Highlights from our final batch of coach and player interviews from last week.
ILB JOHN HOUSTON JR.
--He says he is finally healthy.
"I’m 100 percent right now. (His back) was flaring up, stress fractures here and there. I had to get my core strong and get flexible. I got that together. I had two epidural shots (in December). I’m not in pain, so now I’m back."
--on the challenge of redshirting when all of the other freshman linebackers played
"I got the mental reps. I looked at Su’a (Cravens), I looked at Anthony Sarao, all the seniors that led the team. I looked at their film. Even if I wasn’t in the game plan, I looked at their technique and how they would break down stuff. I took a lot from them to learn in my redshirt year and now this spring I’m using it on the field. (Redshirting) was kind of hard, but you got to be humble. Coach (Peter) Sirmon told me it would be the best opportunity for me to get back and learn. It so happened (that) I got hurt."
--He confirms he didn’t redshirt because of health (he actually got hurt a few games into the season).
--After working at strong-side linebacker last year, he’s begun spring at weakside linebacker. He said he’s flexible to what the coaches believe is his best position.
"I feel like I can play anywhere, I just got to learn to be smart, learn the game, learn from different people and look at film. Film will get you everywhere."
--He also played inside linebacker at Gardena Serra High.
"I’m pretty comfortable. I just got to get back into the groove of everything. I’ve been trying to look at a lot of film. I learned from Su’a. He said he looked at a lot of film and that’s where he got everything from. He got different cheats, linemen will line up this way (depending on) a run or pass."
--He’s still learning his responsibilities in Clancy Pendergast’s system.
"Me and the Mike position take care of inside gaps, protect the run and make sure we get any running back in either man or slot him. I cover running backs, go into different hooks, curl drops, we haven’t went through everything, some blitzing, disguises."
DT KENNY BIGELOW JR.
--on his objective going into his fourth spring practice
"I want to be come the most complete player I can become this spring. I wan to take everything I can learn from KU (Kenechi Udeze). KU was the sack leader in USC history. KU is a guy who was a first rounder, he’s been a national champion. I know he knows what it takes to be great."
--on what specific areas he needs to improve in
"I need to grow in just getting a better feel for the game. Right now it’s not moving too fast for me but I want to be able to play with my hands much better. That’s something I’ve talked to KU about and I know that’s something he stresses so much. I think if I can incorporate my hands with the talent I already have and the quickness I already have I can definitely be a dominant force in the Pac-12. … KU is a technician when it comes to this. He’s demanding excellence out of all of us. Whenever we take a rep, if our hands aren’t up or aren’t moving fast enough, the rep doesn’t count and we got o go back and do it again. That’s something I'm so thankful for."
--on why he didn’t play more last year
"We had a talented group of seniors. I don’t want to put my personal feelings into any of this. Coach Wilson had a lot on his plate. He managed it as best he could. I was healthy I felt fine. I had the ACL surgery two years ago. That wasn’t a problem for me last year. I know a lot of people are thinking, Oh, he’s coming back from injury. I could tell you the ACL wasn’t a problem for me last year."
--on whether he demonstrated enough effort in practice in the past
"I think I practiced in a way that was conducive to getting me more playing time than what I had but the past is the past and we’re moving forward. I thought I should have played more last year too. But that’s a coaching decision. I can’t will myself into the game no matter how much I may want to. Coach Wilson is with the Eagles now. They’re happy to have him. He’ll do great things with them. I’m a hometown guy. Philadelphia, that’s my team. So I’m excited for him. I hope they do well."
--on whether not playing much through three years has given him a chip on his shoulder
"Most definitely. I know what I’m capable of. I feel as though this coaching staff knows what I’m capable of. KU’s been on me. W talked. He told me he’s going to ride me a lot harder than he rides the others because I’m older now. That’s what’s expected of me. I take that in stride. I don’t run from that. I don’t shy away form that. I’m excited. I cant wait for him to coach me."
