Thoughts from Monday night's scrimmage, through the eyes of USCRipsIt...
- The defense displayed utter dominance during Monday's 89-play scrimmage in front of an estimated 2,000 at the Coliseum, shutting down the offense's passing attack and suffocating nearly all drives. Of the 14 total drives in the scrimmage, only three ended in scores for the offense (two touchdowns and a field goal) and five were three-and-outs. Led by the lockdown secondary, the Trojan defense limited first-team quarterback Matt Barkley to 109 yards on 5-of-18 passing. "The defense played really well in coverage," Coach Carroll said. "They made it hard on Barkley all night long."
- Freshman De'Von Flournoy had the play of the night when he caught a short pass from Mitch Mustain and juked his way free for a 53-yard touchdown.
- Though Barkley struggled against the vaunted top-unit defensive backfield, he led the first-team offense on a sharp-looking 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Stafon Johnson.
- Mitch Mustain continued his recent surge with another strong performance Monday, going 10-of-16 for 108 yards, a touchdown and no turnovers. "Mitch has really come to life now," Carroll said.
- At the end of a simulated two-minute drill to close out the first half, kicker Joe Houston connected on a 34-yard field goal for the offense's only other points. Matt Barkley quarterbacked the drive, which went 58 yards in five plays.
- The Trojans also scored twice on special teams, with Ronald Johnson returning a kickoff 99 yards and Joe McKnight taking a punt back 78 yards, both against the scout teams.
- Joe McKnight had another SportsCenter-worthy play Monday night when he took the pitchout and sliced between defenders for a 54-yard run on the second play of the scrimmage. "Joe looked flashy tonight," Carroll said.
- Besides the secondary, another of the Trojans' major strengths -- the offensive line -- shined Monday night, providing outstanding pass coverage and run-blocking throughout the scrimmage. The O-line allowed only two sacks in 78 offensive snaps and created lanes for 207 rushing yards Monday.
- The thermometer read 72 degrees, a cool haze hung over the field, the "Monday Night Football" theme song played at the onset and dew formed on the pristine turf, all of which signaled the return of football season and created a perfect night for Trojan football.Â
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