re: Official Fall Camp Discussion Thread - Who Wants to Wear Out That Trojan arse?

Taylor is a great run blocker when he gets a hold on someone but sucks in pass pro and has a hard time with DL who are quick. Bozeman isn't as big but is more balanced. Bozeman at center works because having Pierschbacher at guard is just too much upside for the whole line. Really it would come down to Pierschbacher vs Taylor and Taylor couldn't hold RP's jock strap.

He does. Honestly RP and JW on the right side is so much better than AT and DJ it's insane to think about.

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Actually their DL this year has more talent then last according to their sites and what I heard. Basically like replacing starters who were 3 stars with experience now with 4 star backups they think will be stronger across the board. Also they brought in a top JUCO DL and and grad transfer for the DL from Utah.

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I lurked on some USC sites just after spring ball to get a feel for them, and their fanbase indicated that not only was DL the worst unit on the team going into spring, but they got absolutely hammered by injuries in that unit. Like comically hammered. The narrative I saw was that their DL was going to be laughably bad.

Granted, the 2 transfers you mentioned are news to me, and maybe they developed a bit of talent there in a few months, but I have a hard time believing that their biggest liability BY FAR - Dline - went from an atrocious situation post-spring to any kind of benefit today.

How'd he get the name Shank?

They big loss on a D this year is Bigelow out for the season but Stevie Tu'ikolovatu(Grad transfer) visited UA in May before picking USC. The Juco transfer will bring experience. I am not saying they will have a lot of experience but they will have depth. I also believe they moved K Rogers from offense to the DL this offseason. The real strength of their DL this fall is under their DC who plays a base 5-2. Their top returning LBs play on the outside and will create a lot of havoc.

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Second, USC has, this year, a new offensive line coach for the 4th consecutive year.

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By the way a former Alabama OL coach

What's the Vegas line?

Returning starters, fyi: USC Season preview (short)

My take on the USC game is this:

Their offense is legit. Lots of talent at the skill positions, solid, experienced Oline. New statue at QB. IMO, they will not be able to run the ball very well. Why? I don't think their running game is better than ours, and we couldn't run it much against our 1s in multiple scrimmages.

I think their ability to have success on Offense hinges 100% on their ability to give their QB time to operate and toss the rock around. Brown is a statue whose forty time should be measured in Julian years, and we ought to have the best, or nearly so, pass rush in CFB. I think we're gonna give them fits. We'll be the best defense they face all year by a country mile. However, if they give Brown time, it could be a long day.

Regarding their defense, I have loads of respect for their secondary. I cannot say the same for their front 7. They lost most of the folks from their front 7 last year, and while I know USC recruits well, they are still not where they need to be in that department. I think we should manhandle their front 7 all day, and be able to run the ball nearly at will. I think we'll throw only just enough to keep them honest and get into an old-fashioned ground-n-pound afternoon. If they reliably shut down our run game and force us to throw, we'd be playing right into their hands. I expect a boring, but effective offensive night from Bama and a solid, but maybe not flashy, win.

Things that worry me:

Field goals. I love Griffith and have supported him from jump street. But if he's not physically healthy, I'd rather be a 4-down team than try field goals in plus territory.

Turnovers. No explanation necessary.

What's the chances of Shank playing over Cotton? Seems more likely to me if Bozeman is our best option at center.