’m improving every practice but there are still some things I need to improve on. I need to work harder, I need to hustle more. … I want to improve my strength and speed and quickness. That’s something I feel like I lost with my surgery. And I want to improve my pad level and my hands. If I fix those things I can be good.”
--It’s been exciting to be thrown into the fire so soon alongside Jacob Daniel and Noah Jefferson
“It feels great. Before we were here, that was something we’ve been talking about. We’re the next group of D-linemen here. I feel like we can make a mark.”
QB Sam Darnold
--The biggest adjustment from high school to college is the speed of the game.
“That’s easy to say. When it comes to pressure, when it comes to DBs who think faster.”
--The next biggest challenge is learning the offense.
"There are some different things, some different concepts. High school is a lot simpler. But I’m looking forward to it.”
--He’s been taking note of the veteran quarterbacks’ habits and how they study film
“They don’t take a day off of practice. In high school, I didn’t take a day off but I lounged around sometimes and chilled. Out here it’s a different story. I got to do my thing every day. … Getting those reps is always crucial. I’m never going to take them or granted.”
--He got to travel with the team to Arizona State, which made for a memorable experience.
“That was sweet, being in that hostile environment and then coming out at halftime and everyone was gone. That was pretty awesome.”
TB Ronald Jones II
--He appreciates how the program has developed him.
“I came in with some pass (protection) issues and I was right hand dominant. Being more elusive and versatile is going to make me a better player overall. … (The game) is definitely still fast but it’s slowing down. I’m starting to see stuff and see the safety rotation, things like that. It’s getting easier. Again, that’s credit to the coaching staff and the older guys helping me."
--He has a checklist of things he wants to improve in.
“Keeping my knees up and kicking and leg drive. There’s some still I got to work on. That’s comes from the weight room. Pass pro and keeping my shoulders square in the hole. I’ll miss a cutback or things like that. I want to get as close to perfection as I can.”
--He’s a fan of the Cowboy formation, which incorporates the fullbacks.
“Sometimes defenses can key when we’re overloaded on one side, they’ll try to slant the linemen or shift. But when we’re in that formation we can go either way. It was working. We ran the same play about three times on (one) drive and we punched it in. I definitely like running with a fullback. I ran everything from shotgun in high school, so to be able to get in the pistol, I like that.”
--He has enjoyed his role thus far.
“I try to fill in when JD and Tre get tired. Coach tells us we shouldn’t miss a beat; they shouldn’t be able to tell who’s in the game, that we should be able to do their job too. I’m just playing my part. I’m definitely happy. I’m actually playing more than I thought I would.”
--Johnny Nansen made sure Jones ate some Whataburger while they were in Arizona.
“I got the best staff in America, so I’m happy to be here."
CB Biggie Marshall
--His struggles against Stanford let him know where he stood.
“A lot of plays you could see I was in good position but I didn’t finish. That’s the thing that’s going to separate the good from the great and the great from legendary. What I’m trying to do is be legendary. That’s why I do extra work, work on finishing. I did a better job (against ASU) but there’s always room for improvement. It’s only four games in and I got a lot to grow in.”
--He had similar experiences as a sophomore in high school.
“Nobody’s going to play a perfect game. At the end of the day, that what I do, look at what I did wrong, work on it, mentally and physically, and try to better my game each and every day as much as I possibly can.”
--He often stays after practice for extra work. On Wednesday, he focused on his endurance, footwork, and soft and hard pressing. He said he doesn’t have a preference between the two styles of press; he wants to be balanced.
“At the end of the day, you always got to be prepared. When the opportunity comes, if you’re prepared then the situation is yours. That’s what I try to do, prepare myself for everything.”
--He reiterated that he prefers playing cornerback but isn’t ruling out a move to safety.
“I like corner. I’m playing the position right now, so I love it. But at the end of the day you never know what the future holds and I don’t like to predict nothing that I can’t tell.”
LB Cam Smith
--His formula for leading the team in tackles thus far is fairly simple:
“I’m just trying to get to the ball and find the ball and when I get there, do the job that the team looks for me to do. I’m seeing the ball all right and trying to read the offensive line as quickly as possible and get there and make a play.”
--He arrived with high expectations (despite not being as decorated as the other incoming linebackers).
“I think you have to. I think you have to see yourself in the best place and best scenario possible. That was my goal to start and come in here and contribute as quickly as possible. I was envisioning that but I never knew it would end up turning out like this.”
--A few things in particular stand out in terms of how USC can improve its run defense.
