Kiffin looking to finalize staff 
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
1:15
PM PT
By
Garry Paskwietz | ESPN.com
With less than a month to go before the opening of the 2012 spring practice session, USC head coach Lane Kiffin has said that one of his priorities is to have his coaching staff finalized before the end of this week.
Kiffin needed to fill three spots on his staff following the recent NFL departures of linebackers coach Joe Barry (San Diego Chargers) and wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore (Oakland Raiders). Defensive backs coach Sammy Knight -- who had served in that role as a graduate assistant in 2011 -- was not expected to be invited back in a full-time position.
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Five-star WR likely headed out of state
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
7:45
AM PT
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Five-star wide receiver prospect Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) will be one of the most highly recruited prospects in the state of Florida for the 2013 class, but he is likely headed out of state to play college football.
Fulwood lists Clemson, Alabama, USC, Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame as schools that he is most interested. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver said that out of those schools, he likely will visit Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and possibly USC this spring.
Noticeably missing are in-state schools Florida, Florida State and Miami. Fulwood said he is likely to leave the state to attend college. Fulwood, who is from New Jersey, said there is no particular reason he wants to leave the state.
Fulwood lists Clemson, Alabama, USC, Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame as schools that he is most interested. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver said that out of those schools, he likely will visit Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and possibly USC this spring.
Noticeably missing are in-state schools Florida, Florida State and Miami. Fulwood said he is likely to leave the state to attend college. Fulwood, who is from New Jersey, said there is no particular reason he wants to leave the state.
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Savaiinaea ready to become national name
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
7:45
AM PT
By
Mitch Sherman | ESPN.com
Since his breakout performance at the Nike Football SPARQ Combine in Honolulu last month, junior linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea (Honolulu/Punahou School) has enjoyed the beginning stages of the recognition on the U.S. mainland he so desired.
He posted an impressive SPARQ Rating of 110.82, best among more than 450 players in attendance and healthy increase over his score from a year earlier of 90.27.
At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Savaiinaea (pronounce Sa-VAH-e-ni-ah) lowered his 40-yard dash time from 4.93 to 4.66 seconds, while posting a 4.14 shuttle run, 38-foot toss of the power ball and 31-inch vertical leap.
He posted an impressive SPARQ Rating of 110.82, best among more than 450 players in attendance and healthy increase over his score from a year earlier of 90.27.
At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Savaiinaea (pronounce Sa-VAH-e-ni-ah) lowered his 40-yard dash time from 4.93 to 4.66 seconds, while posting a 4.14 shuttle run, 38-foot toss of the power ball and 31-inch vertical leap.
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USC moves to top spot for local DE
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
11:10
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
Before Sunday, defensive end Joe Mathis (Upland, Calif./Upland) had never been to USC and didn't know much about the school. That isn't the case anymore.
Mathis attended USC's junior day and came away raving about the experience.
"I thought it be good, but not that good," Mathis said of his visit. "I didn't really like USC at first, but now I love it. I love everything they have for me there. I finally got to know about USC and this school might be the one."
Mathis attended USC's junior day and came away raving about the experience.
"I thought it be good, but not that good," Mathis said of his visit. "I didn't really like USC at first, but now I love it. I love everything they have for me there. I finally got to know about USC and this school might be the one."
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Quarterback Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline) was one of only 25 initial five-star prospects in ESPN's recently released top 100 recruits in 2013, and one of just four quarterbacks to earn that honor.
On Sunday, Browne's offer list hit an even dozen, as USC was added to a group that includes Washington, California, Wisconsin, Alabama, Oklahoma and Auburn, according to a tweet sent out by Browne's older brother.
"USC offers 2013 QB Max Browne," was the message from Mitch Browne.
The offer comes as no surprise, as Browne will be in the running for the top quarterback spot in the 2013 class and has expressed early interest in the Trojans. After missing on a quarterback in the most recent class, USC is likely to make Browne a top priority and appears to be in good position for the talented signal-caller.
On Sunday, Browne's offer list hit an even dozen, as USC was added to a group that includes Washington, California, Wisconsin, Alabama, Oklahoma and Auburn, according to a tweet sent out by Browne's older brother.
"USC offers 2013 QB Max Browne," was the message from Mitch Browne.
