Scholarships: USC now has 84 scholarship players! That’s as close as they have been to near normal for about a half decade now. Thank the NCAA for that. They say that Justice is blind…. doesn’t discriminate. Nah, from what we saw Justice is not always "Just" and definitely has astigmatism and cataracts at the least. Add in the removal of Rose bowl hero Matt Boermeester by Title IX, sometimes Justice is "Just-is" with little recourse (though Matt is attempting to take his case to a real court). But hey near full house is a strngth.
The Units: Below is a ranking of USC units by Rank and grade based on experience (2016 games played/games started), skill, and depth. likely impact on the USC W-L.
The don’t worry units…
1. Linebackers: Grade A. Ranked #5 nation-wide by Phil Steele. Starters LB- Porter Gustin (13G/13 St.), Uchenna Nwosu (13/13) , Cameron Smith (13/13). 3 Solid return starters that led the way to USCs defensive resurgence LY. Backups; John Houston Jr (13/0), Joseph Iosefa (12/0) New: Hunter Echols, J Falaniko. Lost: M Hutchings. If they remain healthy this is our very highest impact unit and the heart of the Defense..
2 Offensive backfield: Grade A. QB unit Ranked #1, RB #7 nationally by Steele. QB Sam Darnold (13/10), RB Ronald Jones II (13/final 6). Backups; QB Matt Fink (0 G), RBs Aca'Cedric Ware (11/0), Vavae Malepeai= power runner(0 G), New: QB jack Sears, RB Stephen Carr (player to watch). Lost: Max Browne (new Pitt QB) and Justin Davis. This unit is the heart of the Offense. Darnold is a special talent and RoJo is showing that possibility as well. The drop-off to backups is high because of it. Who is backup QB…likely Matt Fink. The "final 4 dream" starts with this unit. Avoid injury at QB.
3. Secondary: Grade A-. Unit Ranked #5 nationally by Steele. "Biggie" Marshall (13/13), Marvin Tell IIi (13/13), Chris Hawkins (13/4) , Ajene Harris (13/4) and Jack Jones (13) are solid. Backups; Dominic Davis (9/0)-moves to CB? New: Bubba Bolden heads a big talented group. Lost: Star Adorre Jackson (13), Leon McQuay 3 (12) and Jonathon Lockett to injury (9/5). Replacement of Adoree easier here, than on Special teams. Deep with lots of experience across the board. Should improve on interceptions despite Adoree's 5 last year.
The good, but how good, units…
4. Receivers: Grade B. Unit Ranked #13 nationally by Steele. WR-Deontay Burnett (13/5), Steven Mitchell (7/3). TE-Daniel Imatorbhebhe (13/5), Tyler Petite (2). Backups; WR- Jalen Greene (13G), Michael Pittman (13G), New:WR-4 talented redshirt and 2 true frosh. TE: a Redshirt, a transfer and 2 True Frosh. Makes it capable of multiple TE formations, Stanford style? Lost: Darreus Rogers (13), Juju Smith-Shuster(13), Taylor McNamara (11), Da'Quan Hampton, Isaac Whitney, , One of the two units hit the most in personnel losses. Very Young, but with enough talent to be better by second half of the season. WR size is much bigger/taller in reserves. WR and TE depth are much Deeper. Probably less dependent on one HR receiver and more like the Rose Bowl playbook (9 receivers caught passes).
5. Offensive Line: Grade B. Unit Ranked #13 nationally by Steele. Viane Talamaivao (13/13), Nico Falah (13/12), Chuma Edoga (9/2), Toa Loebendahn (1 injured, 2016-7/7). Backups: Jordan Austin (10/0),Chris Brown (13/1). New; Huge group of RSFr and True Fr including Austin Jackson, Brett Neilon, Frank Martin. Losses: Zach Banner (11), Damien Mama (12), Chad wheeler (11). Oft injured Lobendahn would be a big plus if healthy. Lots of beef gone and some of OL is less weighty. Coach Helton said this could help in getting blocks to spring sideline plays.
