USC Morning Buzz

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Dion Bailey says he is moving to his natural position of safety after playing linebacker the past two seasons and weighs less than 200 pounds in anticipation of the move.

This is interesting because USC does not seem overly stocked at linebacker and has a bunch of supposed starters for the safety position (Su’a Cravens, Leon McQuay, Josh Shaw, Demetrius Wright, Gerald Bowman).

Hayes Pullard, Lamar Dawson and Anthony Sarao return at linebacker but Scott Starr (neck) remains out and there is the question of whether Jabari Ruffin stays at defensive end or goes back to linebacker. Bailey was an undersized playmaker at linebacker but will be missed there if he plays safety all season.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/ken.hart.750 Ken Hart

    I knew that you could do it if your tried real hard wolfie. A post without being a synical butt head. Keep trying and you may actually become a legitimate sports writer some day when you grow up.

    • TrojanFamily

      I was thinking the same thing. Good post, Wolf. Informative AND a little insightful. I’d love to know if one of the safeties might be converted to corner (Josh Shaw was working out as a corner during the year when Torin was being torched regularly, so that’s an option unless he flamed out in practice). I’m also not convinced that 18 year olds necessarily have a position, so Cravens or McQuay are options. If one of those three can convert to corner (the real position of weakness in the secondary) then this move makes sense. If not then it is all about Bailey in the NFL (he’d have to play safety in the NFL since he doesn’t have near the size to play LB).

      • gillyking

        It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they are just wanting to prepare Bailey for either position, depending on how all these new underclassmen pan out. I also think that they might try McQuay at CB, where our biggest defensive deficiencies are. Like CP said, the best players will play the most! It’s actually kind of exciting to me that we are changing up the D to become more aggressive and in attack mode. Yeah, we may end up giving the big play from time to time but the general run of the D would sure be an improvement from Monte’s ‘drop back,bend over and take it’ philosophy

  • http://www.facebook.com/charles.bucket.3 Charles Bucket

    sweeeet scooopin’ wolfman!!

    here my bet Kiff will change him back after reading your stellar post!!!
    (like the Nabobs, i KNOW Kiff secretly checks your BLOG daily if not hourly!!)

    in fact if Kiff does of doesn’t change his mind about this i guaran-fing-tee i’ll eventually leave this BLOG forever!!

    so let it written, so let it be done!!

    • TrojanFan

      ….and I thought bucket was the only one checking the blog hourly.

  • ThaiMex

    “THIN” is no longer in? I can’t wait for the Annual Spring “Touch Football” game! Jeepers….I hope no one breaks a nail or loses an ear ring. State of the Art Training Facilities, Heritage Haul, 100 yard Touch Football Practice field, all that and U Stupid Clowns are projected to finish 4th in a SIX (6) Team Division? WTF happened to all that JIBBER JABBER about “YOUR 75″? I’ll tell you WTF happened……It’s called the LIMBO U EFFECT! There’s only one way to go, and that’s LOWER!
    Fit on torgans! (come on water polo!)

    • http://www.facebook.com/charles.bucket.3 Charles Bucket

      Thai, tu eres en FUEGO, hombre!!!

      (Thai, you are on FIRE, man!!!)

      • TrojanFan

        He might need some water, idiot!

      • http://www.facebook.com/arturo.barajas.1800 Arturo Barajas

        Estas en fuego and not eres en fuego.

    • TrojanFamily

      Wow the Internet connection under the bridge is strong this morning. Congrats! You found the sweet spot.

      • TrojanFan

        I think one of the cadre(tree house members) found buckets sweet spot AGAIN

    • TrojanFan

      Same lame recycled material, refocus and get a life!

  • Ted

    In SC’s scheme Strong Safety is almost the same as a Linebacker anyway. I just think he is having trouble keeping his weight up.

  • USC owns the Rose Bowl

    I think it’s a great move. Bailey will be a likely starter… then let 2 freshman and 2 upperclassmen battle it out for the other spot. As Pendergrast said, whoever is the best will play… let’s see what Cravens and McQuay have got!

    At linebacker… Pullard is automatic. If SC is switching to a 5-2 front seven.. let Starr, Dawson, Ruffin, Hutchings, etc etc etc battle it out for playing time. I think scheme hurt SC more than names and we have plenty of talent. We should be fine defensively.. almost an anything is an improvement mentality.

    • USC owns the Rose Bowl

      but the d-line should be productive. I think the more concerning issue is will SC have a run game to keep a young defense off the field more often that previous seasons.

  • steveg

    I agree, great post Wolf. Bailey is an asset and will be a very strong point on the defense at safety. I am sure he will start there, and perhaps later in the season if needed he can fill a linebacker slot for a game or two.

    • gotroy22

      He’s my favorite player, like Groots he was in on almost every tackle the last 2 seasons.