CHAMPIONSHIP OFF OLD BLOCK?
USC title hopes could hinge on o-line, defensive front
USC finished last season as college football’s hottest team not named Clemson. The Trojans closed with a nine-game winning streak, minted a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Sam Darnold and won a thrilling Rose Bowl game.
Coach Clay Helton’s grade for the 2016 campaign? Incomplete.
“The fact of the matter is we had a successful season last year,” Helton said on national signing day in February. “But at the end of the day, USC is about winning championships here. We finished third in the country. But our ultimate goal is to finish No. 1.”
Championships, he added, mainly require two ingredients. “Big men and defense,” he said. Whether USC has enough of either to reach next season’s four-team national playoff will be the main subplot of spring practice, which begins Tuesday.
Here are a few of USC’s other big questions heading into the spring:
Who protects Darnold’s blindside? (And his other side, too.)
Triple-threat Adoree’ Jackson and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster generated headlines with their early departures
to the NFL, but USC’s losses with the biggest effect were its two senior tackles, Chad Wheeler and Zach Banner.
Those two, along with guard Damien Mama, who declared early for the NFL draft, combined for 110 starts on the line.
The only sure bet, barring injury, is that Viane Talamaivao will be at guard. USC should be set at center, too, though the personnel could shift. Nico Falah filled in seamlessly last year after Toa Lobendahn suffered a seasonending knee injury. Both are back, and whoever doesn’t play center has the versatility to play elsewhere on the line. Helton has said Lobendahn “could play several positions.”
Otherwise, USC has only questions. Chris Brown is the likely front-runner to replace Mama after sharing time with him early last season, but he is relatively inexperienced.
Chuma Edoga was an occasional starter at tackle last season, but he was inconsistent. Clayton Johnston and Nathan Smith are also candidates for the open tackle positions, but they are unproven.
Is there an anchor on defense?
Last season’s most important defensive player was tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, who transferred from Utah and promptly set up residence in opposing backfields. He is out of eligibility.
His understudy was Josh Fatu, a junior college transfer. USC will monitor Fatu’s progression closely.
Even if Fatu doesn’t turn into another Tu’ikolovatu in the spring, there should at least be depth and competition.
The Trojans replenished the position with recruits such as Jay Tufele, Brandon Pili and Marlon Tuipulotu. Tuipulotu will get a head start after enrolling early.
At this time a year ago, Kenny Bigelow Jr. was the team’s top defensive tackle. Then he injured his knee during spring practice and missed the season. He is set to return.
Can the receivers find their mojo without JuJu?
Darnold’s tendency to diversify his passing targets lessens the sting of losing SmithSchuster to the draft. But the departure still hurts.
Smith-Schuster’s last reception at USC — a crucial, acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch along the sideline in tight coverage late in the Rose Bowl — showed why. Few receivers are capable of such a play.
Is there another No. 1 receiver on the roster? Deontay Burnett showed potential from the slot position. In the Rose Bowl, he caught 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-tying score with 1:20 to play. But it was his only 100-yard performance of the season.
The Trojans loaded last year's recruiting class with talent at receiver. Only Michael Pittman Jr. saw regular time. USC will need redshirts such as Tyler Vaughns and Josh Imatorbhebhe to make strides.
Is cornerback “Biggie” Marshall ready for the big time?
Iman Marshall showed improved consistency after a penalty-riddled freshman campaign. In terms of touchdowns allowed, he outpaced the Trojans’ No. 1 cornerback, Jackson, who left early for the NFL draft.
But there was a major difference: Jackson usually drew the opposing team’s best receiver.
Marshall was considered perhaps the best cornerback in the nation when he committed out of Long Beach Poly High. Proving he was worthy of that rating begins now.
Who will be Darnold’s understudy?
In the Rose Bowl, USC faced two unattractive choices if anything had befallen Darnold: Burn freshman Matt Fink’s redshirt year or turn to Jalen Greene, who spent most of his time at receiver.
Darnold stayed healthy and Helton avoided the decision. He could face a similar problem this season.
USC returned to San Clemente, Darnold’s alma mater, to pick up his high school replacement, Jack Sears. Sears, who enrolled early, could prove to be a better option than Fink. But USC may want to redshirt Sears, as it did Darnold. If Sears dazzles during spring and fall camps, he may make that decision tougher.
At USC, the redshirt dilemma often solves itself. If a quarterback is an NFL-caliber talent, he often departs for the draft before four seasons of eligibility anyway. If he is not, the Trojans usually recruit quarterbacks ready to unseat him.