USC Football: 10 Training Camp Priorities

A week into fall camp for the Trojans 2011 season finds coaches, players and fans thrilled with the possibilities for this years campaign.

With a full roster of players benefiting from the experience of last years disappointing season, head coach Lane Kiffin can look forward to a far more rewarding season than the one that just passed.

But along with those lofty expectations comes the task of prioritizing things that must get done before the season kicks off against Minnesota on Sept. 3.

And despite the warm fuzzy of optimism, there are needs that must be addressed for this years version of the men of Troy.

Several units must have questions answered and depth charts require formulating as well.

But that's not all.

Strategies, both offensive and defensive, need clarifying and the status of the incoming freshmen needs clarification too.

So many questions.

How coach Kiffin addresses those concerns will be of paramount importance and this slide show will look at these questions ans others as we attempt to peer into the mind of Kiffin and his staff.

So without further delay, lets take a look at some of the 2011 fall training camp priorities.

No. 10: Set the Fullback Position

Now that Stanley Havili, USC's fullback for what seems like the last decade, has moved on, filling his spot will be of the utmost importance for the Trojans in 2011.

Because USC runs a pro style offense, the fullback position is critical both in terms of blocking and as an outlet for quarterback Matt Barkley should he need to check off under pressure.

Going into this season, freshman Soma Vainuku appears to be the front runner to take over the position for the Trojans.

Vainuku brings excellent size (6'0", 250 lbs.) and quickness (4.56 forty) in addition to a soft pair of hands, which Barkley will love to be sure.

However, Kiffin will also have to decide who backs up Vainuku and that job likely will go to redshirt sophomore Hunter Simmons.

Incoming freshman Charles Burks will also get a look and don't be surprised to see tight end Rhett Ellison play the position in certain formations.

No. 9: Who Will Start at Split End Opposite Robert Woods?

At receiver, we know one thing for sure. Robert Woods will start at the flanker position.

Woods, an freshman All American last year, is as close to a lock as anyone on the team not named Matt Barkley.

But who will start opposite Woods at the split end position?

Certainly, Kiffin has a bevy of talented receivers to choose from.

At the end of spring camp, Brandon Carswell was listed on top of the depth chart at the position but that may change.

While Carswell is certainly still in the mix, 6'5" Kyle Prater, Markeith Ambles, and returning wide receiver Brice Butler all will get a very long look.

And that doesn't even take into consideration that incoming freshman George Farmer Jr. may wow the entire coaching staff before camp breaks.

Its a good problem for Kiffin to have but one that demands a decision by the time the Trojans meet Minnesota to start the season.

No. 8: Complete Defensive Secondary

Last year, the Trojans defensive secondary was statistically one of the worst in the nation.

Young and for the most part inexperienced, more often than not, the d-backs were exploited as they tried to clumsily find their way in Monte Kiffin's defense.

Now in 2011, those concerns may be a thing of the past.

Free safety T.J. McDonald is an All-American candidate and cornerback Nickell Robey is solid.

But that is only half of the equation for the defensive backfield.

Decisions still must me made on who starts opposite Robey and along side McDonald.

Early in fall camp, Demetrius Wright looked good at strong safety but a hip pointer may open the door for Marshall Jones or possibly Jawanzza Starling.

Meanwhile, Tony Burnett broke spring camp as the tentative starter and has played pretty well.

Torin Harris was expected to challenge for the spot and may still, but he suffered a concussion early in fall camp and may be hindered.

Brian Bauham could see more playing time as a result.

Either way, defining how this unit shapes up will be a priority for certain.

No. 7: Make Sure the Kicking Game Is Going to Be Okay

One overlooked component of the 2011 Trojans is the state of the kicking game.

If things go as planned, that portion of the special teams will be handled by two incoming freshmen.

Andre Heidari will be the USC place kicker almost for certain.

Heidari was one of the highest rated prep kickers in the nation and he has done nothing since his arrival in spring to discourage the thought that USC's kicking game is in good hands...err...feet.

As for the punting game, Kris Albarado was also one of the best prep punters in the country but it remains to be seen just how good he is.

Nonetheless, Albarado is the front runner going into the fall camp and it will probably be his job to lose.

Still, these are two true freshman the Trojans will be depending on in this critical aspect of the game and, as such, nothing can be taken for granted.

Making sure they are going to be able to be relied upon is crucial as the Trojans break camp in preparation for the upcoming season.

No. 6: Who Is Going to Back-Up Matt Barkley?

One thing is certain when it comes to who the back-up is to Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley.

Youth will be served.

Exactly who that youngster is, well, that is still to be determined.

Coming out of the spring camp, redshirt freshman Jesse Scroggins was tabbed as the second fiddle to the incomparable Mr. Barkley but after only a week in the fall session, that may no longer be true.

Though Scroggins has a year in the system, true freshman Cody Kessler has been the QB that has been opening eyes.

Kessler has shown a calm leadership in the huddle, learned the playbook quickly and perhaps as importantly, shown the talent needed to come in and lead the team should the unthinkable happen and Barkley is forced to the sidelines.

