USC football training camp breakdown: linebacker
USC has potential stars in Drake Jackson and Palaie Gaoteote IV, but a lot of injuries to worry about
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — There may not be a position on the USC defense with as much boom-or-bust potential as the linebacker corps. There are a pair of players who seem poised for monster seasons, but looming injury concerns could make an already-depleted unit desperate for production out of redshirt freshmen.
Here’s a breakdown of where USC stands at linebacker:
Key returnees: Hunter Echols (Jr.), Juliano Falaniko (Jr.), Palaie Gaoteote IV (Jr.), Ralen Goforth (So.), Drake Jackson (So.), Kana’i Mauga (Jr.), Abdul-Malik McClain (So.), Clyde Moore (R-Fr.), Tuasivi Nomura (R-Fr.), Eli’jah Winston (So.)
Key losses: John Houston Jr.
Newcomers: Tayler Katoa
Biggest unanswered question: What can we expect from the new hybrid outside linebacker position? Drake Jackson moved to the position as part of the new scheme presented by defensive coordinator Todd Orlando after his arrival this offseason. Jackson made the All-Pac-12 second team as a freshman with 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and three pass breakups.
So the question is how Jackson adjusts at linebacker. It’s a position he trained for growing up (his dad actually tried to put “linebacker, University of Southern California” as part of Jackson’s name on his birth certificate). Behind Jackson, Echols and McClain are viewed as the backups for the position.
Why 2020 production could be better: The biggest reason: Gaoteote. By all accounts, the junior is the breakout player from camp. That’s saying a lot considering Gaoteote had 58 tackles in a supporting role last season. But it looks like the former five-star recruit is prepared to make a major impact for USC this year.
This year will see a much more experienced group of linebackers than in 2019, when Houston was the only senior and there were no juniors. The Trojans are still young at linebacker, but Mauga is a junior after making an impression when pressed into duty as a sophomore. Goforth (left) has been known as a hard worker since enrolling in the winter of 2019, but now will get the chance to show it in an expanded role.
Why 2020 production could be worse: The injuries are already mounting up. Jackson has missed some time with a hamstring injury. So has Mauga. Jordan Iosefa and Solomon Tuliaupupu are already out for the season.
These are significant losses; Iosefa was voted a captain prior to last season and Tuliaupupu was a four-star recruit out of Mater Dei. A couple more injuries, and USC may have to turn to some players with limited experience to plug the gaps.
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If USC were independent, they would be free to schedule Nebraska as a game Saturday. It is really too bad Wisconsin has bowed out of the game. Do they forfeit or is it just tough ship for Nebraska?
Once extremely powerful NEB has just really never fit in with the Big Ten. That marriage has never worked for the Huskers. Some things are just very hard to predict and this union has always been rocky, and a negative experience for NEB football across the board. They should never have left the Big 12, regardless of the outsized TEXAS and OU footprint. Ah, hindsight is… Maybe those who think USC should soon split from the Pac-12, should also consider how a conference switch has hurt the Huskers. I honestly don’t know if the situations should even be compared, but… Read more »
USC and Its Commitment to Football
Colin Cowherd pulls USC out of his top five programs, but he seems confused about who is actually in.
Cowherd — “There’s like five (top) programs in the country. USC used to be one. They’re not anymore. They’re not as committed as I thought they were. It is Oklahoma. It is Alabama. It is Ohio St. It gets real thin after that as far as who is totally committed to football. And then there’s about eight teams…”
Many think a very physical ND team is looking like it might very well slide into the #4 playoff spot with ALA, CLEM and OHIO ST — if you think losing to CLEM at home on Nov. 7 won’t drop them out of contention.
I think that anticipated loss will keep them out. Since I think CLEM will totally roll the Irish, I don’t believe ND is a playoff team. It’s really too bad USC couldn’t play the Irish this year. The Trojans could have really used that game!
i wonder if barely beating Louisville and scoring only 12 points, combined with losing to Clemson badly, will keep them out of the #4 slot. i think that an undefeated Pac-12 team that dominates the division would have a good shot against a one-loss Notre Dame that also didnt dominate all their other games.
Does Notre Dame play in the coastal or atlantic division of the conferece? are they eligible to play in the conference title game against Clemson, or would they be in the same division of the conference? that could be 2 losses against Clemson.
I still give USC only a 2% chance of making the playoff group. Lots of things would have to fall in place and USC would still have to go undefeated, plus not also “win ugly” — as is Helton’s ingrained habit.
I’m just hoping for a conference championship and a really good bowl game.
DE Everson Griffen is back in the NFC North, now with the Detroit Lions. The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to trade the veteran from USC to Detroit for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Because of Covid-19 protocols, Griffen won’t be able to play in Detroit’s Week 8 matchup against the Colts. His Lions debut will instead be in Week 9 against his former team, the Vikings, whom he played for from 2010-2019.
WIS at NEB will not be played on Saturday after the Badgers paused all team activities due to an elevated number of COVID-19 cases.
What could the Jets get for Sam Darnold? Per Colin Cowherd — A second-round pick and a starter. The Jets already have as many as 11 picks in this draft, including two firsts, one second and two thirds. Trevor Lawrence might not want to get stuck with the Jets, like Darnold did. I wouldn’t blame him for going back to CLEM for year #4 if that meant he could somehow escape the NFL’s worst organization — the New York Jets! I tend to think the Jets will stick with Darnold. Not sure why though, since Lawrence just seems better, at… Read more »
I think what the Jets could get for Darnold would be a line that blocks and a couple of guys who actually catch the ball. That’s what they need for Sam.
Who knows if they still even like Darnold that much anymore? Only true insiders.
The Jets are officially the worst team in the NFL and quite possibly the worst organization. They need more than just better talent to support Sam. Way more. They need a new HC and staff. Deep problems there, as always.
Injuries have been hitting this program and it could be why Helton was backing off hard hitting practices. It doesn’t help when the recruiting is uneven to cause position shortages. And that has happened too often since Helton took over. But Just the same, other teams go through hard physical practices and survive OK. Proper coaching on weight training-hitting-responding-landing has to be involved as well as good stretching in warmups all help prevent easy injuries.
I think you are right. Keep the hard practice and develop the backups. I not that old, but I remember when sending in the second or third string players meant no drop off in talent.
I remember when Clay Matthews, Jr. was a walk-on from Agoura High.