--on his responsibilities on the D-line
"I’ll still be playing defensive tackle, three technique. Its more of an attack style defense, being able to use my quickness and get up the field more. Like I said, KU’s going to help us use our hands more. I feel as though the combination of those two things will make me a very productive player."
--He's right where he wants to be physically.
"I’m currently 6-4, 290. I want to stay around 290, 295. I feel as though I move best at that weight, I feel strong at this weight. I feel comfortable at this weight. I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in since I’ve been here and I feel absolutely amazing."
--on the D-line being a question mark
"There’s way too much talent on this defense and in this D-line for anyone to think that we would be a weak spot. The talent we have along with this system and KU, I would not write off this D-line as a weak spot at all."
--on what Udeze has already brought to the table since taking over
"An attitude about us. KU’s already brought a toughness back to us., like, Don’ be pushed around if a guy pushes you after the play at practice. Don’t sit and take that. You’re no one’s pop-up dummy. There’s a toughness about us and there’s a physicality about us that he’s definitely trying to bring back that I think is going to help us tremendously this year."
--on having Pendergast back
"I love Coach P. I can tell you that right now, Coach P is a guy that just gets you fired up. He combination of Coach Helton, Coach P and KU, there’s just a way about those three guys that just makes you want to go out and play football."
--on whether Pendergast's more aggressive style sparks a fire in the team
"This is going to be a very exciting USC defense. For the people who remember back in 2013 we had the No. 1 defense in the Pac under Coach Clancy. You already feel elements of that coming back. Coach P got on u a coupe of guys (Thursday) for being a little too physical. That kind of gives you an idea of what’s to come."
--He asserts the D-line in this system is called to bring more physicality, more stunting and more penetration.
--on whether he has something to prove this year
"I got a lot to prove to myself. I know what I’m capable of. I know what I want to do this year. Honestly, I just can’t wait to go out and do it. … This could be a big year for me. This is the year for me to go out and establish my position and establish my name in the Pac-12 Conference."
ILB JOHN HOUSTON JR.
--He says he is finally healthy.
"I’m 100 percent right now. (His back) was flaring up, stress fractures here and there. I had to get my core strong and get flexible. I got that together. I had two epidural shots (in December). I’m not in pain, so now I’m back."
--on the challenge of redshirting when all of the other freshman linebackers played
"I got the mental reps. I looked at Su’a (Cravens), I looked at Anthony Sarao, all the seniors that led the team. I looked at their film. Even if I wasn’t in the game plan, I looked at their technique and how they would break down stuff. I took a lot from them to learn in my redshirt year and now this spring I’m using it on the field. (Redshirting) was kind of hard, but you got to be humble. Coach (Peter) Sirmon told me it would be the best opportunity for me to get back and learn. It so happened (that) I got hurt."
--He confirms he didn’t redshirt because of health (he actually got hurt a few games into the season).
--After working at strong-side linebacker last year, he’s begun spring at weakside linebacker. He said he’s flexible to what the coaches believe is his best position.
"I feel like I can play anywhere, I just got to learn to be smart, learn the game, learn from different people and look at film. Film will get you everywhere."
--He also played inside linebacker at Gardena Serra High.
"I’m pretty comfortable. I just got to get back into the groove of everything. I’ve been trying to look at a lot of film. I learned from Su’a. He said he looked at a lot of film and that’s where he got everything from. He got different cheats, linemen will line up this way (depending on) a run or pass."
--He’s still learning his responsibilities in Clancy Pendergast’s system.
"Me and the Mike position take care of inside gaps, protect the run and make sure we get any running back in either man or slot him. I cover running backs, go into different hooks, curl drops, we haven’t went through everything, some blitzing, disguises."
DT KENNY BIGELOW JR.
--on his objective going into his fourth spring practice
"I want to be come the most complete player I can become this spring. I wan to take everything I can learn from KU (Kenechi Udeze). KU was the sack leader in USC history. KU is a guy who was a first rounder, he’s been a national champion. I know he knows what it takes to be great."
