Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — If ever there was a year to get creative with how to hone your craft, it’s 2020. Sometimes that means getting chased off of neighborhood fields while working on kicking, as USC’s Chase McGrath did this summer. Other times, it’s Damon Johnson and his father tying a tire to a tree as a target for long snapping.
That extends to coaches, too, as USC special teams coordinator Sean Snyder has discovered in training camp.
“I’ve been able to challenge myself in creativity, which I haven’t had to do like this for my entire career,” the veteran coach said Wednesday.
Snyder came to USC this past offseason after spending the previous 26 years coaching at his alma mater, Kansas State. So for the first time since the 1990s, Snyder has had to install his special teams without any groundwork laid in previous seasons.
He did the same with the offensive players, focusing on punt and kickoff return. But it wasn’t until the team came together that Snyder was able to show everyone how it all fit together.
“There was some retention that came out of it, which was good, so it wasn’t like we were starting from scratch,” Snyder said. “The timing and getting them all synced in together and working together, it’s taken a little bit of time, but I was real pleased with practice [Tuesday].”
So far, Snyder says he’s been pleased with the play of defensive stalwarts like Isaiah Pola-Mao, Talanoa Hufanga and Chase Williams in coverage units, as well as Raymond Scott, Bru McCoy, Drake London and John Jackson.
And Snyder has seen progress from punter Ben Griffiths.
“Basically, we need good hangtimes, great hangtimes. Good distance. Don’t want to out-punt our coverage,” Snyder said. “Those are the things that when I first saw Ben, and he’s a great talent, but it was just a little bit inconsistent, what he was doing. … He’s really doing well right now, and I’ve been very very pleased. What he has the potential to do this year is unlimited.”
Some stuff still needs to be ironed out. Snyder says he hasn’t settled on kick or punt returners, though Amon-Ra St. Brown, Olaijah Griffin, Tyler Vaughns and Stephen Carr have had their turns.
“Everybody is available [but] I have a limit. I don’t want to put starters on more than two units,” Snyder said. “But at the end of the day, the guys that are out there on these units, if starters are out there going, that’s great. I need guys that are going to pay attention, they’re going to focus on getting film work in, watching a little bit of special teams. They don’t need to watch a ton, but they need to be aware and see it.”
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Trevor Lawrence tests positive for Covid 19. There will never be a year like 2020.
You’ve got that right. Insane!
The Irish leprechaun has created another advantage for Brian Kelly to utilize. Sometimes I don’t know who is luckier: Helton or Kelly.
Unfortunately health officials are afraid 2021 will be more of the same. L.A. County is currently worse than almost every other 2020 month. The young are pretty much immune, so many of them are carefree. I don’t blame them, but I steer clear of them.
Great dynamic leadership in California and LA City & County.
Look out! Reports are that Helton is now dialing back practice. I also read that Orlando is out of town on personal business.
I somehow just “knew” this would be coming up about Clay Helton, many months ago. I don’t know if it’s really true or not, but I’m not surprised it’s being floated. I’m not gonna jump off a cliff about this perspective, however. I can’t be against Gentleman Clay 100% of the time. I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt for now, at least until I see the 2020 Trojans show up on the field and look disappointing – like the last several years. Until then, I’m betting they look more physical, organized, and smart. You know me RJJ.… Read more »
There is a time to dial it back some in preparation for games. I hope the scrimmage this Saturday is not one of Helton’s punch and cup cake gatherings. These could be the toughest USC players we have had in a while.
Not all reports are equal. Many are simply fabrications and often times promote the “reporters” agenda. It is quite possible that the practice regimen has been altered and just as possible the change is for legitimate reasons. It is also possible that CH has backed off from the physicality that marked the early practices. Until I see who and where the reports are coming from I am not going to get too exercised.
Regardless of the source, I’ll be optimistic until proven overly rah-rahish. Simple as that. I’m not going to nit-pick the Trojans to death was we approach Nov. 7. There’s a lot of moving parts, knowns and unknowns. Let the ASU game arrive!
Agree. A week and a half to go. Looking forward to Trojan football. The offense should be explosive and high scoring. If the defense improves just a little bit we could have an exciting year. Considering where we were in July, I am more than happy to have football back.
Can you say where these reports are coming out of? Would love to read them.
Orlando is probably interviewing. Huggs is over-ruling Orlando on physical practice style and He knows that nothing will change until Helton is gone.
