Morning Buzz: Five Biggest Needs As USC Opens Training Camp

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Clay Helton talks to the squad after spring practice at USC in Los Angeles, CA. March 25, 2017. (Photo by John McCoy/SCNG)

It’s the first day of training camp and before today’s practice, I list five positions where USC needs to improve:

Excerpt: USC has one go-to wide receiver, Rose Bowl star Deontay Burnett. And even he was not considered a big-time receiver before the Rose Bowl, when he caught 13 passes, including three touchdowns.

Senior Steven Mitchell returns from knee surgery, sophomore Michael Pittman is tall and full of promise and then there is a group of unproven redshirt freshmen (Tyler Vaughns, Velus Jones, Josh Imatorbhebhe, Trevon Sidney) who have yet to wow anyone with their practice performances. Not to mention a couple even more unproven true freshmen (Joseph Lewis, Randal Grimes).

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92 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: Five Biggest Needs As USC Opens Training Camp”

  1. Maybe it’s time to stop having the “go to receiver” at one time every receiver was a go to receiver. Now we have the “star” the guy with a target on his back. Why not spread the ball around and keep everyone guessing. The benefit would be players sticking around for their commitment instead of taking their status as a go to receiver to the NFL.

    • Yes! Also a reception is a pass received by anyone eligible. We have excellent TE’s and RB’s with good hands. Spread it out! Sam has many targets.

      • Good call, peter. I just hope there’s at least one receiver who can come out of nowhere to save Darnold when he’s in trouble —-the way JuJu did TWICE in the Rose Bowl. Those two miracle plays made the difference between a win and a loss.

        • That comes with familiarity, if the best receiving class in the country isn’t good enough, I don’t know what is..

          I’ll go out on a limb here, I’ll go so far as to say that at least one receiver surpasses Juju’s numbers from last year, and Darnold’s numbers will be even more outstanding.

          • Every once in a while, somebody makes a statement that hits me with such sudden impact that I figure it must be a sign that it’s true. You just did that. [Any ideas on who our miracle guy is gonna be]??

          • Besides the obvious one, Burnett?
            Hardly a miracle guy, but I feel Pitman’s a stud and feel he’s completely primed and ready to go. Many people saying nobody really stepped up, but Sam wasn’t around much the last three weeks so I don’t put much stock in it.
            This team is so stacked and I’ve heard some real, real good things about Vaughns too, but with the tight ends and new freshmen (6’2-6’4) the last thing I worry about is catching the ball.

          • I hope they go to Daniel Imatorbhebhe a lot. He won’t let them down. I didn’t see him drop one ball last year. And the guy is a born leader.

          • Yeah….let’s savor this special season. Due to a lot of crazy twists and turns, It’s been a long time coming.

          • What I love most about college football is the watching new talent rise to the top. This more than anything separated SC from most of the also rans. Always another horse. Now with almost 85 again, I’m excited like the mid 2000’s.

          • I think it’s not going to be just one guy. These receivers and TEs are very fast and talented. Sam will have no problem spreading the ball and worst case can check down to the TE. I have a feeling that we are going to run a power double TE set a lot and run the football setting up the play action early.

          • I hope you’re right..I don’t pretend to be dogmatic and as long as we’re moving the ball that’s all that counts. There’s just a tendency at this level to feel more comfortable going to a couple of guys.

          • Sam’s passing is going to open the run game even more than last year. Now everyone knows every receiver HAS to be covered well. That opens the field for the run.

          • If we’re to be a perennial in the playoffs, then the run game must generate its own momentum, especially to close games out. That being said, pass to run or run to pass, whatever works..I’m for it.

          • I’d feel pretty darn comfortable with Jalen in there. He can make the throws —-short and deep—- and he’d be dangerous as a runner. Plus he’s a mature player who wouldn’t let the situation get too big for him —-which might be more than we can say for Fink at this stage, I’m afraid.

        • We saw Burnett come out of nowhere, I believe my friend there are multiple waiting to get opportunity. .Just a side on Burnett, I remember his teammates raving about him his first summer in players only.

          • You’re right, peter. Deontay has made things happen — a bunch of times —when it looked like Sam had nowhere to go. And two of those times happened in the end zone!

    • I’m not sure if it is Darnold or the new coaching staff (which probably means a combination of the two), but the ball is being spread around a lot more. Last year SC had 3 guys with over 50 catches, in 2015 they had 1 guy with over 40. Again, I don’t know if it was Kiffin / Sark or Barkley / Kessler, but there were a lot of years where you got the notion that the QB had decided where the ball was going the second they heard the play. Hopefully the younger QB’s are being raised with the Darnold model being the norm.

      • Good post malito rototo – it was a combo of all 4 – Barkley-Kessler-Sarkisian and Kiffin. As the world turned and the coaches were sent out control went to the qb’s who knew better than what was coming in and frankly they just may have.

        It seems everyone knows their place this year and everyone also knows no one is above having to ‘wear it’ if they don’t pay attention.

  2. If they can’t figure out a go to guy with the over abundance of receivers they have, then I really feel sorry for that coaching staff. USC has all the tools they need, they just need to improve the line of scrimmage play.

    • Absolutely right! This team has potential that’s off the chart. Now it’s on the coaching staff to game plan correctly and let the talent loose.

    • We’ve been saying since the Carroll days, when we own both lines,dominantly. We own the game. Bottom line this season and all to come.

    • This is the year you’re gonna get off this USC staff’s back. I used to be in your camp.

