USC Football: Predicting the Offensive Depth Chart for the Season Opener

With the season-opener less than two months away, crafting the makeup of the 2011 USC Trojans is now in the "final touch" phase.

A rough draft of the opening day roster was offered by head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff when spring practice broke earlier this year.

However, spring practices yield mixed results, and the names penciled in on that list, at least some of them, are not etched in stone.

A lot can and will change in between that tentative depth chart and the team that takes the field Sept. 3 when the Trojans welcome the Minnesota Gophers to the Coliseum.

One of those changes will be the addition of the heralded 2010 recruiting class, which will be participating—with the exception of the early enrollment players—in their first formal college football camp.

While many of these youngsters will be taking advantage of a redshirt year, others will not only be given an opportunity to play, but to start at areas of concern for the Trojans.

Offensive linemen Cyrus Hobbi and Aundrey Walker, linebacker Lamar Dawson, wide receiver George Farmer Jr., and defensive linemen Antwaun Woods and Christian Heywood, among others, will all get a long look this summer.

But regardless of the names, the next depth chart released by the coaching staff will be the one with which they head into the 2011 season.

What will it look like?

If you ask me, something like this...

Left Tackle

Starter: Matt Kalil

Backups: David Garness, Aundrey Walker

No surprise here.

Matt Kalil is expected to be one of the best left tackles in the country.

Protecting quarterback Matt Barkley's blindside is essential for the Trojans if they expect to be successful in 2011, and few in the college game are more capable than Kalil.

Garness had the benefit of spring camp and should back up Kalil, but make no mistake about it, having Kalil on the field is crucial for the Trojans this year.

Lane Kiffin would love to redshirt Walker, but with depth issues on the offensive line, he may not have that luxury.

Left Guard

Starter: John Martinez

Backups: Giovanni Di Poalo, (Patrick Kim or Marcus Martin)

John Martinez came to the Trojans as a highly-touted center, but has largely been a disappointment since his arrival in Los Angeles.

Now he will be counted on to live up to that potential and anchor a critical starting spot on an offensive line that desperately needs him to be good.

If he can rise to the challenge and stay healthy, Martinez can relieve a tremendous burden depth-wise for USC as they attempt to reconfigure a patchwork line.

But in order to do so, he will have to play better than he has thus far.

Di Poalo is a redshirt freshman who is a jack of all trades and should have the backup spot nailed down, while Marcus Martin is another of those youngsters Lane Kiffin would love to keep on the service team for 2011.

Center

Starter: Khaled Holmes

Backups: Abe Markowitz, Giovanni Di Poalo or Cody Temple

Again, no surprise here, although in Khaled Holmes the Trojans will be looking to a converted guard to replace perennial fixture Kris O'Dowd who graduated last year.

Holmes has both the football intelligence for the mental aspect of the game, as well as the athletic ability to slide one spot over from his natural position.

As is the challenge for all of the offensive line, depth is the concern for this position.

Abe Markowitz is by far and away the most experienced Trojan at center, but he is returning from an injury, and if anything we were to happen to either Holmes or him, the Trojans would have a decision to make as to whether Di Poalo (who has center experience from high school) or Temple (whom coaches would love to redshirt in 2011) would climb up the depth chart.

Right Guard

Starter: Martin Coleman

Backups: Cyrus Hobbi, Nathan Guertler

This is another position where a highly-regarded prep lineman has a lot to prove in terms of his worth to the Trojans' offensive line.

Martin Coleman came to USC as one of the top high school linemen on the West Coast, but has languished on the bench since his arrival from Edison in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Coleman has battled injuries (shoulder and ankle) throughout his career, but now the redshirt senior finally appears healthy and able to contribute.

If Coleman can't get the job done though, the Trojans will likely turn to true freshman Cyrus Hobbi, who was one of the best prep guards in the nation last year.

Right Tackle

Starter: Kevin Graf

Backups: Jeremy Galten, Aundrey Walker

When Kevin Graf signed with the Trojans, he was just continuing a family legacy at USC where his father and brother had played before.

However, thus far, Graf has yet to make his mark for the Trojans after being hampered by injuries, the latest of which includes shoulder surgery after the 2010 season.

Graf has the size (6'6", 310 lbs.) to be good, but much will depend on the health of his shoulder which, so far, has been slow to heal.

JUCO transfer Jeremy Galten impressed during spring camp and will battle Graf for the starting position if Graf is unable to separate himself from the crowd.

Tight End

Starter: Rhett Ellison

Backups: Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer or Christian Thomas

When Blake Ayles' request to transfer was approved by Lane Kiffin, it left the Trojans somewhat thin on the tight end unit.

Though Rhett Ellison would have been the starter whether or not Ayles had stayed, since none of the backups have game experience at the college level, questions will arise if Ellison gets hurt.

