OFFENSE:

QB: We went into 2012 with only Shaw having experience beyond mop-up duty. Even still, Shaw had legitimate questions as to how capable a passing QB he'd be. For 2012 Shaw improved in most every passing category despite dealing with various injuries throughout the season. Thompson develops into a very dependable QB that can be relied on to perform in the most crucial of situations. IMPROVEMENT

RB: No one will replace the leadership that Lattimore brought to the team. However, USC has a wealth of depth at the RB position to make an attempt. The issue here is, we had this wealth the previous 2 seasons, and in each case were whittled down to depending on true freshmen backs in the final weeks of the season. If our backs can remain relatively healthy IMO we could see substantial production, even better than what we saw last season due to an injury-depleted corps: with Lattimore as a national leading rusher in '11 we averaged 200 ypg, but after he was injured Wilds and Shaw combined to keep the run game at 185 ypg. So they can produce post-Lattimore, but they need to stay healthy. STATUS QUO/IMPROVEMENT

WR: We went into 2012 with only 400 yd/2 td Ace Sanders as our top returning WR. We will go into 2013 with 600 yd/7 td Ellington plus 400 yd/3 td Byrd returning, so the experience at the position will be improved. We'll also have a more experienced Roland who's shown improvement during spring camp, plus Fuller and Smith who were red-shirted last season. IMPROVEMENT

TE: Losing Cunningham means losing a physical blocking TE. Anderson has shown he can block, but mostly as a down-filed blocker as opposed to a line blocker like Justice. But where Anderson is a stride above Cunningham is as a receiver option: his first 2 seasons Busta has 459 yds and 8 tds in 22 receptions. He along with Adams and Owens combined won't provide the LOS blocking that Cunningham did, but they will be a very dangerous receiving option on offense. IMPROVEMENT

OL: We lost our most experienced OL from '12 in Johnson, but return as many as 4 starters from the previous season for the first time under Spurrier. The new center will be inexperienced, but the unit as a whole will gain 14 total starts over what it had with Johnson to start 2012. IMPROVEMENT

DEFENSE:

DL: Returning Clowney will be huge. Quarles will also be one of the top DTs in the SEC. We'll have a very experienced Sutton or a Devin Taylor v.2 in English opposite Clowney, plus either Surratt or Dixon Jr. on the interior. Sutton, Surratt, and Dixon all have game experience and starts to their credit, but obviously won't match what Taylor and Jerideau took with them. STATUS QUO

LB: Not much to sugar coat here - lost a TON of experience at the position. What we're replacing the losses with will be more talented, quicker, and more athletic. There will be a loss in physicality and size. DECLINE

DB: We entered the '12 season after losing CB Gilmore, plus platooning CBs Whitlock and Markett. We replace them with backups Hampton and Legree who are starting at CB for the first time. SS Holloman is moved to Spur, and replaced with youngster Williams. Only Swearinger is the returning regular starter in the secondary. For '13, Swearinger has moved on, but Hampton, Legree, and Williams all return with a season of experience and starts. In Swearinger's place highly rated prospect Chaz Elder has impressed during the spring camp. The loss of Swearinger will be felt in 2013, but overall as a unit the secondary should be more experienced and stronger. IMPROVEMENT

S/T Return: Sanders was one of the top punt returners in the nation last season. We'll have options for his replacement, but they won't be Sanders. DECLINE

S/T P/K: We return both Hull and Ard who have experience with punting and kick-offs, but lost our FG kicker. DECLINE