      But Helton’s made an awful lot of strong moves since the loss to STAN last year. And at that time I thought CH and staff were total dogs**t. But times have changed.

      Helton’s fortunate to have the strong, and smart hand of Swann behind him. They’re a good team.

      We’ll see if our OL has what it takes. Who knows? But I never thought Wheeler and Banner were any more than average USC OL starters. Should be fun to watch take hold.

    • Seems nobody is considering Jalen Greene at WR. One good athlete that came up with some surprises last season. I look for him to contribute a lot at WR this year.

  4. USC’s loaded with unbelievable WR talent. Darnold loves to hit different receivers and that makes them all happy. Our passing game will be fantastic.

    If we can pick up our running game with a more consistent, dominant OL, SC will be playing for the NC against whomever is unfortunate enough to meet us.

    It’s great to be good again. Reminds me of the Leinart days. I know not everyone is buying the Kool-aid yet. Good. This team needs a chip on its shoulder. So mote it be.

    • It’s funny that folks keep worrying about the receivers and lay off Ronald Jones and the running game. RoJo was stopped cold in three games last year. I have a feeling Ware and Carr are gonna need to step up this year for us to get to the NC game [even if they’re supported by a just above average O-Line]…..

      • I’ve never been as big of an RJ fan as some. For me, he needs to learn how to break tackles to become a great back. He’s still got time. I’m really looking forward to see how Carr and Malepeai develop. It’s another position that we’re loaded at.

        • We couldn’t run at all against Alabama. We didn’t run it well against Washington. The Penn St game we were held in check for the most part also. The O-line has to be tougher. They’re a pretty good group but we have to be able to grind out yards and be physical.

          • Look we couldn’t run against AL because Browne couldn’t open up the d-line by completing passes and I’m willing to bet those other two games RoJo failed to gain much were in the other 1st games where we were a collective 1 – 3. Not saying he’s all the great ‘but’ Browne, God bless him, wasn’t much of a qb.

          • My bad – wasn’t awre – just assumed he was part of that mess down in Dallas last year.

            Thanks for pointing out what I flat out had no idea of.

          • Oh, you were right he didn’t play well, and neither did the line, he just didn’t start till Justin got hurt..

          • We always struggled with the guard play last year. Mama was just plain slow on pulling which hurt opening up lanes and getting to the second level. Brown is more agile and Toa is probably one of the best rounded lineman in the country. I think we will see improvement this year.

          • Brown didn’t play much after the Alabama and Stanford games because he wasn’t holding his blocks. I hope he turns it around. But I agree that we weren’t blasting our opponents in the middle and our backs weren’t ever to find any lanes. I like Toa, at Guard or Center. He’s always held his own. But I’m not too sure about him at Tackle. He’s coming off an injury and it’s not smart to think he can move with big, fast and strong pass rushers on the edge.

          • The OT’s have to play well. A NC is the goal. We just have to run the ball better and establish that we’re gonna move the chains first with our O-Line and run game before anything. If we can do that we should be on our way .

          • Ware’s interesting. He’s in danger of being sandwiched – depending on RJ’s performance and how good the big shot younger guys are. Great to see so much depth at USC RB.

    • Maybe this year we can have an offensive line that does not give up 30 yards in penalties each game.

  5. Daniel Imatorbhebhe is gonna hurt defenses with his ability to get open and make plays.

  6. I’m sure most of you have heard, 5* 2019 QB JT Daniel’s includes USC in top four.
    Also Cameron Latu 4* DE will be committing soon, choosing between Bama, UW, Utah, USC.

    • I’ve noticed that Alabama’s been getting a lot of CB’s for Lato over the summer. Do you think we’ll get him and when is he supposed to commit?

      • Lato’s been playing it pretty mum since his last visits but I’m thinking we’re good with our poly connection, crossing my fingers, but feeling good. He tweeted yesterday that it’s soon,this week?

      • Speaking of CB’s, Sam —-I sure do wish Texas A&M had some to stop Rosen from picking them apart on September 3rd. I’d really like to see the Bruins blow that game and turn on their Coach (who, according to rumor, they are already starting to refer to as Coach Flora —named after the bossy but ditsy Fairy in some Disney cartoon).

          • Since you asked me the “seriously” question, Pudly, I have to admit this is based on hearsay on hearsay (but it’s too wonderful not to want to believe, no)?

          • “I, um, have competing sources—-I, uh, think some of them are lying….and some don’t know what they’re talking about.”
            Way to go, Gloria! Keep up the good work!

        • The Rose Bowl won’t be sold out and A&M has skill players to make plays. Mazzone and Mora part 2. I wouldn’t be surprised either way, both teams aren’t expected to do much this year.

  7. If push came to shove, Imatorbhebhe could be put out as a split end and treated like a Mike Williams. He’s that good.
    I also think we need a offensive left tackle that has some quickness on his feet vs. extra size as the opposing defense will attempt to put their quickest lineman, DE, LB or Safety on that end to run around the tackle. You might get by with a left smaller tackle who can stay in front of the defender and slow him down. A big slow guy will get beaten around the end.
    If Darnold does get hit and injured, it will probably be in the 1st part of the season when the line is trying to find itself cohesively and missing blocking assignments. Don’t know how Matt Fink would handle the pressure replacing Sam, but I do know the trojan offense is set up to depend greatly on the QB. Darnold getting hurt worries me the most in losing games.

    • Imatorbhebhe was somewhat injured tonight, or so was said. Slightly tweeted hammie…

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