Spring Practice #9: Notes

The Trojans soaked up the sun during Saturday's practice with a scrimmage emphasis.

USC head coach Clay Helton praised his offense for only committing one penalty — a false start — throughout 200 plays this week. He was also impressed that the offense only put one ball on the ground this week.

Helton thinks that Graham Harrell's new offensive scheme has elevated the play of USC's skill players. "We wanted a simpler offense that would allow our quarterbacks to play fast, and more importantly, allow our skill to play fast," he explained. "You look up and you're having a Devon Williams out there that's really playing good ball, Michael Pittman Jr., Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyler Vaughns, it just seems like everybody is playing at a higher level."

Helton explained that the offensive line hasn't undergone many scheme changes in the new offense, and that's allowed them to make big improvements this spring. "I think they've taken a real step forward, both in the run game and in pass protection," Helton said. "Those five guys are really being led by Austin Jackson, Jalen McKenzie. They're being vocal. They're being dominant. They're being physical. Big men win championships, and they've taken probably the biggest step forward form a confidence standpoint, from a demeanor standpoint of physicality, from an assignment standpoint."

Early enrollee QB Kedon Slovis (pictured below) is flourishing behind the offensive line this spring. "He's out here really executing at a high level for a freshman," Helton remarked. "Good accuracy, good timing and good decision making. He's not making critical errors, which is what you normally see from young people."

Slovis' offensive coordinator and QB coach at Desert Mountain HS was Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner, and Helton credits the Super Bowl champion with some of Slovis' success early on.

All four quarterbacks in the running for the starting role (Slovis, Jack Sears, Matt Fink and JT Daniels) have mixed in equal reps with the first-team offense throughout spring.

USC's running backs are adjusting to their new roles in the Air Raid inspired system. "This is an offense where the running back position could catch 100 balls or more," Helton noted. "One of the things that they've got to realize is how much work they're going ot have to put in the passing game. The extra work on the jugs machine, with the quarterbacks, because those are extra touches for them."

On the other side of the ball, Helton likes what he's seen from his defensive line, specifically Jay Tufele (who Helton thinks is playing at the highest level on the defensive line) and Brandon Pili (who Helton said has "the right mindset right now").

According to Helton, USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is "putting the right people in the right situations on the right down and distance," which includes changing up personnel groupings so that faster players on the edge (Hunter Echols, Eli'jah Winston, Abdul-Malik McClain) can rush the passer effectively.

The Trojans will wear full pads in five of their remaining six practices. All six practices will be free and open to the public. Click here to see the remaining spring football schedule!

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