Here is the most recent ranking of the premier entrepreneurial business schools in the entire world per the Financial Times: “In the US, it is a face-off between California and Massachusetts for the title of the most entrepreneurial state, with three schools from each featuring in the top 10. California comes significantly ahead: after Stanford in first place it has USD School of Business Administration and USC Marshall School Business in third and fourth place respectively. While MIT Sloan School of Management is Massachusetts’ highest representative in second place, ahead of Harvard and Babson College in fifth and eight position…”… Read more »
Things looking worse for Tom Herman at TEXAS in recruiting. “Quarterback Quinn Ewers, the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, announced Wednesday he had decommitted from Texas. “It’s a major hit to the Longhorns on the recruiting trail not only because Ewers is the No. 1 recruit overall, but he’s also a big name in the state of Texas. The Longhorns missed out on legacy recruits, and twins, Tommy and James Brockermeyer in the 2021 class, where Tommy is ranked No. 2 overall and the top prospect in Texas. Both have committed to Alabama. “The staff did not land the top-ranked in-state recruits in the… Read more »
In an excerpt posted on Faith Driven Athlete, Orgeron detailed how Haden screwed him over. I had a meeting with Pat Haden the day before the UCLA game. He told me he was 99 percent sure that I was going to be the next head coach at USC. We had talked about a deal at three million dollars a year. He had the contract all made up. I signed it. He had it on his desk, but he didn’t sign it. It felt disrespectful the way he dangled the job in front of me.But then he introduced me to some people as the… Read more »
Wow. Just brutal.
What a fork in the road for SC football that decision was. Of course, we are taking Coach O’s account as gospel without hearing from Haden, which apparently will never happen ever since the Trojans’ fan base chased Pat off the campus.
I knew Pat Haden a little in may later college years. Not well at all, but enough to know he was an amazing football player at USC, and also that he was a super-admired guy, who had his act together. Everyone liked him and for good reason. But the truth is, he wasn’t really suited to the USC AD job, and I bet this took him by surprise. It sure surprised me. I know Coach O a lot more than I ever knew Haden, and he would never lie about a thing like this IMHO. I think we all appreciate… Read more »
Pat Haden was a great football player for USC, but had an ego wider than his height. Remember when he came out of the Press Box at Stanford to yell at the football refs? It was an embarrassment to the University as well as alumni and fans. Many forget that there was a scandal involving Haden where he created a dummy non-profit organization to get his kids into USC. Kind of like Varsity Blues! As far as I’m concerned, he’s a slime ball as a person and deserves to get kicked in the a*s for his actions, especially after what… Read more »
Haden definitely did some things that are hard for me to understand. No questioning that. He still has a very loyal circle of friends. Turned out to be a complicated guy who phased out of his USC AD job rather unsuccessfully, regardless of his stronger qualities.
Would presidents’ Topping, Zumberge, Hubbard or Sample have hired an AD with no administrative experience? I seriously doubt that. Remember, MG was Associate AD for two years and gained administrative experience before getting the AD job. Experience was evidently not a matter of concern to Max Nikias. If anyone should get the majority of blame in how USC sports and particularly its prized football program is where it is today IMO, it is he who turned his back on USC sports and particular its prized football program. Haden probably could have hired Bozo the clown as HC with little reaction… Read more »
His stronger qualities sure did not come out as AD. I have him rated as about the worst, tied with Swann.
Swann was worse. Haden worked literally twice as hard as Swann, who was just an entitled Trojan Super Bowl MVP and did the one single weirdest, most-damaging thing I have ever seen a Trojan AD do — bid against his autograph-signing self and drastically oversign/extend a mediocre-at-best Trojan HFC who nobody else wanted. Our rivals rejoiced at the news, which has always haunted USC, and still love the fact that USC is coached by Helton, who way too often wins ugly, and loses big. BTW, it was Nikias who single-handedly hired Helton, not Haden. I think that’s a very big… Read more »
For good reason, LJ. Haden was up to his neck in nepotism hires for the Coliseum Remodel Project. Plus, he sucked at his job as AD. He just looked better when he was compared to Lynn Swann.
I will add a sad post. As I posted earlier, I attended St. Francis High School (La Canada). Cancer just took the life of the St. Francis football coach. He was a Bruin, but he dedicated his life to helping young men have an opportunity to succeed. Jim Bonds was a QB at UCLA and had coached kids in Catholic high school for over 30 years. He coached at St. Francis after a brief stint at Alemany. Sad to see a young man leave us. Melanoma got him.
I remember Jim Bonds as a player for UCLA. Unfortunately, Tommy Maddox and Troy Aikman were ahead of him in terms of the depth chart. I played QB for Glendale High, CA and, although we never played St. Francis to my knowledge, we did play the public school whose field St. Francis use – La Canada High School. We used to call La Canada kids “cocknada” as they were very rich and cocky. St. Francis got whoever they wanted in the area and out. Their longtime coach, Bill Redell, ended up going to Oaks Christian HS where my son played… Read more »
i dealt with Bill Redell many times over the years and he always represented his players very well. He could push them hard as prospects (to guys like me), but was also very informative and insightful.
