USC defense has different feel in camp after full offseason
Due to the pandemic, USC was unable to implement new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme in person before the 2020 season, so players were learning on the fly as they prepared for the delayed season. But the Trojans just had a full, traditional offseason, from spring football to summer conditioning, creating more confidence that everyone is on the same page this fall. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, SCNG)
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — For the USC defense, the 2020 fall camp was more of a crash course. Due to the pandemic, the team was unable to implement new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme in person. The offseason install was mostly relegated to Zoom, so players were learning on the fly as USC prepared for the season.
But USC had a full, traditional offseason this year, from spring football to summer conditioning. So there’s a different feel for the defense this fall.
“I think everybody’s on the same page of the playbook,” safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “Last year, it was kind of like, you understand the plays, you understand what you’re supposed to do. But you don’t understand the big picture and the little things within the play. So I think we all have taken that step forward as a defense.”
As important as that grasp of the defense is, Orlando feels like another factor for the difference this camp is the offseason lifting program.
Since the start of camp, coaches have raved about the work the team has done under new director of sports performance Robert Stiner, hired from Notre Dame this winter to help transform the roster.
“Once you have a little bit of shield to your body, a little bit more muscle, faster, you have a little bit more confidence,” Orlando said. “You get a full cycle of weight lifting and you get a full cycle of spring football and you come back and have weight lifting again, and now we’re here at this spot, it’s different.”
One of the benefactors of that offseason program is defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu, who gained approximately 25 pounds since the spring to get up to 290. Defensive line coach Vic So’oto said the added weight, without losing agility, allows Tuipulotu to line up at either end or tackle.
“Coach Vic has us really flexible to play everything,” Tuipulotu said. “That’s what I’m expecting, to play everything.”
BACK IN THE FOLD
Cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart was back with the team after missing the first two practices for the birth of his first child, a baby girl named Emery. Though he was one of the few not in shoulder pads as he made his camp debut, Taylor-Stuart made a nice tackle for loss on a screen pass to the outside.
The junior corner said his daughter adds some motivation for him moving forward as a player.
“That just makes it like I’ve got to provide for my child so I’ve got to make it not really about me but really about her,” he said. “So that means everything I’ve got to do it’s got to be everything 100 percent full speed and I’ve just got to give it everything I’ve got.”
Cornerbacks coach Donte Williams said he has seen Taylor-Stuart mature rapidly over the offseason as he looks to take the starting job vacated by Olaijah Griffin’s early departure for the NFL.
“He was someone that maybe if he had a question he just wouldn’t ask or speak up about it. Now, Isaac’s a totally different person,” Williams said. “He speaks up about it, he became a leader, he’s someone that the younger guys ask questions. He’s a whole different kind of teammate.”
BRIEFLY
Starting nickel back Greg Johnson was not at practice on Monday after working with the team the first two days of camp.
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USC honk and Sam Darnold supporter Colin Cowherd, had this to say about Darnold:
“This year, he’ll have real star players to play with. No quarterback in the League has played with fewer pro bowlers than Sam Darnold, since he arrived…”
Tim Daniels (Bleacher Report) — The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions announced Wednesday a hearing panel “could not conclude that Baylor violated NCAA rules when it failed to report allegations of and address sexual and interpersonal violence committed on its campus.” However, Baylor’s football program was found in violation in other NCAA rules from 2011 through 2016, including impermissible benefits to a student-athlete, an ethical conduct rules violation by a former assistant director of football operations, and the use of a “predominantly female student-host group” for football recruiting events. The program was placed on four years of probation and ordered to… Read more »
Baylor deserves punishment for what they ignored during Art Briles era. But I’m so sick of the NCAA. Improper benefits? Now? Guys are making 6 figures regularly (supposedly 7) signing with agents, getting free trucks, etc. I honestly would ignore the NCAA and recruit who and how I wanted, they have zero authority. What are they going to do?
