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

They say the second year in a new system always is better than the first, and for those defensive players starting a new year in coordinator Monte Kiffin's scheme, they better hope so.

Last year, the Trojans were often uncharacteristically out of position and for the most part looked uncomfortable and confused as they grasped air instead of the ball carrier.

Their futility manifested itself in a dismal 2010 performance that found the Trojans ranking in the lower echelon in many defensive categories.

The good news is that if the recently completed spring practice is any indication, the Trojans should be much better in 2011.

Playing much faster than last year's edition, the defense looks much more comfortable this year, and that will go a long way toward success in the upcoming year.

Now the challenge for the elder Kiffin is to finalize the rough depth chart offered at the end of the spring session.

That decision will be made easy in some areas, while in others there may be surprises.

What this year's defense looks like is the subject of this slideshow, and here is one man's opinion of how it shapes up.

Left Defensive End

Starter: Devon Kennard

Backups: Wes Horton, Kevin Greene

A couple of months ago, this position was destined to be a battle between Horton and Greene.

But with a position change that returns Devon Kennard to his natural position, that competition between Horton and Greene will determine who backs up the former middle linebacker.

Kennard brings athleticism to the position, and his ability to penetrate the opponent's backfield should create mismatches throughout the defensive line as opposing coaches are forced to single-block and hope for the best.

If Kennard should struggle at end like he did last year at middle linebacker, Horton is talented enough to be a force while, Greene is still a work in progress.

Nose Tackle

Starter: DaJohn Harris

Backups: Christian Tupou, Tyler Grady

The spring depth chart had Christian Tupou breaking camp as the starter, but the knee surgery that cost him the 2010 season has been slow to heal, and he is still trying to climb his way back both on the field and mentally, where his confidence still won't allow him to go full bore.

Fortunately, DaJohn Harris is ready to follow up a 2010 season that saw dramatic improvement from the big senior.

Having said that, Harris needs to be durable, because although Tupou will be back at some point, the Trojans don't have a lot of depth at the position unless they plan on playing one of the talented incoming freshmen, either Antwaun Woods (most likely) or J.R. Tavai.

Defensive Tackle

Starter: George Uko

Backups: Armond Armstead, Zack Kusnir

The next big thing on the defensive interior for USC is redshirt freshman George Uko.

A budding star, Uko combines his 6'4", 310-lb. frame with relentless pursuit to form an almost unstoppable force on the inside.

Uko was named the Trojans' defensive service team player of the year in 2010, and he has done nothing to dissuade the opinion that 2011 will be a very big year for him.

In spring camp, Uko regularly dominated whomever was across from him to create havoc for the Trojans offense.

Uko was a beast practicing against his own teammates.

Just think of what he will do to the enemy when he is playing for keeps.

Armond Armstead is a fantastically talented defensive lineman in his own right, but a medical condition may keep him from playing early, if at all.

Right Defensive End

Starter: Nick Perry

Backups: Eric Childs, DeVante Wilson or Greg Townsend Jr.

If there is one bona fide star on Trojans defense, besides safety T.J. McDonald, it would be defensive end Nick Perry.

Perry, who is 255 pounds of frightening ferocity, runs a 4.55 40 time, and the only thing that can keep him from stardom is his health.

Promising 15 sacks in 2011, Perry will be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to game-plan for, especially if Devon Kennard can be a force on the other side.

However, a lack of depth at this position may force Lane Kiffin to play either Greg Townsend or DeVante Wilson rather than the preferred redshirt for the young incoming freshmen.

Strongside Linebacker

Starter: Marquis Simmons

Backups: Dion Bailey, Ross Cumming

The linebacker unit was a constant source of concern for the Trojans as they underperformed in 2010.

Now the Trojans will undergo an almost complete makeover in the linebacker unit, and among the new faces will be strongside linebacker Marquis Simmons.

Simmons has been slow to find his way at USC but performed well in the spring camp, and he has both the speed and the power to be a force if he just finds the consistency that has been lacking so far in his brief Trojan career.

Dion Bailey came to the Trojans as a safety, but the redshirt freshman was moved to linebacker, where his speed will need to offset an obvious lack of size (6'0", 200 lbs.). Cumming has improved steadily and will see playing time in 2011.

Middle Linebacker

Starter: Chris Galippo

Backups: Will Andrew, Lamar Dawson

With Devon Kennard back at defensive end, the Trojans will be counting on Chris Galippo to anchor a remade linebacker unit that needs to show much improvement over the 2010 edition.

Galippo has the tools to get the job done, including the football savvy to direct the defense, but he needs to stay healthy, which, given his history of back ailments, is no given.

It is critical for the Trojans that Galippo stays on the field because he will be leading a unit that has little game experience, and USC needs this group to at least hold its own.

