FOOTBALL

Wednesday Practice Report

USC returned to shoulder pads and shorts today and maybe this is a reason: After yesterday’s full pads practice, offensive linemen Clayton Bradley and Jacob Daniel, linebacker Hunter Echols and cornerback Greg Johnson were out today.

They joined wide receiver Kyle Ford, defensive lineman Jacob Lichtenstein, tailback Vavae Malepeai, tight end Ethan Rae, linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu, cornerback Max Williams and linebacker Elijah Winston.

So maybe Clay Helton just wants to avoid injuries. USC probably won’t even go full pads again until Saturday’s scrimmage at the Coliseum. And I don’t know how physical that scrimmage will be if players are signing autographs 45 minutes before it starts.

Quarterback Jack Sears threw a TD pass to wide receiver Drake London while tailback Markese Stepp rushed for a TD. It wouldn’t bother me if Stepp started at tailback in the first game. He’s big and can break a run.

Former USC safety Taylor Mays attended his second practice of camp.

37 thoughts on “Wednesday Practice Report”

  1. “It wouldn’t bother me if Stepp started at tailback in the first game,”

    Stepp runs the 40 between 4.4 and 4.5, he weights about 235, and we saw what he could do last year against ND.

    Assuming he can catch and can pass-block, how many programs in the country would he NOT start for?

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    1. 67— agreed. Based on what we’ve seen this fall, I’ll take Stepp over Carr in the run game. The deal is, according to hints dropped by Dan Weber, we’re gonna be using our backs the way New Orleans did with Reggie Bush (as pass catchers) —– and this favors Carr (for the time being). If Stepp develops his hands, he could be a huge weapon in this offense —he’s almost impossible to bring down.

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      2. Ha! I was thinking the same thing. [But maybe it won’t matter if they get him matched up with linebackers like the ones from Fresno State…..and UCLA]…..

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  2. Great ESPN articles about how the Dartmouth HC is revolutionizing football by not allowing his players to tackle each other and by ELIMINATING full contact. I know a bunch of traditionalists on this site want the SC team to go all- out, all- the- time, but CTE is real and this guy is doing something about it. BTW his football team has the highest winning percentage in the Ivy League since he eliminated full contact in 2011. What tipped the scale for him was when his prized recruit LB and the RB he tackled during drill, both ended up with concussions, ND is one school that is employing an “ MVP” robot for their tackling fundamentals.

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    1. All good points, Arturo. Helton isn’t crazy for wanting to minimize the potential for serious injury in practice. But there are pluses and minuses to that approach. For the last 2 seasons we’ve seen our receivers get pushed around by physical defenses and we’re getting use to umpteen missed tackles every game.
      This year it might be smart to go with reduced contact at practice, though. The whole emphasis —let’s face it —is going to be on fast scores. All we want to do on offense is outrace the other team for 60 minutes. And to do that we don’t have to be tough, we just have to be fresh.

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      1. MG, I admire your openness to new ideas and, even though you might not agree with everything I say, you never fling insults or attack me personally. It is a breath of fresh air to read your replies.
        Serious though, you gotta read the article. Some of the facts are startling: 56% drop in injuries, 80% drop in concussions. It is cutting edge.
        BTW when I played, as an undersized starting LB/ FB at North Hollywood High back in 1990, I went all out to get my starting position, but “self-managed” my own physical contact afterward during practice for the rest of the season ( I saved myself for games).

        #IwonderhowmuchdamageIdidtomyownnoodle

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    3. So now you’re a convert to the Ivy League Liberal Elitist style of football, huh?

      No tackling in football practice? That’s like telling a boxer no punching while sparring.

      LMFAO!

      That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

      Any other Trojan fans want to go on record by agreeing that Liberal Dartmouth is onto something with their brand of football?

      Classic!

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      1. Liberal or not, 74% winning percentage since they implemented the practice back in ‘11- best in the Ivy League. Injuries cut in half, concussions down 80 %- I will take those kinds of stats ever day of the week.

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      2. BTW ,Tebow, you not endorsing and essentially trashing this idea, will get more people to consider it than anything I could do to argue for it.

        #thanksObama

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      3. tebow — I’d agree with you except for this: Air Raid football is not Woody Hayes football. And it’s not boxing either (unless you’re talking about the kind Floyd Mayweather was involved in)…….
        #…SpeedKills

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    4. If they want to eliminate CTE then Dartmouth should outlaw all sports and have their little snowflakes sit in the library all day where the won’t risk bumping their noggins.

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      1. Maybe Dartmouth should start a flag football league/conference.

        Clay Helton would fit right in…no contact football.

        LOL!

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      2. No need, gt. Dartmouth is already proving that you can play big boy football and be smart about it at the same time- and save your brain for later on in life. Your reasoning seems to extreme for once.

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      1. It isn’t an idea that I’ve proposed- it is idea that is being practiced and rendering great results. Afraid of innovation are we? Set in your ways? Too bad. Have a good day, PJM.

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    1. My Dear Owns — As you may have noticed, what we do can’t exactly be called “blocking.” I’m not sure we need to practice for it…
      #….WeTouchYouAsYou’reGoingBy…..
      #QBNeedsToGetBallOutIn2Seconds….OrLess….

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    2. “Personally MG, I prefer Torque vs Horsepower from my RB’s.”

      owns, torque and horsepower are a completely package deal:

      Horsepower = Torque x Speed of Crankshaft.

      You don’t get one without the other. Which is why Stepp is such a unique talent.

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  5. this is like telling marines to where shorts for war games and then go into combat in full gear and expecting them to perform vs an enemy which has been developing muscles,ligaments and tendons in full combat gear, preparing themselves realistically. SC has not been ready , and will not ever be ready…there are some real nut jobs on this site.

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    1. Your idea is more like having marines get shot before combat, then telling them that it is for their own good and it is for them to get used to combat while being shot.

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  6. I’m not even sure if Bru fits into the offense at this point? Maybe it’s a given he won’t be playing this year? Be a great year for him to get some live reps, but otherwise I think he’s sitting out this year.

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    1. Yes, there are many who know, just not scottie. Perhaps he will gain insight from a super secret source who used to be a coach because scottie isn’t allowed on campus especially near HJ/BK Field…
      Funny, Sears throws a TD and we hear about it, JT throws several and he just happens to forget…

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      2. Ah, you spend too much time worrying about me…I must be doing something right…

        Eh krappa??

        piss off

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  9. Not sure what Scott’s complaining about. Helmet and shoulder pads are about all the equipment the modern football uniforms have. I’m not sure if they have thigh pads but I haven’t seen knee pads in years and hip pads are gone. Football pants are hot maybe that’s why they don’t wear them.

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      1. Scooter’s report. Sounds like they have been in full pads for about one day. If I am wrong, then let me know. I will admit it. But it sounds that way.

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    2. they should be wearing full pads even in no contact drill…the eqpt needs getting used to for games; they should practice exactly how they expect to play in a game…well, I think probably they are…just like last yr.

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