USC Football: What Will We Learn from Spring Practice?

Those grunts and groans you hear wafting through the breeze at USC are the happy sounds of football returning at Trojanville, where spring practice is entering its second week.

Whether it's Robert Woods making a one handed leaping catch of a Matt Barkley dart or TJ McDonald dropping the hammer on some unlucky ball carrier that comes his way, the sights, sounds—hell, even the smell of football—portends a return of those glorious Saturdays in the fall when the gridiron dominates every good Trojan fans waking moments.

But it's in the spring when the foundation is laid for fall dominance and this year is no exception.

It is now when quarterbacks cement relationships with their receivers and linebackers hone the skills that make it possible to only give a slight nod to their defensive compadres, letting them know where they'll be when the ball is snapped.

Make no mistake about it, spring practice is an extremely important component of what it takes to build a winner.

Of course, there are a few requirements to building a fall winner in the spring.

One is having enough bodies to field an eleven man offense and defense so coaches can get a feel for what they have.

And sadly for USC, that is what the Trojans are lacking right now.

In fact, with 19 players either missing practice or having severe limitations placed on their participation before the first spring ball is snapped, the challenge for head coach, Lane Kiffin is to simply find enough bodies to rotate an effective 7-on-7 scrimmage, much less the real 11-man thing.

So what we know for sure is that spring practice here in 2011 will have to be managed carefully.

However, it is not just that USC is missing players, it is who they are missing and this also affects how these practices are being managed.

You see, the Trojans have six healthy offensive linemen, including two JC transfers that are just now learning how things are done at a Division I powerhouse.

That is barely enough guys to hold a decent game of poker much less an effective line rotation.

And this has a trickle down effect of course.

As the depleted offensive line gets gassed, people get hurt.

Running backs get slaughtered due to missed blocks and coaches have to hold their breath every time Matt Barkley drops back to pass.

It's a hell of a way to find a team's identity.

Nonetheless, there is value for the coaches as they creatively attempt to practice their meager corps.

For example, as it turns out, those JC offensive line transfers, Jeremy Galten and David Garness, are pretty good players and will come in handy in the fall when things get more serious.

And remember DJ Morgan? You know, the 4.4 forty speedster who wrecked a knee coming out of Taft High School?

Well, he's back and better than ever.

The first week of practices routinely featured Morgan busting off big gains and leaving panting linebackers and defensive backs in the dust.

Which is a good thing since we also learned from spring practice that running back Marc Tyler, the projected starter, is still injury prone.

Tyler tweaked a hamstring on the first day and won't be pushed for the rest of the sessions.

So a guy like DJ Morgan might come in very handy in the fall.

That is, if he can survive the spring as well.

Morgan had a minor scare with his surgically repaired knee on Saturday, so spring will at least help answer some of his durability issues.

Spring practice is also where you learn if there is any value to the walk-ons.

It doesn't happen often, but every now and then, some erstwhile former high school player will give football another try and lo and behold, a useful body can be found.

It is also the time where pecking orders are formed in coaches minds.

In this particular case, with so many injured and a major influx of recruits coming in the fall, those favorable impressions made in most springs won't be found in this one, at least not to the extent it might have otherwise been.

Still, it is good for both the players and the coaches to get their feet wet football-wise for the upcoming season.

Even if it requires a creative plan just to get through spring practice itself.

Five on five pigskin anyone?