- The best news from the scrimmage was that no one got hurt. Head coach Clay Helton reported zero injuries. Also, DT Noah Jefferson (back) is improving and did a lot of work in the morning practice.
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However, Helton was not overjoyed by his team's execution. The coaches backed away a little to see which players were prepared and who needed more time in the playbook. "Reality day," Helton called it.
- Early in practice, QB Max Browne threw three passes that ended up in defenders' arms, albeit two of them were on drops, but Helton was impressed with how he bounced back from disappointment. "He did some really nice things late, I thought, especially in the red zone and in the two-minute drive," said Helton about his veteran QB. "It's how you react from it."
- Overall though, the offense struggled to move the ball for the first half of practice and penalty flags piled up. "As you can see, we started off slow, Coach Helton, JuJu [Smith-Schuster], [Darreus Rogers], the leaders of the pack spoke on it," said sophomore WR Deontay Burnett. "We had to spark our energy."
- Burnett provided a lift in the passing game. "You can really see how he's matured," said Helton, who credited Burnett with two touchdowns today. "He really played like a vet player, not like a young kid."
- Coming in as a blueshirt and needing to add weight, Burnett was not expected to do much, but he worked his way onto the field and has never looked back. "My mindset going into this camp is compete every day just like my freshman year," he said. "My freshman year I believed that I would play because I compete, and I knew if I put in hard work that good things would come. And it's going to continue until I leave this place. I love USC. This has been my dream school, so I'll fight and work hard every day that I can."
- Helton also praised sophomore RB Ronald Jones II, who is "starting to become a complete back on every down."
- As the offense found its rhythm late in practice, QB Sam Darnold made a big play down the field to freshman WR Velus Jones Jr. for a long touchdown.
- On the defensive side, Adoree' Jackson reeled in another interception, which of course, he took back for six. "Adoree' Jackson is getting in prime form," said Helton. After working him back slowly from track season, he is able to practice fully now without limitation.
- Here is Helton after practice:
