USC’s first spring football practice overflowed with fans dawning the Cardinal and Gold.  They hooted and hollered at players, and gave some good-natured jabs to the practice referees.  Aside from four groupies dressed for a nightclub, not a football practice–I’m not going to complain about cleavage–who admitted “We stick out like a sore thumb, he has to notice us,” the crowd was shockingly well informed and attentive.  This is a far cry from the normally half-retarded nitwits who jaunt around campus shouting “Fight On!”–the slightly annoying catchphrase accompanied by a peace sign that is supposed to signify a V for “victory”–who leave after the first quarter of games (if they show up at all) and still haven’t figured out what a first down is.

Obviously I’m not biased at all, but after sitting through the more than 2 hour practice I am prepared to make this statement:  USC will win the Pac-10.

I know, I know, I’m really going out on a limb with that one.  Part has to do with just how mediocre the Pac-10 will be, the other has to do with how good this USC team could be even after losing four potential first round picks.

They are still wicked fast, they are still extremely big, and they will still have one letdown game that keeps them from a National Championship game.

Now that I’ve just given every person in the world ammo to later kill me with, let’s get to the observations from the first practice.

Defense

I’m burying my lede by starting with the defense.  They took the biggest hit with linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews going to the NFL.

Trying to judge a revamped defense on the first day, without pads is like trying to judge IQs at a Miss America pageant.  You could try, but really how far would you get?

I’ll try anyway.

The front seven looked good during the mini-scrimmage at the end of practice. They got a couple sacks and caused havoc in the backfield several times.  I refuse to make a judgment call on the linebackers.  Until they actually hit someone, we won’t know how good they could be; however, as was the theme of the practice, they showed good speed and instinct.  Linebacker Chris Galippo, who recorded one of the sacks, dropped what should have been an easy interception–tip drills needed ASAP.

Speaking of someone who drops interceptions, Taylor Mays looks as big and bad as ever.  Even without pads on I feared for some of the receivers as they went over the middle.  I’m fairly certain Penn State’s Jordan Norwood still can’t see straight after Mays laid the wood on him during the Rose Bowl.  In proper fashion Mays began practice complaining to one of the refs that he made a bad call–these practice refs have it rough, no matter what they did they were heckled by fans, coaches, or players.

Special Teams

USC fans will be happy to know that Joe McNight (who didn’t practice much, due to injuries) dropped only one of the punts kicked to him during the returner’s drill.

Offense

In case you didn’t understand why Pete Carroll was so pissed off that Mark Sanchez left early for the NFL, the first practice explained it all.

With a veteran quarterback this offense might be unstoppable.  They have the speed and height at the wide receiver position (Damian Williams might even be faster than last season, he was blowing by cornerbacks with ease).  They have more talent and depth at the running back position than they know what to do with.  And their offensive line grew over the course of last season and should be even better.

However, as this practice displayed there is no clear cut winner at the quaterback position, and it killed their productivity over and over again.

Freshman Matt Barkley is the best quarterback on the USC football team–I’ll admit, however, that I’m closer to being the bum that asks me for change every day on my walk to class than I am Pete Carroll.  He is physically just as strong as either Corp or Mustain, he can make all the throws, and he seems comfortable in the pocket.  Of course that doesn’t mean he will start.  Carroll is known for going with veterans, and Barkley still has a lot of work to do.  He made several terrible reads, and a couple of his balls he needed more touch, but if he improves over the course of the next few month he will be the best QB on this team.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean he is going to start.

Assuming that Carroll doesn’t hook his championship hopes to a freshman, the job would likely go to Aaron Corp.  He had the best day of any of the quarterbacks.  While he still had trouble at times, his mobility and pocket presence both looked good.  He didn’t seem to have the arm strength of Barkley, and forced a couple balls where he shouldn’t have.

Poor Mitch Mustain had a rough day.  It got so bad that 7th grader Jordan Campbell who was standing next to me taking notes for an article on WeAreSC.com went on a five minute tirade about how much he disliked Mustain.  It started with “I hate his drop back” and ended with “Look did you see, he can’t throw the screen.”  When a 7th grader is hating on your drop-back, you know its been a long day.  Not to mention the one ball he threw out of the practice field onto the street (and no he wasn’t throwing it away, it was supposed to be an out-route) and the other one he hit yours truly in the arm–I stuck my hand out so it wouldn’t hit a young kid next to me; before you ask, no I couldn’t pull off the one-handed grab, there is a reason I’m a writer and not a player.  Carroll eventually got on Mustain after the Junior fumbled a snap.  However, the verbal beat down means that Carroll still thinks Mitch might have a chance; coaches won’t yell at players who don’t have a chance to play, they just sub them out.

Finally Garret Green. I love the kid, and think it’s fabulous that he is playing 20 positions.  However, he should not have a legitimate chance at quarterback.  He lacks ideal arm-strength to get the ball down field, and was too fidgety in the pocket.

Running backs?  How can you not love Stafon Johnson?  The kid runs hard all the time, hits the hole and genuinely looks like he is having fun.  He had the best run of practice, busting what looked like a mere two yard gain into a touchdown.  He also could be heard yapping with some D-lineman during the scrimmage “You better tell him he might want to make a play before he starts talkin’” he said about one.

My favorite player from the first day might have been freshman running back Curtis McNeal.  The 5′8″ back is small, but gets off faster than a virgin on prom night.  He blew by linemen and DB’s throughout the practice.  Looking at the past Carroll will have to find some way to get him on the field–since he is at least 4th in the running back depth chart.  He showed some ability to catch the ball out of the backfield so he might get work there.  If this were any other school I’d say they might red-shirt him, but Pete doesn’t work that way, if the kid is good (and his speed says he could be) he will find his way on the field.

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Kevin Patra lives by the adage: Those who can’t do, teach, and those who can’t do or teach, write.  Currently, he is a grad student at the University of Southern California studying Online Journalism, after spending four years at he University of Michigan obtaining a bachelors degree from the school of Language, Science & Fun.  Patra spent his childhood autumns raking leaves while listening to college football on the radio, and is surprised they haven’t upgraded from radio waves yet.

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