Replacing Talanoa Hufanga — Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — AUB transfer Chris Thompson Jr. stands out almost immediately when you look at USC’s safety group. The 6-1, 210-pound Thompson is probably the most physically imposing player of the bunch. He’s the most recent addition to a group that has welcomed a lot of new faces this offseason. USC has signed three freshmen at safety this winter — Calen Bullock, Xamarion Gordon and Anthony Beavers Jr. — and brought on Texas transfer Xavion Alford a few weeks later. In the spring, it landed a commitment from Thompson, who like Alford has Texas ties and a prior… Read more »
Texas 3-star WR Caleb Douglas (Missouri City Hightower; 6-3, 185) has committed to USC (#10 for class of 2022) without ever visiting campus. Douglas said he “couldn’t pass up” living in Southern California. He was previously committed to BAY as recently as a week ago. “I just believe the school fits me perfect,” Douglas told USC Scoop. “They play a lot of bigger receivers, they run the spread and everybody gets a chance to get the ball. On top of that it’s in Cali and I feel like I’ll really fall in love with it when I visit. I’ve never been… Read more »
The first thing Helton said after practice No. 1 in 2019: “I commend (new strength coach) Aaron Ausmus, for the team him and his staff put together. These guys are in shape. They’re strong.”
The first thing Helton said Friday: “I can’t credit (new strength coach) Bobby Stiner enough for producing a really conditioned football team. A strong football team.”
I am reminded of when the SD Padres had no talent but kept cycling through hitting coaches. Trying to make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. Somehow a new S/C staff will make up for the lack of talent at Head Coach and lack of depth in recruiting. These may be the best conditioned 3 star players but they are still 3 star players who aren’t coached up.
I think it goes way beyond “conditioning” — and also fundamentally involves size, strength, power, agility, flexibility, and discipline. I don’t think Stiner can win a national championship for USC, nor do I think he will make this Trojan outfit a playoff team. But he and his staff can make a big difference in the team from both a mental and physical vantage point. USC football obviously can’t rely on Gentleman Clay for that stuff, and has never been able to thanks to the inherent obvious limitations of the man, and many of his staff he insisted on keeping despite… Read more »
If USC has any hope of being USC again, we need to hope that Todd Orlando is not Tony Orlando. Tying a yellow ribbon around anything is flag football, or the type defense UCLA coach Clancy Pender-gassed used to run. (The push them outa bounds or reach for the flag stuff) We will know week one if we have the right defense. And I worry about defense because if the offense doesn’t click, we will need the defense to score. Patting the back of our strength and conditioning coach doesn’t impress me. The CAT (Clay Ain’t Tough) has praised the… Read more »
OMG! For a few seconds there, the beginning of your message had me hoping I hadn’t misrepresented Todd as Tony in print. Phew! I admit though that I have completely bought into the Robert Stiner Kool-Aid. I think proper S/C throughout the team is incredibly important and a very underrated factor in overall team success, like special teams always is. Since I have absolutely no confidence in that blowhard The Cat, aka Gentleman Clay, I choose to fully buy into Stiner. We have to take our little victories within USC football wherever we can find them nowadays! Even though Talanoa… Read more »
USA Today 2021 Preseason College Football Rankings: Top 25 Coaches Poll Released 1. Alabama (63 first-place votes) 2. Clemson 3. Oklahoma (2) 4. Ohio State 5. Georgia 6. Texas A&M 7. Notre Dame 8. Iowa State 9. North Carolina 10. Cincinnati 11. Florida 12. Oregon 13. LSU 14. USC 15. Wisconsin 16. Miami (Fla.) 17. Indiana 18. Iowa 19. Texas 20. Penn State 21. Washington 22. Oklahoma State 23. UL Lafayette 24. Coastal Carolina 25. Ole Miss “While the Crimson Tide (+250) are the oddsmakers’ favorite to win the national title once again, there isn’t a huge gap between them… Read more »
And here we go, the worthless polls are coming out. Every season I have to laugh, the top 4-5 are no brainers, after that it is anybody’s game. Each season begins with blowhard talking heads telling us who is the best. Entertaining? It used to be, but when poll voters don’t change their vote after 3-4 games, it just reflects how bogus it is. Play the games and it will all work itself out. Hurry up September!!! What gets me is what if they are wrong about the top 4? Could Alabama not be the power house this year?
Actually, I love the polls and have found that schools generally get fairly moved up and down based on how they do, game by game. I think they got it right again this year. Just because USC doesn’t run with the big dogs any longer, and is simply a mid-major program, doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for recognizing the schools that can wipe the floor with the Trojans these days. I think this pre-season poll treated USC very well. As usual, the brand lives on. UCLA can’t seem to get any respect whatsoever, even though a lot of people think they… Read more »
Allen, we have had this same conversation every season since the blog started. It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t. USC did get treated well and it was basically because of brand. At least we both always agree about ucla.