The offer comes as no surprise, as Browne will be in the running for the top quarterback spot in the 2013 class and has expressed early interest in the Trojans. After missing on a quarterback in the most recent class, USC is likely to make Browne a top priority and appears to be in good position for the talented signal-caller.
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California cornerback grabs USC offer
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
5:18
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
The Trojans added two cornerbacks in the class of 2012, but they'll be looking to add at least one more this year. They took a step toward that goal Sunday by offering a scholarship to Johnny Johnson (Fresno, Calif./Central).
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback could be the top player at his position in the state this season, and the Trojans added him to their offer list.
"I was just walking and the next thing I know, I'm in a room with Lane Kiffin and he said we're going to offer you," Johnson said. "I said, 'Wow. Okay.'"
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback could be the top player at his position in the state this season, and the Trojans added him to their offer list.
"I was just walking and the next thing I know, I'm in a room with Lane Kiffin and he said we're going to offer you," Johnson said. "I said, 'Wow. Okay.'"
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The talk heading into USC junior day was that a few elite prospects could walk out with scholarship offers. That proved to be true for tailback Justin Davis (Stockton, Calif./Lincoln).
"It went really great," Davis said of his visit to USC. "I got an offer and that really made the day."
Davis said he was taken aside during the visit by head coach Lane Kiffin, who extended the offer at that point. It was something he expected going into the visit, based on his conversations with the USC coaches.
"It went really great," Davis said of his visit to USC. "I got an offer and that really made the day."
Davis said he was taken aside during the visit by head coach Lane Kiffin, who extended the offer at that point. It was something he expected going into the visit, based on his conversations with the USC coaches.
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Report: Trojans hire pair of coaches
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
2:11
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
Lane Kiffin has filled his defensive coaching vacancies, hiring Florida Atlantic defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders as defensive backs coach and North Dakota State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton as linebackers coach. The hires were announced by Kiffin at USC's Junior Day on Sunday according to a source.
Sanders coached at Nebraska from 2008-11 before resigning in Feb. 2011, citing personal reasons. He was out of coaching for the remainder of the year before landing on the FAU staff under Carl Pelini this past December. Sanders served on that staff for just two months before making the move to USC.
Hazelton spent the past six seasons at North Dakota State, moving from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator. Hazelton played his college football at Fort Lewis College in Colorado.
Both coaches will inherit units at USC loaded with talent, as the defensive back seven returns every starter from 2011 and will add even more talent through transfers and the 2012 recruiting class.
Sanders coached at Nebraska from 2008-11 before resigning in Feb. 2011, citing personal reasons. He was out of coaching for the remainder of the year before landing on the FAU staff under Carl Pelini this past December. Sanders served on that staff for just two months before making the move to USC.
Hazelton spent the past six seasons at North Dakota State, moving from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator. Hazelton played his college football at Fort Lewis College in Colorado.
Both coaches will inherit units at USC loaded with talent, as the defensive back seven returns every starter from 2011 and will add even more talent through transfers and the 2012 recruiting class.
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Five possible USC junior day offers
February, 11, 2012
2/11/12
1:47
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
As it stands now, USC has made scholarship offers to just three California juniors, in linebackers Su'a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) and Michael Hutchings (Concord, Calif./De La Salle), as well as safety Max Redfield (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo).
One out-of-state player who got a recent offer as well was safety Priest Willis (Avondale/Marcos De Niza), who picked up a USC offer a few days ago. Still, several top-rated players will be making their way to the USC campus Sunday and while there are no guarantees that any offers will be handed out, here are five players who could be in line for good news from the Trojans sooner rather than later.
QB Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline) -- Browne could become the top quarterback in the country in 2013 and the fact that he is taking this long trip for a February unofficial visit speaks volumes about his interest in the Trojans. There are several top quality local quarterbacks this year, but it would not be completely shocking to see the USC coaches look to make a strong statement in the race for Browne by offering in person this weekend.
One out-of-state player who got a recent offer as well was safety Priest Willis (Avondale/Marcos De Niza), who picked up a USC offer a few days ago. Still, several top-rated players will be making their way to the USC campus Sunday and while there are no guarantees that any offers will be handed out, here are five players who could be in line for good news from the Trojans sooner rather than later.
