As they enter week two, the Trojans focused on third down performance in their first spring practice at the Coliseum.
- Tuesday was also the first time the Trojans wore full pads, a factor that notched up the intensity on both sides of the ball.
- Head coach Steve Sarkisian noted that as spring progresses, the team is rising to the challenges that have been posed to specific position groups. "The offense did a great job today," he remarked after practice. "The biggest positive from a defensive standpoint was creating five turnovers. It's been a point of emphasis, it's something I challenged the defense on after practices one and two because I thought they had missed some opportunities. Today, obviously, guys made some really good plays."
- The defensive effort was highlighted by Adoree' Jackson, who had two interceptions, and Quinton Powell who forced a fumble. On the opposite side of the ball, the offense evened things up in the finish challenge, executing on the final three third down opportunities for a comeback victory.
- As the Trojans' secondary continues to improve in its second year under defensive backs coach Keith Heyward, two players that stand out to the coaches in spring practice are junior Leon McQuay III and sophomore John Plattenburg. "They are both really critical and they've both elevated their games," Sarkisian noted. "They're both playing with a great deal of confidence, they're playing fast and they're playing physical. Both those guys are now in year two in the system and have the confidence that it takes to make the call, know the proper alignment and play fast."
- Sarkisian added that because both safeties possess backgrounds at the corner position, they enable the Trojans to play with versatility in more "man-like coverages" especially against slot receivers.
- Another position Sarkisian has been impressed with is fullback, as he sees both Soma Vainuku and Jahleel Pinner as versatile options in the backfield. "Soma especially is a big, physical runner," Sarkisian explained. "He's faster than you think for a guy that big. When he gets going he's kind of like a big freight train, he's hard to bring down. He and Jahleel are versatile players, [Both Vainuku and Pinner caught touchdowns in Tuesday's practice] and it's a real luxury to have as we try to build the depth at the running back position."
- Another luxury for the Trojans this season is returning quarterback Cody Kessler. After practice on Tuesday, the redshirt senior discussed his relationship with wide receiver JuJu Smith and the positive results that came from a couple field trips he and the sophomore made in the offseason. "Sometimes we'd work out at the school and sometimes I'd take him with me to work with my quarterbacks coach," Kessler explained. "He got a feel for how different it is to play quarterback. He kind of got to see what goes through my head as I'm dropping back, what my reads are and what I'm supposed to be doing. I think the mental side really helped him out and got us on the same page."
- As Smith evolves to fill the No. 1 wide receiver spot left vacant by Nelson Agholor, Sarkisian noted that he's been continually impressed with the sophomore's leadership and professional approach to the game. "He provides a real sense of confidence and natural leadership even for a guy who's going into his second year," Sarkisian explained. "I don't know if I could have totally predicted the maturity that JuJu has. He's a really mature guy and he's really mature in his approach to the game and really, to life. He focuses on the things that are important to him. He has a fun time doing it, but he has a really unique ability just to take it all on."
- Former USC DE Leonard Williams visited practice to hang out with and motivate his teammates before participating in USC Pro Day on Wednesday.
- Here is Sarksian after practice...