Jimmy Bonds was a 1987 SuperPrep All-Farwest QB, though not an All-America. He was a “winner who could really run the show. Excellent on the roll-out with an exceptional arm.” USC and MICH were also after the eventual UCLA Bruin who was also a fine baseball player, but undersized at a reported 5-11, 180, 4.7.
Certainly a small world Allen. Back in the day we used to say a guy could roll out and throw on the run. As the photo I posted shows, I was a straight drop back passer with a big arm, but no wheels. I played at a time when the Wishbone-T offense was really taking hold due to Darrell Royal and Texas running the offense successfully. I know UCLA went to it with Pepper Rogers and had Mark Harmon at the controls. I’ll never forget when UCLA went up to Nebraska and slaughtered the steroid-grown Huskers. Was one of the… Read more »
I was at the NEB/UCLA game on Sept. 9, 1972, when the Huskers rolled into the Coliseum (back in the days when the Bruins shared the place with USC) and UCLA, coached by Pepper Rodgers and QBd by Mark Harmon, upset the Huskers 20-17 in the first game of the season. I think it was a night game and NEB started the season #1, so it was a huge upset. That was the year USC had their unforgettable undefeated team and the Trojans beat UCLA 24-7, before finishing off ND 45-23 and finally OHIO ST in the Rose Bowl 42-17.… Read more »
After what we have had to tolerate on special teams if this coach makes just minor improvements they will be glaring. He is like a breath of fresh air.
Steveg, One of Helton’s glaring failures was his staff choices. He loved Baxter (I believe that they were in a Bible study together and their wives were best friends). We saw the same trait when Clay dealt with Toa (who literally could not hike the ball). So, under Helton, SC played a center would could not hike and let a gross incompetent coach. Clay simply looked the other way as Baxter mangled the special teams at SC and called him “the best special team’s coach in America.”
O man–I hadn’t heard about the bible study connection. I am a man of faith, but that isn’t your first qualification for an assistant coach. Integrity must be there, yes, but this isn’t the “Davey and Goliath” tv show.
Less than 10-days to SC’s kickoff, and reality will thankfully replace speculation as to 2020’s football prospects.
Speculation, the run up, is half the fun. This year, with all the important changes at USC, it’s been even more interesting.
If USC doesn’t make the Pac-12 championship game, and some would say win it, all this speculation will have been, well…the longest case of spring football I have ever experienced!
I like this coach. He knows what he wants and seems detailed on what needs to happen. He also doesn’t want starters playing in more than 2-units which is smart in not using up all the energy of our best players by the 4th quarter when most games are on the line.
Jamaica, I judge not based on an ideal, but improvement. Baxter was so bad (a great argument could be made that he was the worst in the nation) that I think Felix the Cat would be an upgrade!
Allen loves to pick a winner of a game. I am exactly the opposite. I will however make a prediction in which I am confident. The SC special teams in 2020 will be far superior to the SC special teams in 2019. Did you know that SC had the worst kick off coverage team in the nation in 2019? SC finished dead last (130 out of 130) in the country in that category, and then did so by managing to finish dead last in each of three categories measured in that category: average length of return, returns over 40 yards,… Read more »
@TrojanRJJ So you won’t even predict a USC/ASU winner? Clear winner for me is USC. Just what is it I see?
Just too much talent on USC’s team at home and a massive defensive boost due to excellent new coaches and a terrific coordinator. Plus Graham Harrell is now in year two, a big bonus generally for every offense. Plus, USC’s players have been publicly humiliated for two years running. I doubt they like that.
Just losing Pendergast and Baxter for USC should be worth 10 points, which is the margin of victory I predict for the Trojans.
Allen, perhaps I am to optimistic but with the possibly explosive offense we can have and the new defense, I am looking forward to some lopsided scores, with USC on the high side. I haven’t felt this optimistic in a few years.
Allen, I have to see them play to make a comment. I still remember our discussions on Pendergast. I totally agree Orlando is a huge upgrade (Pendergast had SC in the bottom 1/3 of the nation); but Snyder is moving SC to a different galaxy. Baxter was among the worst coaches in the nation at his position. I still cannot grasp how SC special teams could have been so awful the last two years (and they were awful). On Pendergast, I wrote that he had to go 2 years before Bohn fired him (if Clay had the call, I think… Read more »
Allen, this has to be the oddest year of SC football imaginable. For all practical purposes, Helton has been relieved of his HC duties. But, I have no idea how this structure is going to work in a game.
1945 was an odd year as we played UCLA twice (first and last game) and didn’t play Notre Dame due to wartime travel restrictions. My relative, Ted Tannehill #33, was USC’s leading rusher that year and his 2TD, 112 yards on ONLY 10 carries in the second UCLA game before 103,000 fans propelled USC into the 1946 Rose Bowl vs Alabama where the LA Times captured this photo on his 88 yard run against the Tide.
I am optimistic about the season. With better coaching,, there is no reason why we can’t win the PAC-12.