QB Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline) -- Browne could become the top quarterback in the country in 2013 and the fact that he is taking this long trip for a February unofficial visit speaks volumes about his interest in the Trojans. There are several top quality local quarterbacks this year, but it would not be completely shocking to see the USC coaches look to make a strong statement in the race for Browne by offering in person this weekend.
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How the Trojans attack defensive fronts
February, 10, 2012
2/10/12
8:00
AM PT
By
Kyle Williams | ESPN.com
LOS ANGELES -- There are many different defensive fronts the Trojans offense faces throughout the season, but there few that consistently see on a weekly basis. With a lot of last season’s success in the air coming from what the offense was able to do on the ground, we take a look now at what the front seven sees from week to week.
4-3
The 4-3 defense is the most commonly used defense on every level of football. It starts with the nose tackle, who will line up shading to the left or right of the center depending on the strength of the offense. The defensive tackle will always line up on the outside shade of the guard and his alignment on either the left or right guard is based on which side the strength of the offense is called. If there isn’t a stunt or blitz called, then the nose would be responsible for the A-gap that he is shaded too in between the center and guard and the tackle would be responsible for the B-gap that he is lined up in. The defensive ends are lined up in a tight or wide 9-technique over the tackle or tight end. Their jobs are to contain the edges of the line of scrimmage against the run while racing up to try and sack the quarterback in passing situations.
With the zone blocking scheme that USC runs, going up against a 4-3 defense allows for bigger plays in the run game. The zone scheme allows offensive lineman to not focus on a particular man but rather an area. With the zone, usually one lineman will be working with another lineman to his left or right and the two will block whoever is in their assigned area. On the backside of wide zone running plays, the backside tackle or guard is assigned to cut the man on his inside. With the four big bodied players on the line of scrimmage who want to penetrate up field to stop the running back or quarterback in the backfield, their eagerness to rush up field makes it easier for the backside to be cut, leading to bigger gains as a result.
3-4
The 3-4 defense is becoming more and more popular throughout football. In this front the nose tackle is lined head up over the center rather than in a shade and two defensive tackles are lined head up over the offensive tackles as well. The job of the defensive linemen in this formation is not so much to penetrate up field but rather to disrupt the blocking of the offensive line by playing through them and playing the gap to the left and right of either the center or tackle. With that being said, in the 3-4 front every gap on the line is the responsibility of the defensive linemen. With this concept, it gives the green light for the four linebackers to run around the field and be more aggressive.
This defense it makes it more difficult for the offensive line to get a good push at the line of scrimmage. With the center and the two tackles’ defenders heads up on them playing the two gap, it makes it very difficult to get leverage with the zone. Another wrinkle that the formation takes away from the zone blocking offense is the ability to not be able to cut on the backside. With the D-linemen responsible for both gaps instead of one, they’re slower off the ball, thus not creating enough momentum for the offensive line to cut them on the ground. A lot of offenses tend to run the ball outside and away from the middle of the defense, but sometimes the best way to gain yards on the ground against the 3-4 is to attack it by running power, traps, and sometimes draws up the middle.
Bear
The bear front is more of a pre -nap adjustment or a secondary front that teams will complement the 3-4 or 4-3 with. In a pre-snap adjustment, the defensive end on either the strong or weak side will steam down to a 3-technique before the ball is snapped. The shaded nose tackle will line head up on the center, and either the SAM or WILL linebacker will line up on the line of scrimmage taking the place of the defensive end that steamed down to the 3-technique.
The bear front is used more to stop the run and to try and eliminate any double teams by the offensive line. If need be, most offenses can handle the adjustment of the different blocking assignments before the snap of the ball, but because there are now eight defenders in the box, it leaves at least one one-on-one matchup on the outside. If the quarterback can recognize this early enough and change the play, then he can call a play to get a first down, if not more.
4-3
[+] Enlarge
ESPN.comWhat a 4-3 front looks like in the playbook, with the ends lining up outside and the linebackers off the line of scrimmage.
ESPN.comWhat a 4-3 front looks like in the playbook, with the ends lining up outside and the linebackers off the line of scrimmage.The 4-3 defense is the most commonly used defense on every level of football. It starts with the nose tackle, who will line up shading to the left or right of the center depending on the strength of the offense. The defensive tackle will always line up on the outside shade of the guard and his alignment on either the left or right guard is based on which side the strength of the offense is called. If there isn’t a stunt or blitz called, then the nose would be responsible for the A-gap that he is shaded too in between the center and guard and the tackle would be responsible for the B-gap that he is lined up in. The defensive ends are lined up in a tight or wide 9-technique over the tackle or tight end. Their jobs are to contain the edges of the line of scrimmage against the run while racing up to try and sack the quarterback in passing situations.