Granted, it is still early and things can change in a hurry.

In fact, Scroggins has now undergone surgery and will be sidelined for a few weeks. 

Now Max Wittek, who had once seemed destined for a redshirt year, is in a position to challenge Kessler for that #2 spot.

Is that a quick enough change for you?

No. 5: Who's the "Man" at "Tailback U?"

The more the coaching staff sees true freshman phenom Amir Carlisle, the less Trojan tailback Marc Tyler must like it.

Tyler, who will miss at least the first game of the season due to behavioral transgressions, was to be the leading man at running back for the Trojans in 2011.

Now he will be lucky to regain any sort of role for USC this year.

But it is not just that Carlisle has been exceptional (which he has) but also that every other running back has looked great so far early in camp.

Dillon Baxter has grown in mind and body and is now approaching the potential that so many thought he was destined to show last year before maturity issues derailed him.

And D.J. Morgan, who has worked so hard to come back from a knee injury suffered in high school, has now found both the strength of body and confidence of mind to excel for the Trojans.

It is an embarrassment of riches for the Trojans coaching staff and while it is a great problem to have, Kiffin will have to make a choice somewhere along the line.

No. 4: Who Will Redshirt This Year?

Although final decisions regarding who takes a redshirt year in 2011 doesn't have to be made now, a plan must be initiated as soon as possible for the benefit of all involved.

The sooner a young player knows his status, the quicker a plan can be formulated for that individuals growth athletically.

For players getting ready to take that year off from the games that count, the work doesn't stop but it is re-focused.

And for those who have a shot at playing this year, they need to know as soon as possible as well.

For Lane Kiffin, who is seeing so many new faces in 2011, the task is daunting.

But he knows that with the NCAA imposed scholarship reductions, the more players he can save for later, the better.

Exactly who those players are remains to be seen but the sooner Kiffin can get a handle on that redshirt list, the better.

No. 3: Time for Kiffin to Install That Spread He Talked About Last Year

At the time of this writing, the Trojans are about six practices into their fall camp.

Taking "baby steps," Lane Kiffin has only installed about 25 percent of the playbook for his young Trojans.

Now the question is, will that other 75 percent include a version of a modified spread offense that Kiffin spoke of last year?

Because the Trojans have a bevy of skill players, Kiffin had mused that perhaps an offense that would get more wideouts on the field would serve the Trojans well in 2011.

Most Trojans fans would heartily agree.

If he was serious, and there is no reason to think he wasn't, Kiffin needs to get started on that and have it honed by the time camp breaks.

No. 2: Who Will Join Chris Galippo in the Starting Linebacker Unit?

Last year the Trojans vaunted linebacker reputation took a beating.

Often out of place and confused, the 2010 USC linebackers were a picture of futility as they grabbed air instead of opposing players.

Now in 2011, that unit will undergo a major facelift.

Middle linebacker Chris Galippo is a lock to start this year but beyond that, it is a crapshoot.

Shane Horton has had a nice camp so far for the Trojans and Dion Bailey has been a big surprise as well.

Hayes Pullard, Marquis Simmons and Simione Vehikite all have had their moments and lets not forget that incoming freshmen Lamar Dawson, Anthony Sarao and Tre Madden will all get looks as well.

Whatever Kiffin and their staff decide regarding the linebackers will have to be accomplished long before the camp is completed so rotations can be set.

Trojan fans just hope that this unit performs far better than last years version.

No. 1: Set the Offensive Line

Anyone who follows the Trojans had to know that the #1 slide in this list would feature the offensive line.

Going in to the 2011 season, there was no unit that created more concern than the guys in the offensive trenches.

With only two starters back from 2010, the state of the line had been and will continue to be a source of concern for the Trojans this year.

Although left tackle Matt Kalil and converted center Khaled Holmes are good ones, who will line up alongside them?

Fortunately for Kiffin, his worries may not be quite as significant as originally thought.

Kevin Graf looks like the real thing now at right tackle and true freshman Aundrey Walker, all 6'6", 364 lbs.of him, may be the answer at one of the guard positions.

Still, quality depth remains a concern and the coaching staff will have to make this unit their top priority in fall camp.

Conclusion

So many questions, so little time for answers.

Coach Kiffin and his staff will have their hands full crafting the team that both they, their players and the fans all expect to return to the salad days of not so long ago.

As the fall camp progresses, some answers will become evident and others will have to be manifested through the foresight and wisdom of Kiffin and his experienced cohorts.

The priorities outlined in this slide show are just a few that will have to be addressed but are by no means the only ones.

Defensive line rotations, determining schemes, figuring out which plays work the best, these are just a few of the other priorities that will confront the coaches during this camp.

Not an easy task to be sure.

But Kiffin isn't shying away from his determination to bring the Trojans back to their former greatness and his confidence in completing the task at hand is accompanied by a single minded focus to get the job done.

So when all is said and done, that will be priority #1.

And at the end of the day, that is all the Trojans and their fans care about.

Check out Bill N's article on why this fall camp is so crucial to USC's success in 2011.