USC Spring Game 2017: Notes and Observations from the Coliseum

The 2017 USC Spring Game at the LA Coliseum featured situational drills, live tackling, field goals and ceremonial introductions.

Injuries kept the 2017 USC Spring Game a light one, as the Trojans worked primarily on drills, with one brief scrimmaging period, including a 20-play open field session and two-minute situations.

Nonetheless, the annual event saw thousands of fans see the defending Rose Bowl champs, and some highlight reel plays by the offense, in addition to stout play from the defensive line.

Score wasn’t kept, but here’s a recap…

Scrimmage Notes:

• To start a run-focused live action period, Sam Darnold led a fruitless drive for the first-team offense, highlighted by a nine-yard pass to Jalen Greene.
• James Toland slithered through the second-team defense for a six-yard gain, but Christian Rector followed it up with a sack of Matt Fink.
• With an emphasis on the running backs, Aca’Cedric Ware, Ronald Jones and Vavae Malepeai all got work on Darnold’s second drive. Malepaei had the biggest showing, picking up a 14-yard gain off the right side through gaping opened up by right tackle Chris Brown.
• In a backed-up situation, the Trojans tried to get the passing game going out of their own end zone. Darnold missed Greene on a long bomb down the right sideline defended by Chris Hawkins, but found Tyler Vaughns for a first-down pick up of 14 yards on a slant route.
• Darnold’s best moment may have come on a 21-yard pass to Velus Jones, as he rolled out to his right and found the freshman on a corner/fade route. He was shut down soon after.
• Vaughns had a highlight reel catch in the end zone for touchdown, leaping over the back of walk-on defensive back Jalen Jones to snare a 20-yard Matt Fink pass during red zone drills.
• Kicker Michael Brown made kicks of 28, 43 and 50 yards, before Jake Olson got to snap on a 32-yard attempt, which Brown also made.

Highlight of the day:

Three Key Observations:

1. While the Matt Fink vs. Jack Sears battle is on-going affair and not an overwhelming priority due to the status of Sam Darnold, it appears safe to say Sears is ahead of where Fink was a year ago in his first spring camp, and even Ricky Town from 2015. Does that mean he edges out Fink for the QB2 job in the fall? It’s way too early to tell and a lack of collegiate experience –even in a practice setting– says perhaps not. But Sears had a better final spring practice than Fink, and has the tools to eventually be Darnold’s successor. At least until Matt Corral gets on campus…
2. The running back rotation is a unit to watch given Vavae Malepeai’s emergence this spring in lieu of Aca’Cedric Ware’s limited status due to injury. But the Trojans cycled through all three backs Saturday in the Coliseum, each getting roughly an equal amount of playing time. Of the three, Malepeai was the most impressive, slithering through for extra yards in tight quarters, in addition to finding large running lanes when available. Both Jones and Ware had a tough time, though a patchwork offensive line didn’t do them any favors.
3. The USC coaching staff has likened Velus Jones to former Florida playmaker Percy Harvin, as a versatile speedster capable of being involved in a variety of ways from the slot. He put that talent on display at the Coliseum, as the Trojans ran a reverse in which Malepeai pitched him the ball for a 34-yard pick up. Jones sprinted down the sideline and just roared past defenders. He should give the offense a wrinkle they missed last season, as Adoree’ Jackson was kept primarily on defense.