Trojangles
04-08-2007, 12:28 PM
Here's a few quick hits on the day's action, as I saw it:
New Receiver Corps - The new guys will do just fine:
Travon Patterson showed all the moves, hands, and speed needed to replace Steve Smith and had the best day of all receivers. At times he had to slow down to catch long balls thrown his way. Bottom Line: Patterson won't be kept off the playing field much next season.
David Asberry is a stud WR, with good hands, a large body frame, and a field presence more like Mike Williams than Dwayne Jarrett. He showed great leaping ability, and with the strength of his lower body, Asberry will be very hard for defenders to handle one on one.
Vidal Hazelton got the most playing time with the first unit yesterday and looked good while doing it, including a nice catch and run he made for a TD, when he bounced off a Taylor Mays hit. (Hazelton then got flagged for some lookback sass, as he outdistanced the rest of the defense on the way to the endzone).
So, along with returning WR Patrick Turner and several backs that can catch the ball, J. D. Booty & Co. will have more than enough talent on the receiving end. Pretty interesting, when Carroll & Co. ran sets using two 6' 5" WRs (Asberry & Turner) and a 6' 4" TE (Fred Davis) all on the same side of the field!
Tailback Position Derby - Things are looking up here, as well, with the return of some talented players from prior years:
Hershel Dennis, who hasn't lost his ability to protect the QB, delivered a performance that highlighted the scrimmage, showing his old form, both as a runner and receiver coming out of the backfield. Bottom Line: If Dennis continues to play like that, "forgettaboutit", Dennis will be starting tailback at USC in the Fall. (He's set to graduate in 2007 as well).
Desmond Reed played without a brace and looked fully recovered from that foot injury he suffered in South Bend that had everyone, but Reed, convinced his playing days were over. Gotta figure he'll still be used mostly as a situational returner (kickoffs and punts) and running back (screens, reverses, & receiving), but maybe more, if he continues to impress. Reed sparkled on a long kick return for a TD, using his blockers, moves and speed like he hasn't been able to do for years. His joy was such that he did a Reggie Bush flip going into the endzone at the end of the play---and got flagged for it, but with smiles all around!
So, while we await the return of several injured tailback contenders (Allen Bradford, Emmanuel Moody, Stafon Johnson) and new guys (including Joe McKnight), USC has more than starter Chauncey Washington (who looked about the same as last season) to rely upon.
Offensive Formations - Several different sets were used, including the shotgun (not used at USC since Carroll's first year at USC), but "one back" sets got the most reps yesterday. Gotta figure USC's lack of depth at fullback played a part in the formations used yesterday. FB Stanley Havili looked good, especially on pass routes coming out of the backfield, etc.
Mitch Mustain's Decision - The Arkansas quarterback clearly wants to transfer to USC this year, with the object to competing for the starting job in 2008. The question would seem to be, "How solid is the Trojan QB stable waiting behind J. D. Booty?" It was reported that Mustain would attend the scrimmage to have a look, but I didn't see him along the sideline. Anyway, while Mark Sanchez (who will soon have Aron Corp breathing down his neck) remains the heir apparent, he looked a tad vunerable yesterday, with a mixed bag of fumbles, picks, and missed throws, between a number of nice passes. Bottom Line: I could be wrong, but I'm guessing Mustain will soon be a Trojan.
USC Song Girl Competition - The Trojan Marching Band (dressed in USC shirts & jeans) put on another good show, playing all the tunes USC fans like to hear. The song girls wore their unis, as did a couple of baton twirlers, but the "Looking Good Contest" was clearly won by a very healthy young blonde, wearing cutoffs and playing the French horn in the front row.
New Receiver Corps - The new guys will do just fine:
Travon Patterson showed all the moves, hands, and speed needed to replace Steve Smith and had the best day of all receivers. At times he had to slow down to catch long balls thrown his way. Bottom Line: Patterson won't be kept off the playing field much next season.
David Asberry is a stud WR, with good hands, a large body frame, and a field presence more like Mike Williams than Dwayne Jarrett. He showed great leaping ability, and with the strength of his lower body, Asberry will be very hard for defenders to handle one on one.
Vidal Hazelton got the most playing time with the first unit yesterday and looked good while doing it, including a nice catch and run he made for a TD, when he bounced off a Taylor Mays hit. (Hazelton then got flagged for some lookback sass, as he outdistanced the rest of the defense on the way to the endzone).
So, along with returning WR Patrick Turner and several backs that can catch the ball, J. D. Booty & Co. will have more than enough talent on the receiving end. Pretty interesting, when Carroll & Co. ran sets using two 6' 5" WRs (Asberry & Turner) and a 6' 4" TE (Fred Davis) all on the same side of the field!
Tailback Position Derby - Things are looking up here, as well, with the return of some talented players from prior years:
Hershel Dennis, who hasn't lost his ability to protect the QB, delivered a performance that highlighted the scrimmage, showing his old form, both as a runner and receiver coming out of the backfield. Bottom Line: If Dennis continues to play like that, "forgettaboutit", Dennis will be starting tailback at USC in the Fall. (He's set to graduate in 2007 as well).
Desmond Reed played without a brace and looked fully recovered from that foot injury he suffered in South Bend that had everyone, but Reed, convinced his playing days were over. Gotta figure he'll still be used mostly as a situational returner (kickoffs and punts) and running back (screens, reverses, & receiving), but maybe more, if he continues to impress. Reed sparkled on a long kick return for a TD, using his blockers, moves and speed like he hasn't been able to do for years. His joy was such that he did a Reggie Bush flip going into the endzone at the end of the play---and got flagged for it, but with smiles all around!
So, while we await the return of several injured tailback contenders (Allen Bradford, Emmanuel Moody, Stafon Johnson) and new guys (including Joe McKnight), USC has more than starter Chauncey Washington (who looked about the same as last season) to rely upon.
Offensive Formations - Several different sets were used, including the shotgun (not used at USC since Carroll's first year at USC), but "one back" sets got the most reps yesterday. Gotta figure USC's lack of depth at fullback played a part in the formations used yesterday. FB Stanley Havili looked good, especially on pass routes coming out of the backfield, etc.
Mitch Mustain's Decision - The Arkansas quarterback clearly wants to transfer to USC this year, with the object to competing for the starting job in 2008. The question would seem to be, "How solid is the Trojan QB stable waiting behind J. D. Booty?" It was reported that Mustain would attend the scrimmage to have a look, but I didn't see him along the sideline. Anyway, while Mark Sanchez (who will soon have Aron Corp breathing down his neck) remains the heir apparent, he looked a tad vunerable yesterday, with a mixed bag of fumbles, picks, and missed throws, between a number of nice passes. Bottom Line: I could be wrong, but I'm guessing Mustain will soon be a Trojan.
USC Song Girl Competition - The Trojan Marching Band (dressed in USC shirts & jeans) put on another good show, playing all the tunes USC fans like to hear. The song girls wore their unis, as did a couple of baton twirlers, but the "Looking Good Contest" was clearly won by a very healthy young blonde, wearing cutoffs and playing the French horn in the front row.