My dislike of UCLA is everlasting. It didn’t used to be this way, but social media and obnoxious Bruins tipped me over the edge.
Truth in these words, some say from McKay: There’s nothing better than beating ND, and nothing worse than losing to UCLA.
I don’t ever expect USC to beat ND with The Cat as coach. Kelly owns him. Fortunately, the Bruins have been so bad while Gentleman Clay has been in charge, that the Victory Bell, painted Cardinal as it should be, is always over here.
Due to the pandemic, USC was unable to implement new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme in person before the 2020 season, so players were learning on the fly as they prepared for the delayed season. But the Trojans just had a full, traditional offseason, from spring football to summer conditioning, creating more confidence that everyone is on the same page this fall. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, SCNG)
Since the start of camp, coaches have raved about the work the team has done under new director of sports performance Robert Stiner, hired from Notre Dame this winter to help transform the roster.
USC honk and Sam Darnold supporter Colin Cowherd, had this to say about Darnold:
“This year, he’ll have real star players to play with. No quarterback in the League has played with fewer pro bowlers than Sam Darnold, since he arrived…”
5-Star PF Kijani Wright (Sierra Canyon, CA; 6-9, 235) Commits to USC over Texas, Stanford, Arkansas.
Wright is ranked as ESPN’s No. 16 prospect for the class of 2022.
bleacherreport.com
Tim Daniels (Bleacher Report) — The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions announced Wednesday a hearing panel “could not conclude that Baylor violated NCAA rules when it failed to report allegations of and address sexual and interpersonal violence committed on its campus.” However, Baylor’s football program was found in violation in other NCAA rules from 2011 through 2016, including impermissible benefits to a student-athlete, an ethical conduct rules violation by a former assistant director of football operations, and the use of a “predominantly female student-host group” for football recruiting events. The program was placed on four years of probation and ordered to… Read more »
Baylor deserves punishment for what they ignored during Art Briles era. But I’m so sick of the NCAA. Improper benefits? Now? Guys are making 6 figures regularly (supposedly 7) signing with agents, getting free trucks, etc. I honestly would ignore the NCAA and recruit who and how I wanted, they have zero authority. What are they going to do?
Ya, the NCAA has been majorly neutered. So Sad.
I’m so glad McNair scored so big as he did, when he did. Amazing patience.
Allen,
I didn’t see you wrote this when I replied above. We think alike.
Sadly this is not surprising at all. The NCAA has been completely neutered
Replacing Talanoa Hufanga — Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — AUB transfer Chris Thompson Jr. stands out almost immediately when you look at USC’s safety group. The 6-1, 210-pound Thompson is probably the most physically imposing player of the bunch. He’s the most recent addition to a group that has welcomed a lot of new faces this offseason. USC has signed three freshmen at safety this winter — Calen Bullock, Xamarion Gordon and Anthony Beavers Jr. — and brought on Texas transfer Xavion Alford a few weeks later. In the spring, it landed a commitment from Thompson, who like Alford has Texas ties and a prior… Read more »
Texas 3-star WR Caleb Douglas (Missouri City Hightower; 6-3, 185) has committed to USC (#10 for class of 2022) without ever visiting campus. Douglas said he “couldn’t pass up” living in Southern California. He was previously committed to BAY as recently as a week ago. “I just believe the school fits me perfect,” Douglas told USC Scoop. “They play a lot of bigger receivers, they run the spread and everybody gets a chance to get the ball. On top of that it’s in Cali and I feel like I’ll really fall in love with it when I visit. I’ve never been… Read more »
The first thing Helton said after practice No. 1 in 2019: “I commend (new strength coach) Aaron Ausmus, for the team him and his staff put together. These guys are in shape. They’re strong.”
The first thing Helton said Friday: “I can’t credit (new strength coach) Bobby Stiner enough for producing a really conditioned football team. A strong football team.”
Allen, what flavor is that Koolaid? Careful don’t spill it, it stains awful bad.
I guess you could say this Kool-Aid is flavored Blue & Gold, sorry to say. No, not UCLA. It’s strictly the South Bend variety.
