USC Football: Tommie Robinson, Neil Callaway Focused On Details

USC football is getting back to basics this fall, with Tommie Robinson and Neil Callaway preaching the importance of details to their running backs and linemen.

Clay Helton is excited to see USC football back to the Coliseum Monday night. Part of that is the venue, to be sure.

There’s no place like the Coliseum.

It’s more than just being back in one of the most iconic venues in college sports though. It’s about the return to full pads and all that might reveal about the Trojans.

After all, it’s hard to gauge how well USC’s running game has truly progressed with players in shorts.

Since Helton was hired on the strength of his “back to basics” coaching mentality, including an offense focused on a strong rushing attack, seeing what is and isn’t working in that attack will be key.

The Trojans enter the 2016 season with a mandate to run the football and run it well.

The Trojans enter the 2016 season with a mandate to run the football and run it well.

Offensive line coach Neil Callaway and running backs coach Tommie Robinson are the men responsible for making that running game click.

Those two have the most critical job of all this fall. And both know they still have a lot of work to do, even before the full pads have come on.

“We’re a long ways away,” Robinson said Sunday. “We’re not even close to being where we need to be.”

“[The offensive line is] not where we need to be,” Callaway echoed. “I think we’ve got a chance, but we’re not where we need to be.”

SEE ALSO: Could USC Have Two 1,000-yard Rushers In 2016?

Including Monday’s practice at the Coliseum, USC has 26 days before they take the field against Alabama in Arlington.

“We need every minute of it,” said Robinson. “I’m not satisfied with nothing we’re doing.”

It’s not that Robinson is displeased with his running backs. It’s that there’s always something more that can be improved.

“They’re getting better, but we need work on every facet of the game to make them complete backs. To get to the point where you can understand the integrity of every play you run,” Robinson said. “And to understand the integrity of every play, you have to be detailed.”

Being detailed involves knowing exactly what is going on during every play, at every position. Robinson wants his backs to know what the quarterback is thinking, what the offensive line will do, how the receivers will block.

Callaway is preaching the same to his offensive linemen.

“The thing that we’ve got to focus on is making sure that we take care of the little things, and pay attention to detail,” said Callaway. “And we’ve got to communicate and be on the same page.”

Thus far, the approach seems to be working.

The Trojan backs are increasingly looking like USC’s strongest unit.

Justin Davis and Ronald Jones II are still expected to see the most action in 2016, but Aca’Cedric Ware continues to make the case that he should be a regular third option with his hard running style.

Ware’s rise during spring camp means his performance so far this fall is no surprise, but the introduction of freshman Vavae Malepeai has elevated the depth of the unit even higher than expected. That’s not to mention the increased presence of all-purpose back Dominic Davis.

SEE ALSO: Justin Davis Aims to Prove Su’a Cravens Right 

On the offensive line, there are few surprises, with the center battle between Toa Lobendahn and Nico Falah limited by Lobendahn’s return from injury. At left guard, Chris Brown has consistently run with the first team but Helton praised Mama’s fire in responding to the competition.

It has been noticeable that the unit has played clean football over four days of camp as well.

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When the full pads come on, however, the line and the backs will be tested more fully. And when it comes time to scrimmage, the Trojans will know even more about who they are and what they can do.

For now, it’s all about working hard to make it all come together.

“You are what you practice. If we practice it, we’ll be fine,” Callaway said.

The running backs coach was also emphatic that the Trojans will use every minute of their remaining time to get ready to compete with the best of the best.

“When that ball kicks off, trust me, we will have exhausted everything we’ve got to have them ready to go.”