USC Spring Football: New Wrinkles Test Kessler, Browne Comfort Levels

Mar 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian (left) and quarterback Cody Kessler (6) at spring practice at Howard Jones Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On to the seventh practice of USC’s spring camp, Steve Sarkisian continued to test his quarterbacks, Cody Kessler and Max Browne, with new challenges set to prepare them for whatever might come their way this season.

“We threw a couple wrinkles at the Qbs today at the line of scrimmage that was challenging on them,” Sarkisian said Tuesday.

With the quarterbacks growing into the new system more and more every day, those wrinkles included calling plays at the line.

“Whichever one of those guys is taking the first snap come August 31^st, they will be ready to play and I’m confident we can get to that point. We’re in practice seven. We’ve got plenty of time.”

Of course, Sarkisian couldn’t have planned the other wrinkle that tried the two quarterbacks Tuesday. The wind was a factor.

“I feel like any time you get wind or rain or it’s even colder than normal that always helps just because it forces you to get out of your comfort zone,” Kessler said. “You gotta get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Sarkisian is on the same page as Kessler, keying in on the word “comfort” throughout his post-practice comments.

“Right now we’re focused on getting these two guys really prepared to play at a championship level, regardless of the situation, regardless of home, away, crowd noise, weather, who our opponent is,” Sarkisian said. “I just want them to be able to step on the field knowing that they’ve prepared in a really hostile, tough environment. We make practice as hard as we can on them so that when the game rolls around for those two guys they’re going to perform great.”

Ultimately, Sarkisian says that the quarterback who wins the starting job will be the one who displays the type of confidence that makes him, the head coach, comfortable.

“I want a comfort level with them that I feel great about them taking the field and leading our team.”