6. Defensive Line: Grade B-. DL unit Ranked #17 nationally by Steele. I think this is too low. Rasheem Green (13/12), Josh Fatu (13/1) and Malik Dorton (11/1) , Backups: Oft injured Kenny Bigelow (13/0 in 2015), Rector (12), New: Marlon Tuipolutu, Jay Tufele, Brandon Pili ( a Huge guy) and more may play early. Lost: Steve Tu'ikolovatu, a literally big loss Some questions here but they looked and played solid all fall practice. Depth is there. Youth is the question. This unit was a question last year until they played, and played well.
The real question mark??
7. Special Teams: Grade: C to D+. ST unit Ranked #25 nationally by Steele. P Chris Tilbey (13/13) is solid. Place Holder- Wayne Schmidt(12/12). PK is a question mark between RSFr Michael Brown and a Walk-on Chase McGrath.USC may go for it a lot inside the 20, until proven. As to replacing Adoree, its near impossible but there is some speed and shiftiness elements here including Jack Jones, Stephen Carr, and Steve Mitchell. Lost: PK Matt Boermeester, Adoree Jackson (huge loss). With depth in the scholarships its more viable to add good players on the ST. And John Baxter is one of the best coaches. Definite room for improvement here.
Schedule: It plays well with USC this year. Instead of 3 of the first 4 games on the road, USC plays its first three at home. W Michigan is a good team (13-1 LY) that has lost much of its offense, both Kicker and Punter and Head Coach. Stanford is a tough team that USC usually plays well at home , And Texas is rebuilding. Both Stanford and Texas are in preseason top 25. Following that is at Cal ( a breather), at WSU (tough but USC won the last 5 there) and Oregon State (a breather). Then Utah (USC won 3 in a row at home), at ND (time for revenge…Ill be there). And at ASU (Usually tough there, but not vs. this ASU team), Arizona (SC won 6 of last 7 at home), at Colorado (cold but USC 5-0 there) and finish with UCLA (USC won 8 of last 9 here). In fact USC under HC Helton has won all 9 home games.
What does this lead to? A good year IMO. With a mix of experience and youth. A combination of Speed and strength. And more depth. I'm counting on home sweet home wins for a possible 12-1/8-1 record.
The Units: Below is a ranking of USC units by Rank and grade based on experience (2016 games played/games started), skill, and depth. likely impact on the USC W-L.
The don’t worry units…
1. Linebackers: Grade A. Ranked #5 nation-wide by Phil Steele. Starters LB- Porter Gustin (13G/13 St.), Uchenna Nwosu (13/13) , Cameron Smith (13/13). 3 Solid return starters that led the way to USCs defensive resurgence LY. Backups; John Houston Jr (13/0), Joseph Iosefa (12/0) New: Hunter Echols, J Falaniko. Lost: M Hutchings. If they remain healthy this is our very highest impact unit and the heart of the Defense..
2 Offensive backfield: Grade A. QB unit Ranked #1, RB #7 nationally by Steele. QB Sam Darnold (13/10), RB Ronald Jones II (13/final 6). Backups; QB Matt Fink (0 G), RBs Aca'Cedric Ware (11/0), Vavae Malepeai= power runner(0 G), New: QB jack Sears, RB Stephen Carr (player to watch). Lost: Max Browne (new Pitt QB) and Justin Davis. This unit is the heart of the Offense. Darnold is a special talent and RoJo is showing that possibility as well. The drop-off to backups is high because of it. Who is backup QB…likely Matt Fink. The "final 4 dream" starts with this unit. Avoid injury at QB.
3. Secondary: Grade A-. Unit Ranked #5 nationally by Steele. "Biggie" Marshall (13/13), Marvin Tell IIi (13/13), Chris Hawkins (13/4) , Ajene Harris (13/4) and Jack Jones (13) are solid. Backups; Dominic Davis (9/0)-moves to CB? New: Bubba Bolden heads a big talented group. Lost: Star Adorre Jackson (13), Leon McQuay 3 (12) and Jonathon Lockett to injury (9/5). Replacement of Adoree easier here, than on Special teams. Deep with lots of experience across the board. Should improve on interceptions despite Adoree's 5 last year.
