University Southern California Trojans
USC Football’s Shaun Nua Sets High Expectations for His Defensive Line Group
April 07, 2023 | Football
News & notes from USC's tenth practice of spring:
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Head coach Lincoln Riley has shared this spring how USC's roster is bigger, stronger and faster this year. During his media availability Thursday, defensive line coach Shaun Nua weighed in on the evolution of his position room:
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"I thought last year's group did a great job for us, maximizing their potential. The one thing that was missing last year was just numbers. We were not deep in our numbers at all," Nua explained.
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"Talent-wise it's hard to tell," Nua said of his current roster. "This group still has to prove themselves, but last year's group did a great job of setting the standard, foundation, and expectations for us. Unfortunately we didn't close it out well. But it's a good start. We'll see how this group plays out."
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Nua shared Thursday what he's seen so far from Anthony Lucas, the redshirt freshman transfer:
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"It's great when you see big guys move well," Nua said. "He's a big human being that moves very, very well and loves the game. That's the thing that separates everybody - how much passion they have for the game, and he definitely has it."
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The defensive line coach shared his evaluation of veteran transfer Jack Sullivan, praising the redshirt senior transfer for his ability to move anywhere on the line:
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"Oh man, [he's] versatile. He's very, very versatile," Nua said emphatically. "He's going to be one of those guys. Last year we probably had one or two guys that probably could do that, but we got a few guys now, like Jack, you can see them playing edge, inside - so a great addition."
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Sullivan is often the first player to hit the practice field for the Trojans, which is no surprise for coach Nua:
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"That sums him up," Nua said with a smile. "Very mature, very professional. He knows exactly what the expectation is and he's ready to embrace it."
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Defensive lineman Anthony Lucas praised USC's offensive line Thursday, but noted a particularly tough matchup he faces in practice:
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"I like Jonah [Monheim] a lot. I mean all of them have been giving me good work. It's a battle every day: one-on-ones and team run," Lucas said. "I feel like Jonah [is the toughest] because I find him at every spot. He's at guard and tackle so wherever I go, if I'm slanted on the inside, I might run into him too. He's always the one I usually have the most trouble going around."
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USC's defensive line added three newcomers this offseason, including Lucas. He shared how his teammates are getting along so far:
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"We've been able to build some good chemistry, just off the field and that's a big factor in [our success]," Lucas said. "You can't really just have guys going out there who don't really care about each other. You know, having to take on double teams for each other without caring about them a little bit. I feel like it really takes pressure off of us when our interior guys are able to hold up like that every day, every practice. That shows us that we have to go hard as edges and we can't let any tight ends block us."
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Lucas also had high praise for his position coach and the time they have spent together so far:
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"It has been great. It's been a joy," Nua said. "I take pleasure in every moment out here with him…He's been helping me with my footwork and more base fundamentals. So that when I get to the field, I'm not thinking about those things, I'm just going and playing fast."
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Cornerback Ceyair Wright has been one of the Trojans highlighted by head coach Lincoln Riley this spring for his improvement. The redshirt sophomore shared Thursday that the knowledge he gained in the 2022 season is currently contributing to his growth:
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"That's what's helped me out a lot. I got a lot of experience on the field last year," Wright said. "I think it has translated well on the practice field this year, just in terms of being out there not worried about making plays instead of just doing my job. I'm out there doing my job, but I'm also hunting players at the same time. I think that's one of the main factors."
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Both of USC's starting corner positions are up for grabs this season, heightening the competition level in the defensive back room. Wright shared a positive view on the situation Thursday:
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"That's the beauty of it. At the end of day, we're all brothers," Wright said. "We want everybody to be the best they can. If I make a play, all that does is make somebody else want to make a play too. So I think competition brings the best out of you."
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The redshirt sophomore also evaluated USC's tackling efforts this spring:
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"We've improved a lot tackling-wise," Wright said. "We do a tackle circuit every day for practice. We get out here 15 minutes early. We've got four stations. We rotate through working on block shedding and tackling fundamentals. So I think it's translated really well for the defense. I think everybody's improving tackling-wise."
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USC's defensive backs know first-hand how talented their team's quarterbacks are through countless practice reps. Safety Jaylin Smith shared what it's like having to defend against them each day:
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"That QB room is one of a kind. It's something that I'll never forget," Smith said with a wide grin. "Sometimes Caleb [Williams] puts it on the outside shoulder, sometimes Miller [Moss] is going to put it on the back shoulder. You never know with those two guys. They come with two different juices, two different energies and every time there is no drop off…It's just crazy, man. They've got two different unique styles to them throwing and competing. They compete at a high level and it's great to go against them every day."
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Smith also praised fellow safety Zion Branch, who is participating in his first camp as a Trojan now healthy:
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"He's a freak athlete," Smith said. "I see the raw talent in him. He's a great athlete and he can go up and get the ball at a high point, he covers really well, and he's a sure tackler."
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Inside linebacker Raejson Davis saw increased playing time last December, seeing the field for the majority of USC's bowl game. The junior explained Thursday what he gained from that experience:
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"Definitely just to continue to make plays and just get better at the linebacker position," Davis said. "Just keep learning, just try to get better with hands reacting to scrambles and just playing zone drops, trying to get better."
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"Just take advantage of your opportunities," Davis continued. "Whenever you get a chance, just make the best of it and ball out for your name."
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Davis also expressed that he feels more comfortable in defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's scheme with a year under his belt:
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"I'll say it's grown a lot," Davis said of his comfort level. "Just because I've had so much time with Coach [Brian] Odom. We've been able to just learn more and more of the scheme and learn how to play more downhill and better with our drops."
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The inside linebacker also shared Thursday that USC's competition level at practice continues to grow:
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"It's definitely gotten a lot more competitive," Davis said. "Coach Riley was just talking about it in the [post practice] huddle. He said after [today's] practice everybody dapped each other up. So he feels like that it was one of the best practices we've had so far this spring. So I feel like every day we're getting better."
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