USC Football: Trojans Starting Defense for Minnesota Golden Gophers Opener

Yesterday we discussed the projected USC starting offense and special teams for the USC Trojans season opener in less than two weeks against the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten conference.

The Trojans fall camp was very important to determine many starting positions, but the third scrimmage on Aug. 21 helped finalize most of the remaining starting positions. 

Head coach Lane Kiffin told SCPlaybook that there are some positions that are too close to call but the staff will have a better idea of who to push after the third scrimmage on Aug 21.  It was an excellent scrimmage and gave the coaching staff most of the information they need to make decisions.

Here are the third scrimmage stats and recap courtesy of USCTrojans.com.

In February we reviewed the USC projected depth chart after a top-five recruiting class.  Let’s see what has changed since then.

The following slideshow reviews the likely starting defense to kickoff the Trojans 2011 football season. 

Defensive Line

USC is going to have a great defensive line this year, and it will even be better if senior Armond Armstead gets his medical clearance.  If not, he will likely redshirt, so that is the assumption at this point.

The DE positions will be redshirt junior Wes Horton with junior Devon Kennard as backup, and redshirt junior Nick Perry. Redshirt sophomore Kevin Greene will play often.

Tackles will be redshirt seniors Christian Tupou and DaJohn Harris.  Expect redshirt freshman George Uko to play a lot.

The nickel (passing) package will include Kennard and Perry at DE, and Horton will move to DT instead of Tupou.

Here is the projected starting defensive line: 

STRONGSIDE END

Wes Horton, 6-5 260 JR*

Devon Kennard, 6-3 250 JR (nickel)

NOSE TACKLE

Christian Tupou, 6-2 290 SR*

Wes Horton, 6-5 260 JR* (nickel)

TACKLE

DaJohn Harris, 6-4 305 SR* 

WEAKSIDE END

Nick Perry, 6-3 250 JR*

*Players that have exhausted their redshirt year

Linebackers

LB coach Joe Barry did lose Devon Kennard to the defensive line, but with three incoming freshmen, a JC linebacker and Dion Bailey coming over from safety, depth isn't going to be an issue in 2011.

In the USC 4-3 defensive scheme the three linebacker spots named SAM, WILL and MIKE are utilized. Normally the SAM backer plays on the strong side or tight end side, the WILL backer plays on the weak side and the MIKE plays in the middle.

But for the Trojans it works a little differently. The SAM backer plays in space and the WILL backer is on the tight end side.

Beyond senior Chris Galippo, it is hard to know exactly how it's going to work out. But, it certainly seems like they're all impressing in practice.

Senior Shane Horton and redshirt freshman Dion Bailey have received a lot of first team reps, redshirt freshman Hayes Pullard and freshman Lamar Dawson have both played well by all accounts. Marquis Simmons got the surprise start at the scrimmage on Sunday over Bailey.  Those six should see the most action this season. 

However, freshman Anthony Sarao and sophomore Will Andrew may get themselves into the mix as well, unless Sarao redshirts.

It appears that Galippo will play MIKE unless injured and Dawson will back him up.  Pullard will be WILL and Simmons will play SAM.  Bailey and Horton should see a lot of action.

CB Torin Harris will replace WILL in the nickel (passing) package.

Here are the starting linebackers: 

SAM

Marquis Simmons, 6-1 225 SO*

MIKE

Chris Galippo, 6-2 250 SR 

WILL

Hayes Pullard, 6-2 225 FR*

CB Torin Harris, 6-1 185 SO* (nickel)

*Players that have exhausted their redshirt year

Defensive Backs

Many believe that sophomore Demetrius Wright is the favorite to start opposite returning-starter junior T.J. McDonald as safety.  However, junior Jawanza Starling started the scrimmage yesterday and Wright left the field with an apparent injury in the second half.  He missed time earlier in fall camp due to a hip pointer. So it appears that Starling will be the starter, but expect Wright to play a lot.

Redshirt junior Drew McAlister and redshirt senior Marshall Jones have played very well but were dinged at times.

Perhaps the biggest fight of camp is for the No. 2 CB spot opposite returning starter sophomore Nickell Robey.

Lane Kiffin has said good things about redshirt sophomore Torin Harris, redshirt freshman Anthony Brown and redshirt junior Tony Burnett, whom he describes as a great tackler (a prerequisite for the spot). Junior College-transfer junior Isiah Wiley was talked about a great deal his first week, not as much since, but he should see a lot of action.  

Burnett should get the nod based on his tackling and playing tough.  He is a former walk-on.

In the nickel (passing) package CB Harris replaces WILL Simmons, and CB Robey lines up in the slot.

Here is the projected starting defensive backfield: 

STRONG SAFETY

Jawanza Starling, 6-1 195 JR

FREE SAFETY

T.J. McDonald, 6-3 205 JR

CORNERBACK

Tony Burnett, 6-1 195 JR*

Torin Harris, 6-1 185 SO* (nickel – replace WILL)

CORNERBACK

Nickell Robey, 5-8 165 SO (nickel – lines up in the slot)

 *Players that have exhausted their redshirt year

Conclusion

The USC Trojans are ranked No. 25 in the first AP Poll.  No one cares about that.  All that matters is how the Trojans play each game during the season with the goal of winning them all. 

At least the NCAA has not prohibited this opportunity even though they have done their “worst” to make it very difficult.

The starting lineup will have a lot to do with this.  However, expect a lot of substitutions because the Trojans have much more depth this season than 2010 and that is very good news. 

There will likely be changes in the starting lineup because there are many inexperienced players and the coaches need to see how they do in real games.  Injuries will also become an issue at some point. 

The key is for USC to get better each game, and gain the needed experience to achieve their goals.

There is no such thing as a “gimme” game, and the Trojans have Utah, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Stanford and Oregon to challenge them.

By the way, here is a very good discussion by Michael Lev of the OC Register on how the Trojans need to prepare for the spread offenses they will face this season.

This will be a challenge for the Trojan defense for the Minnesota game because they have not practiced against a spread offense so far.

However, expect the Trojans to generate more turnovers this year, and that is an area that Minnesota had problems with in their scrimmage.

Less than two weeks to start the 2011 football season odyssey.  Fight On!