--on what specific areas he needs to improve in
"I need to grow in just getting a better feel for the game. Right now it’s not moving too fast for me but I want to be able to play with my hands much better. That’s something I’ve talked to KU about and I know that’s something he stresses so much. I think if I can incorporate my hands with the talent I already have and the quickness I already have I can definitely be a dominant force in the Pac-12. … KU is a technician when it comes to this. He’s demanding excellence out of all of us. Whenever we take a rep, if our hands aren’t up or aren’t moving fast enough, the rep doesn’t count and we got o go back and do it again. That’s something I'm so thankful for."
--on why he didn’t play more last year
"We had a talented group of seniors. I don’t want to put my personal feelings into any of this. Coach Wilson had a lot on his plate. He managed it as best he could. I was healthy I felt fine. I had the ACL surgery two years ago. That wasn’t a problem for me last year. I know a lot of people are thinking, Oh, he’s coming back from injury. I could tell you the ACL wasn’t a problem for me last year."
--on whether he demonstrated enough effort in practice in the past
"I think I practiced in a way that was conducive to getting me more playing time than what I had but the past is the past and we’re moving forward. I thought I should have played more last year too. But that’s a coaching decision. I can’t will myself into the game no matter how much I may want to. Coach Wilson is with the Eagles now. They’re happy to have him. He’ll do great things with them. I’m a hometown guy. Philadelphia, that’s my team. So I’m excited for him. I hope they do well."
--on whether not playing much through three years has given him a chip on his shoulder
"Most definitely. I know what I’m capable of. I feel as though this coaching staff knows what I’m capable of. KU’s been on me. W talked. He told me he’s going to ride me a lot harder than he rides the others because I’m older now. That’s what’s expected of me. I take that in stride. I don’t run from that. I don’t shy away form that. I’m excited. I cant wait for him to coach me."
--on his responsibilities on the D-line
"I’ll still be playing defensive tackle, three technique. Its more of an attack style defense, being able to use my quickness and get up the field more. Like I said, KU’s going to help us use our hands more. I feel as though the combination of those two things will make me a very productive player."
--He's right where he wants to be physically.
"I’m currently 6-4, 290. I want to stay around 290, 295. I feel as though I move best at that weight, I feel strong at this weight. I feel comfortable at this weight. I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in since I’ve been here and I feel absolutely amazing."
--on the D-line being a question mark
"There’s way too much talent on this defense and in this D-line for anyone to think that we would be a weak spot. The talent we have along with this system and KU, I would not write off this D-line as a weak spot at all."
--on what Udeze has already brought to the table since taking over
"An attitude about us. KU’s already brought a toughness back to us., like, Don’ be pushed around if a guy pushes you after the play at practice. Don’t sit and take that. You’re no one’s pop-up dummy. There’s a toughness about us and there’s a physicality about us that he’s definitely trying to bring back that I think is going to help us tremendously this year."
--on having Pendergast back
"I love Coach P. I can tell you that right now, Coach P is a guy that just gets you fired up. He combination of Coach Helton, Coach P and KU, there’s just a way about those three guys that just makes you want to go out and play football."
--on whether Pendergast's more aggressive style sparks a fire in the team
"This is going to be a very exciting USC defense. For the people who remember back in 2013 we had the No. 1 defense in the Pac under Coach Clancy. You already feel elements of that coming back. Coach P got on u a coupe of guys (Thursday) for being a little too physical. That kind of gives you an idea of what’s to come."
--He asserts the D-line in this system is called to bring more physicality, more stunting and more penetration.
--on whether he has something to prove this year
"I got a lot to prove to myself. I know what I’m capable of. I know what I want to do this year. Honestly, I just can’t wait to go out and do it. … This could be a big year for me. This is the year for me to go out and establish my position and establish my name in the Pac-12 Conference."