With the zone blocking scheme that USC runs, going up against a 4-3 defense allows for bigger plays in the run game. The zone scheme allows offensive lineman to not focus on a particular man but rather an area. With the zone, usually one lineman will be working with another lineman to his left or right and the two will block whoever is in their assigned area. On the backside of wide zone running plays, the backside tackle or guard is assigned to cut the man on his inside. With the four big bodied players on the line of scrimmage who want to penetrate up field to stop the running back or quarterback in the backfield, their eagerness to rush up field makes it easier for the backside to be cut, leading to bigger gains as a result.
3-4
[+] Enlarge
ESPN.comWhat a 3-4 front looks like in the playbook, with the outside linebackers lining up close to the line of scrimmage.
ESPN.comWhat a 3-4 front looks like in the playbook, with the outside linebackers lining up close to the line of scrimmage.The 3-4 defense is becoming more and more popular throughout football. In this front the nose tackle is lined head up over the center rather than in a shade and two defensive tackles are lined head up over the offensive tackles as well. The job of the defensive linemen in this formation is not so much to penetrate up field but rather to disrupt the blocking of the offensive line by playing through them and playing the gap to the left and right of either the center or tackle. With that being said, in the 3-4 front every gap on the line is the responsibility of the defensive linemen. With this concept, it gives the green light for the four linebackers to run around the field and be more aggressive.
This defense it makes it more difficult for the offensive line to get a good push at the line of scrimmage. With the center and the two tackles’ defenders heads up on them playing the two gap, it makes it very difficult to get leverage with the zone. Another wrinkle that the formation takes away from the zone blocking offense is the ability to not be able to cut on the backside. With the D-linemen responsible for both gaps instead of one, they’re slower off the ball, thus not creating enough momentum for the offensive line to cut them on the ground. A lot of offenses tend to run the ball outside and away from the middle of the defense, but sometimes the best way to gain yards on the ground against the 3-4 is to attack it by running power, traps, and sometimes draws up the middle.
Bear
The bear front is more of a pre -nap adjustment or a secondary front that teams will complement the 3-4 or 4-3 with. In a pre-snap adjustment, the defensive end on either the strong or weak side will steam down to a 3-technique before the ball is snapped. The shaded nose tackle will line head up on the center, and either the SAM or WILL linebacker will line up on the line of scrimmage taking the place of the defensive end that steamed down to the 3-technique.
The bear front is used more to stop the run and to try and eliminate any double teams by the offensive line. If need be, most offenses can handle the adjustment of the different blocking assignments before the snap of the ball, but because there are now eight defenders in the box, it leaves at least one one-on-one matchup on the outside. If the quarterback can recognize this early enough and change the play, then he can call a play to get a first down, if not more.
Running back Tyshon Dye (Elberton, Ga./Elbert County) will be one of the most sought after recruits from the south. Now word is starting to spread across the country, as Dye picked up a USC offer earlier this week.
“They did and I was kind of surprised at that one,” Dye said. “They are from the West Coast and there is so much talent over there. I am way over here. I am shocked but I think that’s pretty cool. I would sure like to look into USC.”
Clemson was Dye’s first offer last summer. Then came Georgia.
“They did and I was kind of surprised at that one,” Dye said. “They are from the West Coast and there is so much talent over there. I am way over here. I am shocked but I think that’s pretty cool. I would sure like to look into USC.”
Clemson was Dye’s first offer last summer. Then came Georgia.
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USC offers pair of national standouts
February, 9, 2012
2/09/12
12:49
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
The USC Trojans jumped into the mix for two defensive gems in the class of 2013, offering scholarships to outside linebacker E.J. Levenberry (Woodbridge, Va./C.D. Hylton) and defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County), according to ESPN's Dave Hooker and Jamie Newberg.
Levenberry and Adams will be two of the more highly recruited players at their position, so it is no surprise to see the USC coaches extend these early offers.
