Lincoln Riley encouraged by USC’s back-and-forth camp

After the defense won the first week of camp, according to Riley, the offense responded with a stronger overall performance during Monday’s scrimmage, he says…

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — Neither side of the ball has been able to gain much long-term traction during the USC football team’s training camp this month. One or two days the defense looks like the dominant unit, only for the offense to come back and take control.

After the defense won the first week of camp, according to Lincoln Riley, the Trojans had their first scrimmage of camp on Monday. Riley was eager to see the team in its first live-tackling situations, and how players responded in the open field in 11-on-11.

And in that simulated game, it was the offense that responded with the stronger overall day, the head coach said.

“Offensively, we came out with a lot of energy, a lot of juice and we made plays happen. We got the ball to playmakers and good things happened,” center Brett Neilon said. “And the defense came up when they needed to, that good, competitive back-and-forth.”

“The day before, the defense got on us and we just came back and did a pretty good job as a whole,” receiver Jordan Addison added. “The offensive line, the running backs hitting their holes, the receivers blocking, the quarterbacks doing what they gotta do. So I just feel like we just bounced back.”

Riley was sure to point out that he was happy with things the defense did on Monday, too. Linebacker Eric Gentry and defensive back Prophet Brown both came away with interceptions, and Riley was pleased with the way the team tackled in the open field.

But for Addison, the thing that has stood out about the USC defense is how it has put pressure on the quarterbacks.

“Out there at receiver, that’s who we’re racing, we’re racing that pass rush,” Addison said. “So they’ve just been doing a pretty good job and their DBs have been doing a pretty good job of their technique as well.”

ADDISON LEARNING OFFENSE

Addison is now about two weeks into official practices with USC after his late-spring transfer from Pitt. After several practices and a few scrimmages, the Biletnikoff Award winner is feeling comfortable in his new offense.

“I feel like I’ve picked it up pretty quickly, just coming in in the offseason every day with Coach (Dennis) Simmons and just learning certain routes, backside what I gotta do, the different hand signals, tempos,” Addison said. “You gotta have high energy; it’s a fast-paced offense, a lot of tempo. And you just gotta stay locked in every play.”

Addison admitted he still had more to learn, but quarterback Caleb Williams has helped alongside the coaching staff in bringing Addison along in the offense.

The new QB-WR combination is also developing chemistry together in 11-on-11 after some offseason workouts.

“His mindset and everything has been really good and him teaching me what I gotta do throughout certain routes,” Addison said. “So I think our connection and our communication is getting better every day.”

BRIEFLY

Edge rusher Korey Foreman, defensive back Domani Jackson, receiver Kyle Ford and tight end Josh Falo were all sidelined by injuries on Tuesday. Edge rusher Romello Height was limited, in a yellow non-contact jersey.

Linebacker Shane Lee was a full participant after missing Friday’s practice. Receiver Gary Bryant was back as a full participant in the portion of practice open to media after being limited during the first full week of camp.

ocregister.com

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