Will Andrew has shown remarkable improvement since walking on at USC, and Lamar Dawson is the face of the future for the Trojan defense at middle linebacker.

Weakside Linebacker

Starter: Hayes Pullard

Backups: Shane Horton, Simione Vehikite

Like Marquis Simmons, Hayes Pullard has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to shine for the Trojans.

Now he will get that chance.

In what could be one of the more closely contested position battles on the defense, Pullard should eke out the nod over Shane Horton for weakside position, at least at the beginning of the season.

Pullard is bigger than Horton, but both will see playing time, especially in passing situations, where Horton's quickness will help him cover throwing lanes.

Vehikite is talented and reminds some of Kaluka Maiava. He will be heard from at some point.

Cornerback

Starter: Nickell Robey

Backups: Anthony Brown, T.J. Bryant

Despite his diminutive size, Nickell Robey plays huge on the corner.

After starting and playing well, especially toward the end of the season, Robey will be counted on to anchor a defensive backfield that statistically was one of the worst in the nation last year.

That is expected to change this year, as the Trojans appear more comfortable in the second year in the system and, with Robey leading the charge, will play much faster than last year's often confused unit.

Anthony Brown played very well in spring practice and will be used also in nickel packages.

Cornerback

Starter: Tony Burnett

Backups: Torin Harris, Brian Baucham or Isaiah Wiley

The competition for this spot is expected to go down to the wire with Tony Burnett, the walk-on former safety, leading by a razor-thin margin over Harris with Baucham not too far behind.

Burnett is extremely athletic and versatile but is learning a new position.

However, he has the ability and athleticism (he is a long and triple jumper for the Trojans' track and field team) to get the job done, and the coaches love both his attitude and size.

Watch out for Wiley, the junior college transfer, who also has great size for a corner, but he also played safety in JC and will be trying to translate that to a new position.

Check out this great article about Tony Burnett by Mac D!

Strong Safety

Starter: Marshall Jones

Backups: Demetrius Wright, possibly Drew McAllister

This is another hotly contested position battle with Jones expected to get the nod over Wright as starter, at least at the beginning of the season.

Jones played well at times last year but is prone to giving up the long ball, especially when free safety T.J. McDonald cheats to support the run.

If Jones can find a way to be in position consistently, he can solidify the spot, as he does man his zone effectively in obvious passing situations.

Wright has a lot of talent and had a good spring camp, while McAllister is expected to see more playing time at free safety but is versatile enough to slide over to the strong side.

Free Safety

Starter: T.J. McDonald

Backups: Jawanza Starling, Drew McAllister

One of the few certainties on an uncertain defense is that T.J. McDonald will be leading the Trojans from his free safety spot.

McDonald, one of the most talented safeties in the nation, is especially effective against the run, where he relishes stuffing opposing ball carriers at the line of scrimmage.

The only knock on McDonald is that he sometimes is vulnerable to the pass because he cheats to support the run.

Other than that though, he is money.

Starling is a very talented safety who played some at the strong side last year but needs to be more consistent, while Drew McAllister is returning from his second hip surgery.

Punter

Starter: Kris Albarado

Backups: Kyle Negrete, Andre Heidari

Though Negrete is listed as the starter in the spring depth chart, most expect true freshman Kris Albarado to be the starting punter when the season starts.

Albarado, who hails from Louisiana, is an extremely capable punter with a big leg and great hang times.

If the enormity of the situation doesn't overwhelm him, Albarado should start his four-year run as the Trojans punter on Sept. 3 against Minnesota.

Negrete has paid his dues at USC and will compete for the spot, while Heidari could probably punt for 95 percent of the teams in the nation.

Conclusion

Like the Trojans' 2011 offense, predicting the starting lineup for the defense can be a hit or miss prospect.

Also like the offense, the "X" factor will be the arrival of the incoming freshmen, whose presence may change the complexion of the defense.

But like those youngsters who play on the other side of the ball, Lane Kiffin would love to redshirt as many as possible.

Still, depth issues may force Kiffin to consider playing, or at least keeping active, defensive linemen Christian Heywood, Antwaun Woods and Greg Townsend, linebackers Tre Madden and Anthony Sarao and the aforementioned Lamar Dawson or any of the other very talented true freshmen.

With the exception of a few players, such as Nickell Robey, Chris Galippo and perhaps a couple of others, starting positions are still up for grabs.

What happens in the August camp will ultimately tell the tale for who starts, but in the meantime, this list provides a framework for what we can expect for the defense when the Trojans tee it up against Minnesota to start the season.

For Trojan fans, they expect to see a return to the dominance of USC defenses of old.

More importantly, so do Monte Kiffin and the rest of the Trojan staff.