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USC (2-2, 1-2 Pac-12) will travel to Boulder to take on the struggling Colorado Buffaloes (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12) on Saturday (11 a.m. PST Pac-12 Networks). Interim head coach Donté Williams met the media this morning and explained in more detail some of the changes the Trojans have implemented in training this week. USC has just put in a terrible second performance at home. Oregon State defeated Troy at the Coliseum last Saturday by a score of 45-27 in a game that really wasn’t as close as this loose final score suggests. Immediately after the game, Williams was responsible for the loss, explicitly stating “I was outclassed. ”
If Madness does the same thing and expects different results, we can at least agree that Williams is taking a healthy approach to training this week. Things have changed this week. Williams doubled down on his assessment that the players had a very energetic week of training. “This week of training in terms of being fast and physical and flying guys is definitely it. I don’t mean to sound cliché, but the guys work really hard and they really do whatever we ask them to do. From asking questions in the boardroom to answering questions in the boardroom, to taking what we’re talking about in the practice area.
USC, like virtually every team, spends time as a team during the season with first team offense and defense against scout teams to simulate this week’s opponents. There is also usually a decrease in live tackle, but this week Williams detailed some important changes to those protocols. During his first week at the helm of Helton clayWilliams put the Trojans in full blocks on Wednesday after starting the year in shells on bump day. However, other than a scripted early opening team period, there really hadn’t been much changed in terms of hitting and competition. That changed this week.
“Wednesday at the moment, we are in full pads. And it’s not like the whole practice is a live tackle. It’s certain segments. When we get to the service team (period) the guys have a chance to go hit the guys. Right now, that’s what we need. We’re playing against another pro style team and right now the pro style teams have us a little confused when it comes to tackles and missed assignments so just make the guys fit into a gap and are actually in a tackling situation. So it wasn’t a million pieces of it. It was quite a lot, though, and it gives the guys rehearsal on how to fill in the gaps and tackle, ”Williams said Thursday.
When asked if there had been a change in the menu in terms of getting a plus to one over the traditional scout look with the first strings not opposing, Williams explained, “It’s the two. We’ve mixed up some things where his one on two and both are actually carding (opponents) games. So they give the Colorado look. So it was kind of like that, but at the same time, some duty periods were reduced to ten minutes to focus on a certain thing, whether it was the third down or the red zone, or the first and second towards the low just so the guys can really focus on what’s going on in training, not just the racing games.
It may not sound like a lot, but it’s remarkable nonetheless. USC typically builds their scout teams from third ropes, as opposed to second rope guys who run with starters for backup reps. Obviously we’ll see how things play out on Saturday, but that can only help USC starters become more competitive in training. It is also a testament to Williams’ ability to self-assess and genuinely attempt to change. These are attributes that this program desperately needs in abundance. While it seems highly unlikely that Williams will end up with the chief job after this season, these are traits that the eventual hiring must absolutely have.
Count defensive line coach Vic So’oto among those who appreciated the tackle added on Wednesday, as well as many of the changes Williams has made since taking over as interim head coach. “The guys are here to tackle on a Wednesday, so it’s been a really busy and fun week.”
When you are in the USC program right now, you take all the signs of hope you can get. From a fan’s perspective, it’s easy to cancel this season, but players and coaches still have eight games to play and train and at the very least, Williams’ willingness to adapt gives them a chance to make the most of a season in limbo. . We do not agree with Williams’ assessments of energy level in practice. In fact, an offensive segment this week was performed with the speed and intensity of a mime repetition. Despite this, Trojan fans can take comfort on this Saturday that, whatever the season, the status quo is no longer a done deal. After all, the first step towards change is to admit that change is necessary.
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