It’s got a distinctly ND flavor to it. As you know, the Irish have once again assumed near-total dominance over USC on the field.
Under Brian Kelly, they always play stronger and bigger against USC, at least based on my recent observations I’m forced to say.
Stiner obviously had a hand in that. I don’t care what The Cat says about him because I openly disregard everything Gentleman Clay says. ✌
I am reminded of when the SD Padres had no talent but kept cycling through hitting coaches. Trying to make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. Somehow a new S/C staff will make up for the lack of talent at Head Coach and lack of depth in recruiting. These may be the best conditioned 3 star players but they are still 3 star players who aren’t coached up.
I think it goes way beyond “conditioning” — and also fundamentally involves size, strength, power, agility, flexibility, and discipline. I don’t think Stiner can win a national championship for USC, nor do I think he will make this Trojan outfit a playoff team. But he and his staff can make a big difference in the team from both a mental and physical vantage point. USC football obviously can’t rely on Gentleman Clay for that stuff, and has never been able to thanks to the inherent obvious limitations of the man, and many of his staff he insisted on keeping despite… Read more »
If USC has any hope of being USC again, we need to hope that Todd Orlando is not Tony Orlando. Tying a yellow ribbon around anything is flag football, or the type defense UCLA coach Clancy Pender-gassed used to run. (The push them outa bounds or reach for the flag stuff) We will know week one if we have the right defense. And I worry about defense because if the offense doesn’t click, we will need the defense to score. Patting the back of our strength and conditioning coach doesn’t impress me. The CAT (Clay Ain’t Tough) has praised the… Read more »
OMG! For a few seconds there, the beginning of your message had me hoping I hadn’t misrepresented Todd as Tony in print. Phew! I admit though that I have completely bought into the Robert Stiner Kool-Aid. I think proper S/C throughout the team is incredibly important and a very underrated factor in overall team success, like special teams always is. Since I have absolutely no confidence in that blowhard The Cat, aka Gentleman Clay, I choose to fully buy into Stiner. We have to take our little victories within USC football wherever we can find them nowadays! Even though Talanoa… Read more »
USA Today 2021 Preseason College Football Rankings: Top 25 Coaches Poll Released 1. Alabama (63 first-place votes) 2. Clemson 3. Oklahoma (2) 4. Ohio State 5. Georgia 6. Texas A&M 7. Notre Dame 8. Iowa State 9. North Carolina 10. Cincinnati 11. Florida 12. Oregon 13. LSU 14. USC 15. Wisconsin 16. Miami (Fla.) 17. Indiana 18. Iowa 19. Texas 20. Penn State 21. Washington 22. Oklahoma State 23. UL Lafayette 24. Coastal Carolina 25. Ole Miss “While the Crimson Tide (+250) are the oddsmakers’ favorite to win the national title once again, there isn’t a huge gap between them… Read more »
And here we go, the worthless polls are coming out. Every season I have to laugh, the top 4-5 are no brainers, after that it is anybody’s game. Each season begins with blowhard talking heads telling us who is the best. Entertaining? It used to be, but when poll voters don’t change their vote after 3-4 games, it just reflects how bogus it is. Play the games and it will all work itself out. Hurry up September!!! What gets me is what if they are wrong about the top 4? Could Alabama not be the power house this year?
Actually, I love the polls and have found that schools generally get fairly moved up and down based on how they do, game by game. I think they got it right again this year. Just because USC doesn’t run with the big dogs any longer, and is simply a mid-major program, doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for recognizing the schools that can wipe the floor with the Trojans these days. I think this pre-season poll treated USC very well. As usual, the brand lives on. UCLA can’t seem to get any respect whatsoever, even though a lot of people think they… Read more »
Allen, we have had this same conversation every season since the blog started. It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t. USC did get treated well and it was basically because of brand. At least we both always agree about ucla.
My dislike of UCLA is everlasting. It didn’t used to be this way, but social media and obnoxious Bruins tipped me over the edge.
Truth in these words, some say from McKay: There’s nothing better than beating ND, and nothing worse than losing to UCLA.
I don’t ever expect USC to beat ND with The Cat as coach. Kelly owns him. Fortunately, the Bruins have been so bad while Gentleman Clay has been in charge, that the Victory Bell, painted Cardinal as it should be, is always over here.