Scroll down to the next post for all the stats...
- How do you put the USC offense on display today in context? Matt Kalil is the only offensive lineman with any experience. Marc Tyler (concussion) and Robert Woods (ankle) sat out with injuries. Rhett Ellison (back) and Brandon Carswell (concussion symptoms) were knocked out early. The list goes on and on... "We've got a lot of work to do on offense," Lane Kiffin said. "It is really hard to address where we're at and figure it out."
While the passing offense never hit top gear, Curtis McNeal, D.J. Morgan and Dillon Baxter showed an explosiveness in the run game that was largely missing last season. McNeal accounted for two scores while amassing over 100 yards on the ground. "I just matured," McNeal talked about his breakout spring. "I know I can do what I can do on the football field. I just have to step my game up in the classroom and that's what I did this spring."
- Markeith Ambles finished a Jekyll & Hyde spring on a positive note. While he has frustrated the coaching staff by showing up late to practice and missing a scrimmage entirely, he's undoubtedly a talented target, which he exhibited again today. "It's good to see Markeith bounce back from a bad start and really a bad spring in general to make some plays," the head coach said.
- The pass defense littered the stat sheet with three interceptions and several sacks led by Nick Perry coming off the edge. He is the most natural pass rusher on the team, so his health is vital to the unit's success. "I want have the leading sack total," Perry has made his fall goals clear this spring. "I'm ready to get better and get after it this fall."
- The linebackers were credited by both Kiffins as the most improved group this spring. Given that the presumed starters did not take a single rep, the young corps showed great growth highlighted by Hayes Pullard, Dion Bailey and Marquis Simmons. "I see us playing faster," Monte Kiffin said about the defense. "These guys have really been a pleasant surprise."
- The play of the day was drawn in the sand by Lane Kiffin. On the final snap, Baxter hit Matt Barkley on a half back pass to close the game in style. "We practiced that zero," Barkley explained. "In the huddle, Kiff just said, 'Let's do this.'"
Extra point...
- True freshman kicker Andre Heidari split the uprights on just one of three field goal attempts. He made from 27, but missed from 40+ and 50+. "He's supposed to be a senior in high school, so we're working with him," said Kiffin about Heidari.Â
We'll have Matt Barkley's post-game comments later, but here is the head coach...
