FOOTBALL

USC Holds First “Scrimmage”

It’s really a full-on scrimmage but USC did some scrimmaging Saturday.

The offense remains a work-in-progress as it continues to learn the Air Raid.

  • Safety Talanoa Hufanga fell hard to the ground and favored his right shoulder. He broke his collarbone last season.

“He’s been in non-contact this whole time and just fell and something tweaked,” Clay Helton said. “We’ll have to see exactly what it is. The good news is we are in spring. It is March and like I told him, he’ll be 100 percent by the time we get to fall camp.”

  • Freshman defensive end Drake Jackson intercepted a pass but then fumbled the ball after being hit by John Jackson III.
  • As expected, wide receiver Joshua Jackson of Narbonne committed to USC after practice. How many Jacksons will USC have on the team in two years?
  • Helton said quarterback JT Daniels is down to 211 pounds from 220 last season.
  • Helton made sure to mention new president Carol Folt in his comments. I wonder if he will call her “Coach Folt” the way he used to call Max Nikias, “Coach Nikias.”
  • If you want to know why I’m not making a big deal out how the quarterbacks are playing, I’m not in favor of highlighting one-on-drills or 7-on-7 plays. And I also want to say (again), USC has 2-3 healthy scholarship cornerbacks right now and one is a true freshman (Briton Allen), who might be better than the healthy ones but that tells you something right there.

18 thoughts on “USC Holds First “Scrimmage””

  1. It may not strike a lot of people as a big deal at this point —-but J. T.’s weight loss is a very good sign. The only really great season Matt Barkley ever had was the one where he came to fall practice light. We’re gonna see a more mobile J. T. this year.
    btw —The big question is not whether Helton starts calling Carol Folt, Coach Folt —it’s whether Carol Folt continues to call Clay, Coach Helton.
    #J.T.IsSerious–WatchOut

    Liked by 5 people

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      1. 67 —Football is J. T.’s passion. He follows that old Ray Leonard formula of success: “I know I will need to be my best to win, therefore I will be my best.”
        As far as Helton goes —-I listened to his post practice presser and I have to say I’d respect him so much more if he didn’t say stuff like “I was so honored to WATCH President Folt speak— she is so amazing.” What other coach talks this way? Stick to coaching, coach. If you win games, you won’t have to kiss ass to keep your job.
        #It’llBeBetterForEverybody,TrustMe

        Liked by 3 people

  2. No mention of QB play because it doesn’t fit his narrative. JT is once again the best QB on the day.

    What are the odds anyone from USC would pull Scottie out front to praise his coverage the way Joey Kauffman was treated today?

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. I heard from an insider that Helton has mentioned many, many times that he wishes Scott would come back so that he could give him ‘some real extra special southern hospitality.’
      #HeltonIsAlwaysGrittingHisTeethWhenHeSaysIt

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    2. Jack Sears must not have played well or sw would be praising him.
      Will CH be meeting with Coach Folt on Sundays to discuss what happened on Saturdays?

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Coach Helton didn’t talk much about “Accountability Sundays”—- but he ended today’s presser by saying if Folt ever gets a hankering for a slice of hot pizza or a cold 16 ounce coke all she needs to do is give him a ring and he’ll deliver to her office faster than she can say “5-7.”

        Liked by 2 people

      1. gt —the answer to your question is a very big yes.
        #NotAtAllABadWayToBecomeBelovedAtUSC

        Like

      2. No he doesn’t ignore them, and he is objective.

        Scott has one take on all things USC and we all know what it is.

        Like

      1. According to Dan Weber, Markese Stepp is running right through our d-line when the offense gets into the red zone. Weber says he’s 220 but “plays like 230.”

        Liked by 1 person

  5. JT is a gamer and committed to preparing for his position. He is going to physically mature this year and he will be able to assert himself as a team leader. He came into a dysfunctional offense with a head coach who expended much political capital making excuses instead of addressing issues head on.

    Liked by 2 people

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