The Trojans matched the intensity from day one as they returned to the field on Sunday night pleasing USC head coach Steve Sarkisian...
- "I think it was pretty evident today that the guys came out again in a really competitive atmosphere," commented the head coach. "They were intense, and at times a little too intense for not being in pads yet, so we had to keep coaching them that way, but I was impressed with that."
- The defense clinched its second finish challenge, something Sarkisian was impressed with after the offense came out to an early 2-0 lead.
- With the departure of defensive standouts Leonard Williams and Hayes Pullard, the head coach noticed the entire unit is coming together to form a new, less individualized identity. "I don't feel like guys on the defense are waiting for another guy to go make a play. They're understanding the accountability aspect of it. It's my job to do my job. If a play comes my way or if I have to go make that play through sheer effort, I'm going to go do that because that's my job and that's what my brothers are expecting me to do," he said.
- Redshirt senior LB Anthony Sarao echoed the head coach's assessment, adding that the freshmen are helping the entire unit grow even more. "I see a lot of sponge in them, as in, they like to listen," he explained. "They like to ask a lot of questions too. A lot of young guys get scared to ask questions but they're embracing it. They like to take advice. They're going to be good players."
- On the opposite side of the ball, Sarkisian is encouraged by the way redshirt senior RB Tre Madden looks in his first official practices in nearly a year. "I thought Tre had a really good night. I thought he looked sharp and ran well. I thought he showed good patience, but then good burst through the hole."
- Madden is thrilled to be back at full speed with the opportunity to build on what he described as his best summer of conditioning. "I feel good. I'm a little sore, a little tired but I feel great being out here," said the running back. "We've never had this many numbers at RB. Our individual drills are giving us a lot of breaks so we're able to go as hard as we can when we get our reps."
- The depth is evident in nearly every position group as pointed out by junior Darreus Rogers, who raved about the wealth of options at wide receiver. "We've all got roles we're trying to play. Every play I feel fresh. I'm not worried about running a play tired, going 50 percent. Every play I'm going 100 percent, and it's just a better opportunity for me to make plays," he said.
- In the first two days of practice, the junior is already noticing an improvement from last season. "I'm focused on playing faster, thinking less and more of me just playing naturally," explained Rogers. "Now I have a second year under my belt with Sark's playbook. I feel too good out here. The game has slowed down tremendously for me. I feel great. I feel like I can just go out there and play without thinking."
- A few Trojans are a little nicked up after two days, including junior RB Justin Davis and sophomore OG Viane Talamaivao who are nursing sore hamstrings, as well as sophomore S John Plattenburg who sustained a minor hip pointer.
- Here's the head coach after Sunday's practice...