The good news is that all of the young tight ends are studs and simply waiting their turn to shine for USC.

As far as Ellison himself, he brings sure hands and blocking to a critical position along an offensive line that will need help until it crafts an identity for itself.

Split End

Starter: Kyle Prater

Backups: Brandon Carswell, Markeith Ambles

Here, for the first time, this list strays from the spring depth chart for a starter.

Of course, this bold prediction is predicated on Prater's health, which is no sure thing.

If he can stay on the field, Prater serves as a perfect complement to flanker Robert Woods.

At 6'5", 215 lbs. and with soft hands, the only thing holding Prater back from stardom is his ability to turn back the tide of injuries he has faced since arriving on campus for the Trojans.

Brandon Carswell has excellent ball skills and has been patient. He will do very well should Prater stumble.

Markeith Ambles has a lot of talent, but so far his immaturity has prevented him from realizing his full potential.

Flanker

Starter: Robert Woods

Backups: Brice Butler, De'Von Flournoy

Although Lane Kiffin says every position is open to competition, those who follow college football in general—and USC specifically—knows Robert Woods is just about as close to a "lock" as there is on the Trojans.

Woods, who dazzled in 2010, is expected to be better than ever in 2011, as is evidenced by his own "Woods for Heisman" campaign he has been quietly carrying.

The only thing that will keep Woods from starting (and starring) is injury, and that's a notion that no Trojan fan wants to entertain.

Brice Butler, who almost left the Trojans in the offseason, and De'Von Flournoy will battle to back up Woods.

Tailback

Starter: Marc Tyler

Backups: D.J. Morgan, Dillon Baxter or Curtis McNeal

First, a disclaimer and a qualifier.

Much depends on the disciplinary ruling that is forthcoming on Marc Tyler.

Obviously, if he is suspended for any length of time, it opens the door for any of the backups, and if this were to occur, getting back the bulk of his carries might be a challenge, because all the guys playing behind him are really, really good.

But Tyler is the biggest of the backs, and we all know how Kiffin likes to pound the rock.

He is also a senior, and if Tyler is still eligible, he will get the nod to start.

As for the backups, any one of them are good enough to separate from the others, and who resides where on the depth chart is anyone's guess.

Fullback

Starter: Soma Vainuku

Backups: Hunter Simmons, Rhett Ellison

With the graduation of Stanley Havili, the Trojans will be breaking in a new lead blocker for Tyler or whoever is running the ball for USC.

And it is safe to say that new fullback will be Soma Vainuku, who has all the tools to be dominant at the position.

Vainuku, who is 255 lbs., runs a 4.58 40 and has some of the softest hands you will ever see. He is a natural and should be a fixture the next few years.

Hunter Simmons has busted his butt and earned the back-up spot, while Ellison might see some time at fullback in certain formations.

Quarterback

Starter: Matt Barkley

Backups: Jesse Scroggins, Cody Kessler, Max Wittek

As Matt Barkley goes, so go the Trojans in 2011.

Barkley, who has started since he stepped foot on campus in 2009, is poised for a huge season if the offensive line gives him time to operate.

With the skill players who surround Barkley, all he and the Trojans need is time for the talented signal-caller to dissect opposing defenses.

Some say Barkley is the second-best college quarterback in the country, but few Trojan fans would trade him for anyone.

Jesse Scroggins, with a year in the system, has a leg up on whoever wins the competition between Kessler and Wittek.

Place Kicker

Starter: Andre Heidari

Backup: Craig McMahon

Last year's kicking game struggles were well-documented, as far too often Lane Kiffin's offensive strategy would be dictated by Joe Houston's lack of accuracy or leg strength.

Situations that demanded three points be put on the board would instead find Kiffin forced to go for it when confronted with the uncertainty of a Houston attempt.

That should change with the arrival of true freshman Andre Heidari.

Heidari, who was rated the second-best prep place kicker in 2010, brings a powerful and accurate leg to the Trojans in 2011.

For the Trojans, his value comes not only in his ability to kick 50-plus-yard field goals, but also in booming kickoffs opposing teams find unable to return.

Conclusion

If the Trojans' offensive line can hold up in 2011, they should be a very fun team to watch this year.

With an abundance of talented skill players, the only thing that can prevent this offense from setting up camp in opponents' end zones is a lack of time to get the job done.

That time needs to be provided by the O-line, who need the early favorable schedule to gel quickly in preparation for the tougher part of the year to follow.

The offensive line does possess the talent to get the job done.

How quickly they translate that talent into opening holes for the running backs and setting up a wall for Barkley to get the rock to his talented receivers will be the difference between another 8-5 type of season, and the kind USC and its fans have come to expect before being derailed the last two years.

But if they can't...

Get ready for a long season Trojans fans.