University Southern California Trojans
2017 Fall Camp #12: Notes
August 12, 2017 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans enjoyed a 70-play, fully-padded situational scrimmage on Howard Jones Field on Saturday.
- Junior RB Aca'Cedric Ware was pulled with an AC sprain and junior OT Chuma Edoga got his toe stepped on, but USC head coach Clay Helton doesn't consider either injury serious.
- The defense was "lights out" today, according to Helton. He called junior LB Porter Gustin and senior LB Uchenna Nwosu "phenomenal," while also praising junior CB Iman Marshall and redshirt junior CB Ajene Harris.
- Harris' one-handed interception of redshirt sophomore QB Sam Darnold's pass was "probably the play of the day," per Helton.
- Helton noted that the offense was "sloppy" at first before settling down and executing in the red zone, but that redshirt freshman WR Tyler Vaughns shined brightly. "If we were playing this Saturday, he would have out be out there and be a major contributor," said Helton of Vaughns' first-team aspirations. "He made a lot of plays today and looked really comfortable."
- Helton wasn't alarmed by the defense outperforming the offense today. "It's good to see the reality today," he said. "The defense is always going to be ahead in these early scrimmages, just because you have so much offense and you've got young kids. And you're trying to get them to learn concepts and be able to play fast."
- He did express discontent, though, at the placekicker position, as redshirt freshman Michael Brown and freshman walk-on Chase McGrath combined to go 3-for-9 on field goals today. "Thank goodness we've got 15, 16 more practices to get them where we need them to be," Helton said. "We'll see where their comfort zone is, whatever yard-line that is. And that may mean we need to be a little more aggressive offensively on fourth down."
- Helton has faith in John Baxter, who he called "the best special teams coordinator in the business," to help those two kickers progress.
- The Trojans enjoyed an ice cream truck to help them cool down after the scrimmage ended.
Players Mentioned
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CB
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PK
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OLB
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TB
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