“We still need to be more physical. We need to get off blocks a lot better and really take on blocks. But I think just the understanding of what we're supposed to be doing is still not there yet. So we need to get there and get our mindset straightened, understand as a whole what we’re trying to do.”
--He said more physical practices like the ones USC had Tuesday and Wednesday, which involved extended 11-on-11 periods, should help the cause.
“That’s exactly what we need. They’re tough to come out (of) but you got to do it.”
DL Rasheem Green
--He’s made some headway in his technique and overall awareness.
“I’m getting adjusted to the speed of the game. I feel like I’m improving every practice but there are still some things I need to improve on. I need to work harder, I need to hustle more. … I want to improve my strength and speed and quickness. That’s something I feel like I lost with my surgery. And I want to improve my pad level and my hands. If I fix those things I can be good.”
--It’s been exciting to be thrown into the fire so soon alongside Jacob Daniel and Noah Jefferson
“It feels great. Before we were here, that was something we’ve been talking about. We’re the next group of D-linemen here. I feel like we can make a mark.”
QB Sam Darnold
--The biggest adjustment from high school to college is the speed of the game.
“That’s easy to say. When it comes to pressure, when it comes to DBs who think faster.”
--The next biggest challenge is learning the offense.
"There are some different things, some different concepts. High school is a lot simpler. But I’m looking forward to it.”
--He’s been taking note of the veteran quarterbacks’ habits and how they study film
“They don’t take a day off of practice. In high school, I didn’t take a day off but I lounged around sometimes and chilled. Out here it’s a different story. I got to do my thing every day. … Getting those reps is always crucial. I’m never going to take them or granted.”
--He got to travel with the team to Arizona State, which made for a memorable experience.
“That was sweet, being in that hostile environment and then coming out at halftime and everyone was gone. That was pretty awesome.”
TB Ronald Jones II
--He appreciates how the program has developed him.
“I came in with some pass (protection) issues and I was right hand dominant. Being more elusive and versatile is going to make me a better player overall. … (The game) is definitely still fast but it’s slowing down. I’m starting to see stuff and see the safety rotation, things like that. It’s getting easier. Again, that’s credit to the coaching staff and the older guys helping me."
--He has a checklist of things he wants to improve in.
“Keeping my knees up and kicking and leg drive. There’s some still I got to work on. That’s comes from the weight room. Pass pro and keeping my shoulders square in the hole. I’ll miss a cutback or things like that. I want to get as close to perfection as I can.”
--He’s a fan of the Cowboy formation, which incorporates the fullbacks.
“Sometimes defenses can key when we’re overloaded on one side, they’ll try to slant the linemen or shift. But when we’re in that formation we can go either way. It was working. We ran the same play about three times on (one) drive and we punched it in. I definitely like running with a fullback. I ran everything from shotgun in high school, so to be able to get in the pistol, I like that.”
--He has enjoyed his role thus far.
“I try to fill in when JD and Tre get tired. Coach tells us we shouldn’t miss a beat; they shouldn’t be able to tell who’s in the game, that we should be able to do their job too. I’m just playing my part. I’m definitely happy. I’m actually playing more than I thought I would.”
--Johnny Nansen made sure Jones ate some Whataburger while they were in Arizona.
“I got the best staff in America, so I’m happy to be here."
CB Biggie Marshall
--His struggles against Stanford let him know where he stood.
“A lot of plays you could see I was in good position but I didn’t finish. That’s the thing that’s going to separate the good from the great and the great from legendary. What I’m trying to do is be legendary. That’s why I do extra work, work on finishing. I did a better job (against ASU) but there’s always room for improvement. It’s only four games in and I got a lot to grow in.”
--He had similar experiences as a sophomore in high school.
“Nobody’s going to play a perfect game. At the end of the day, that what I do, look at what I did wrong, work on it, mentally and physically, and try to better my game each and every day as much as I possibly can.”
--He often stays after practice for extra work. On Wednesday, he focused on his endurance, footwork, and soft and hard pressing. He said he doesn’t have a preference between the two styles of press; he wants to be balanced.
“At the end of the day, you always got to be prepared. When the opportunity comes, if you’re prepared then the situation is yours. That’s what I try to do, prepare myself for everything.”
--He reiterated that he prefers playing cornerback but isn’t ruling out a move to safety.
“I like corner. I’m playing the position right now, so I love it. But at the end of the day you never know what the future holds and I don’t like to predict nothing that I can’t tell.”
