University Southern California Trojans
2018 Fall Camp #3: Notes
August 06, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans put on shoulder pads for the first time this camp and the physicality ratcheted up another notch.
The Trojans began a stretch of six consecutive practices as Fall Camp picks up momentum.
- USC head coach Clay Helton reported that LB Cameron Smith, TE Erik Krommenhoek and DB Ykili Ross were held out with tight hamstrings.
- The coaching staff has put a clear emphasis on Fall Camp being more physical than previous years to raise the competitiveness of practice and explore the talent up and down the depth chart. The Trojans held several team periods today and will continue to do so. "We're going to play ball," Helton said.
- Most importantly, the live setting puts the quarterback candidates in a pressure cooker and all three were under duress today. Helton explained that he is "trying to put our quarterbacks in the hardest situations possible."
- The quarterbacks are not the only beneficiaries. "The quarterback competition's helping everybody," said QB Jack Sears. "The defense is getting more excited because Coach is letting them come after us a little more, which is awesome for us and for them. And it gets everybody fired up. It's more than just the quarterback competition. Everybody's competing out here, extremely hard."
- Freshman JT Daniels took the first team reps today as it was his turn in the three-man rotation. He showed off his "rocket arm" with some accurate outside throws, said QB coach Bryan Ellis, but he has to make faster decisions. "I want to feel that ball come out just a hair quicker," Helton said. "The biggest difference between being a high school quarterback and a college quarterback is…just the timing. You don't have as much time."
- Sears showed off his dual-threat ability today, dropping a bomb to WR Josh Imatorbhebhe and also looking explosive as a runner. While he was quick to escape the pocket in the spring, he has found a much better balance so far this camp. "It's unbelievable how far he's come in a five-month time period," Ellis said about Sears. "He's always been a good passer. He wasn't sure where to throw the ball."
- With an improved mental game, Sears has the confidence to win the starting job. "I'm pretty happy with where I'm going with the ball," he said. "Just need to start connecting on them a little bit, but I'm on the right spot on every play, so happy to say that."
- The wide receivers will not know the starting quarterback until right before the first game, so they need to prepare for all three. "You have to be fair in the QB competition," said WR Michael Pittman Jr. "You have to give all of them your time, your effort, that's how we do it."
- The offense was slowed a bit today by some bad shotgun snaps. Helton explained that C Toa Lobendahn looked rusty in shoulder pads and live action for the first time in a while, but he's not worried about it. "I love getting pads on because it produces a reality for everyone that has a ball in their hand," Helton said. Lobendahn did extra snap work after practice.
- The Trojans will be in shoulder pads again tomorrow and then full pads for the first time on Wednesday. They will practice in the Coliseum twice this week, Thursday and Saturday.
Players Mentioned
QB
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WR
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TE
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C-OT
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WR
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QB
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ILB
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