SECONDARY ASSIST

Trojans' defense shines with four interceptions in spring showcase at the Coliseum

>> Windows are shut now, seams downfield tightening in front of quarterbacks’ very eyes, a development that could open a new door of opportunity for USC in the Lincoln Riley era.

This defense, golden-haired heir Miller Moss said, makes you earn it, the quarterback smiling in spite of a middling performance in USC’S spring game Saturday afternoon. He’d noticed it this spring, before Saturday, when watching film of previous’ years offensive installs, seeing openings for throws that no longer felt open. And Moss saw it even more plainly Saturday, when he fired a thirddown ball on USC’S first drive that hung just a beat too long.

And Mississippi State transfer Decarlos Nicholson, using every inch of his spindly 6-foot-4 frame, leapt to knock away a completion that — in a past USC life — would’ve gone for a touchdown.

In the offseason, coach Riley and new defensive coordinator D’anton Lynn made it a priority to add length in the secondary.

And a new-and-improved troop of long-armed dynamos in coverage, fitting concisely into a scheme that returning corner Prophet Brown said postgame is “completely different,” stood out most prominently from an offense-against-defense spring showcase at the Coliseum.

After that initial breakup from Nicholson, USC recorded four interceptions on the day in just two quarters of football, making a number of gamechanging plays that stood out regardless of a softened whistle-before-tackle format.

“This is a very unique DB room,” corner Jacobe Covington tweeted mere moments after heading off the field.

On USC’S second series of the game, UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava rotated in at quarterback, leading a lengthy drive before lofting a go-get-it ball down the right sideline. Locked in a 1-on-1 grapple, Nicholson twisted just at the last minute. Pick.

On the subsequent series, Moss went back behind center, Riley splitting reps fairly equally between prospectivestarter Moss, transfer Maiava

KEITH BIRMINGHAM — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Kyron Hudson, center, drops a pass as Jacobe Covington defends during USC’S annual spring showcase at the Coliseum on Saturday.