The good, but how good, units…
4. Receivers: Grade B. Unit Ranked #13 nationally by Steele. WR-Deontay Burnett (13/5), Steven Mitchell (7/3). TE-Daniel Imatorbhebhe (13/5), Tyler Petite (2). Backups; WR- Jalen Greene (13G), Michael Pittman (13G), New:WR-4 talented redshirt and 2 true frosh. TE: a Redshirt, a transfer and 2 True Frosh. Makes it capable of multiple TE formations, Stanford style? Lost: Darreus Rogers (13), Juju Smith-Shuster(13), Taylor McNamara (11), Da'Quan Hampton, Isaac Whitney, , One of the two units hit the most in personnel losses. Very Young, but with enough talent to be better by second half of the season. WR size is much bigger/taller in reserves. WR and TE depth are much Deeper. Probably less dependent on one HR receiver and more like the Rose Bowl playbook (9 receivers caught passes).
5. Offensive Line: Grade B. Unit Ranked #13 nationally by Steele. Viane Talamaivao (13/13), Nico Falah (13/12), Chuma Edoga (9/2), Toa Loebendahn (1 injured, 2016-7/7). Backups: Jordan Austin (10/0),Chris Brown (13/1). New; Huge group of RSFr and True Fr including Austin Jackson, Brett Neilon, Frank Martin. Losses: Zach Banner (11), Damien Mama (12), Chad wheeler (11). Oft injured Lobendahn would be a big plus if healthy. Lots of beef gone and some of OL is less weighty. Coach Helton said this could help in getting blocks to spring sideline plays.
6. Defensive Line: Grade B-. DL unit Ranked #17 nationally by Steele. I think this is too low. Rasheem Green (13/12), Josh Fatu (13/1) and Malik Dorton (11/1) , Backups: Oft injured Kenny Bigelow (13/0 in 2015), Rector (12), New: Marlon Tuipolutu, Jay Tufele, Brandon Pili ( a Huge guy) and more may play early. Lost: Steve Tu'ikolovatu, a literally big loss Some questions here but they looked and played solid all fall practice. Depth is there. Youth is the question. This unit was a question last year until they played, and played well.
The real question mark??
7. Special Teams: Grade: C to D+. ST unit Ranked #25 nationally by Steele. P Chris Tilbey (13/13) is solid. Place Holder- Wayne Schmidt(12/12). PK is a question mark between RSFr Michael Brown and a Walk-on Chase McGrath.USC may go for it a lot inside the 20, until proven. As to replacing Adoree, its near impossible but there is some speed and shiftiness elements here including Jack Jones, Stephen Carr, and Steve Mitchell. Lost: PK Matt Boermeester, Adoree Jackson (huge loss). With depth in the scholarships its more viable to add good players on the ST. And John Baxter is one of the best coaches. Definite room for improvement here.
Schedule: It plays well with USC this year. Instead of 3 of the first 4 games on the road, USC plays its first three at home. W Michigan is a good team (13-1 LY) that has lost much of its offense, both Kicker and Punter and Head Coach. Stanford is a tough team that USC usually plays well at home , And Texas is rebuilding. Both Stanford and Texas are in preseason top 25. Following that is at Cal ( a breather), at WSU (tough but USC won the last 5 there) and Oregon State (a breather). Then Utah (USC won 3 in a row at home), at ND (time for revenge…Ill be there). And at ASU (Usually tough there, but not vs. this ASU team), Arizona (SC won 6 of last 7 at home), at Colorado (cold but USC 5-0 there) and finish with UCLA (USC won 8 of last 9 here). In fact USC under HC Helton has won all 9 home games.
What does this lead to? A good year IMO. With a mix of experience and youth. A combination of Speed and strength. And more depth. I'm counting on home sweet home wins for a possible 12-1/8-1 record.
