 "Photo: Mark Schilling")
The USC football team returned to the practice field Thursday with the defense continuing to adjust to a new coordinator and a new system by concentrating on the basics.
"It was a good day to work on fundamentals," USC defensive coordinator Rick Minter said. "We made a lot of corrections. We've got a big scrimmage tomorrow; it will be a game-like situation. On defense, the kids are playing hard. They're going full speed and so far, knock on wood, we've stayed fairly healthy."
Also, defensive starters from last year are beginning to shake off the rust from the off-season and come into their own in the spring, ahead of when the freshmen show up later in the year.
"What's beginning to define itself is that certain players who have played here before are starting to prove themselves once again," Minter said. "Guys like Moe Thompson, George Gause, Darrell Shropshire. Moe and George are starting to step forward as leaders. Shrop is doing the same. They are starting to do a better job of communicating out there."
Still, there is plenty of fluidity in the defense right now, with the fall depth chart a virtual toss-up.
"I think on defense, you need 22-25 players who are capable of performing at a high level in a game," Minter said. "There's a lot of healthy competition going on out there. I'd say the biggest competition may be in the secondary right now."
However, Minter also suggested the uncertainty in the secondary might not be a bad thing, with players being able to substitute out and sub in so no one gets too tired, and the cornerbacks and safeties can stay step-for-step with the opponent's receivers. Currently, though, Minter would put Fred Bennett and Jonathan Joseph at cornerback and a mix of Jermaine Harris, Jamaica Jackson and Ko Simpson at the safety positions.
The defensive line continues to an issue, with lack of depth posing potential problems with injuries and fatigue for Carolina in the fall.
"We need some more depth there," Minter said. "Maybe a couple of players who are injured now - Preston Thorne and Eric Stroman - could help us there in the fall. I don't know. That would be like picking up a couple of players off of the waiver wire."
A new move this season will be the removal of the "spur" position on defense, usually held by a linebacker in situations like a nickel package. Minter's defensive playbook included an "apache" position that was identical to the spur, and Minter said it would be too much of a hassle to change the playbook and the other steps that would have to be taken, so the name of the position was changed.
On the injury front, no one was injured at practice Thursday, while defensive end Moe Thompson came back from a leg injury to participate fully in the practice, and Jackson returned in a limited capacity after an ankle injury.
Carolina will have a scrimmage today, with the offense concentrating on the pass more than in the first scrimmage April 3, when the run was emphasized. The Gamecocks will not practice Saturday or Sunday.
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