California is usually light on pure defensive tackles, so seeing early offers head out into SEC territory is par for the course. The defensive tackle spot is as important as any position in the 2013 class for the Trojans, and with early playing time to offer under position coach Ed Orgeron, expect USC to make a hard run at some of the top talents in the country.
Levenberry and Adams will be two of the more highly recruited players at their position, so it is no surprise to see the USC coaches extend these early offers.
California is usually light on pure defensive tackles, so seeing early offers head out into SEC territory is par for the course. The defensive tackle spot is as important as any position in the 2013 class for the Trojans, and with early playing time to offer under position coach Ed Orgeron, expect USC to make a hard run at some of the top talents in the country.
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With spring ball set to begin in less than a month, the WeAreSC staff looks ahead to the three most intriguing positions and the player at each spot they are most interested in watching.
Kyle Williams
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Of the 28 recruits who entered USC last season and are still on the roster, 18 used a redshirt year in 2011 and will be anxious to hit the field for spring ball knowing that the training wheels are off and the competition for playing time truly begins.
WeAreSC offers a rundown of those 18, including the impression they made last season and what to expect in the coming year.
P Kristopher Albarado - Albarado couldn't overtake Kyle Negrete as the starting punter last season and with Negrete returning as a senior after a terrific season, it's difficult to imagine the coaches will make a change this year. Albarado will be ready to step into the role as a redshirt sophomore in 2013.
WeAreSC offers a rundown of those 18, including the impression they made last season and what to expect in the coming year.
P Kristopher Albarado - Albarado couldn't overtake Kyle Negrete as the starting punter last season and with Negrete returning as a senior after a terrific season, it's difficult to imagine the coaches will make a change this year. Albarado will be ready to step into the role as a redshirt sophomore in 2013.
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Unfortunate timing for coaching losses
February, 7, 2012
2/07/12
7:14
PM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
The USC Trojans have lost two coaches in the week following national signing day, as wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore joined linebackers coach Joe Barry in making the jump from the Pac-12 to the AFC West.
It's less than ideal timing for a program that not only begins spring ball in one month, but will now face opposing coaches on the recruiting trail who will call attention to the fact that two coaches stayed through signing day only to leave immediately after.
It's not unusual for programs to see departures during the offseason, but after replacing just one coach before last season, Lane Kiffin will need to fill three vacancies heading into 2012. Two of those will be positions that arguably saw the most dramatic improvement last season while relying almost entirely on first- or second-year players. A linebacker trio that will feature two redshirt sophomores and a true sophomore was finding its way under Barry and fielded two of the team's best defensive players last season. The wide receiver production under Gilmore was unmatched in USC history, as Robert Woods set a Pac-12 record for receptions and Marqise Lee added a 1,000-yard season.
It will be interesting to see the direction Kiffin goes with his hires -- he is also likely searching for a defensive backs coach -- and how long it takes to fill the positions. What was looking like a smooth offseason after a great finish to 2011 has been rocked a bit, and it could be up to the players to help smooth the transition heading into spring ball.
It's less than ideal timing for a program that not only begins spring ball in one month, but will now face opposing coaches on the recruiting trail who will call attention to the fact that two coaches stayed through signing day only to leave immediately after.
It's not unusual for programs to see departures during the offseason, but after replacing just one coach before last season, Lane Kiffin will need to fill three vacancies heading into 2012. Two of those will be positions that arguably saw the most dramatic improvement last season while relying almost entirely on first- or second-year players. A linebacker trio that will feature two redshirt sophomores and a true sophomore was finding its way under Barry and fielded two of the team's best defensive players last season. The wide receiver production under Gilmore was unmatched in USC history, as Robert Woods set a Pac-12 record for receptions and Marqise Lee added a 1,000-yard season.
It will be interesting to see the direction Kiffin goes with his hires -- he is also likely searching for a defensive backs coach -- and how long it takes to fill the positions. What was looking like a smooth offseason after a great finish to 2011 has been rocked a bit, and it could be up to the players to help smooth the transition heading into spring ball.
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ABOUT WE ARE SC
Garry Paskwietz
Garry Paskwietz is the publisher and founder of WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 1997. Send him an email at garry@wearesc.com.
Blair Angulo
Blair Angulo covers USC Trojans recruiting. He joined ESPNLA.com in 2010 and also interned at the Los Angeles Daily News. Email him at blair.angulo@gmail.com.