USC takes the field in full pads

A sunny, gorgeous day in Los Angeles. A cloudless sky, a mild breeze. And in the air, a beautiful sound. The crush of strong bodies slamming into one another. Yes, Trojan fans, smash-mouth football has returned if only briefly to whet your appetite until fall.

It’s that point in spring practice when the players don full pads for the first time and have a go at each other.

Festivities began on the annex turf at Howard Jones Field with running drills. The defense for the most part was up to the task until the small guy started to his right then cut back to his left and ripped off a long one.

Small guy? That’s right. Need I say more? Number 22, Curtis McNeal. Not to be outdone, the big guy, Stafon Johnson, lugged the pigskin a couple plays later and took it to the house.

The action then moved to the main field for seven-on-seven drills. For those of you who are keeping track of the quarterback competition, here are the results:

Aaron Corp went first and was a perfect five-for-five, all short and mid-range passes.

Mitch Mustain was up next and went 0-for-three, finishing up a dismal one-for-five.

Matt Barkley was third with a perfect three-for-three. His longest was a 30-yard sideline strike to Brandon Carswell.

Last but no least (unless you’re counting the number of reps) Garrett Green, the offensive star of the day. He was a perfect two-for-two ending with a perfectly thrown over-the-shoulder sideline pass to Damon Williams for a 50-yard touchdown.

Then onto the team period where it was Garrett Green and Curtis McNeil who starred for the offense and Kevin Thomas, Malcolm Smith, Armond Armstead and Averell Spicer and Shane Horton making pivotal plays for the Trojan D-Men.

Corp again took the first series and managed to drive the team to one first down. But that was it as the defense played Corp’s rollouts perfectly, negating his ability to hurt you with his legs. Also, linebacker Malcolm Smith had a great hit on C.J. Gable.

Mustain took over next but threw a couple of incompletes and was unable to move the chains.

Barkley came in and had a nice sideline pass to Williams for a first down. Then Mr. McNeal went at it, slipping through on the left side for eight yards then ripping off a 20-yarder to his left.

But the defense put a heavy rush on Barkley in the red zone and forced him to throw it away twice. Joe Houston ended the drive with a 33-yard field goal.

Garrett Green’s turn next?

No, it was Aaron Corp for another series. Stafon Johnson ran to his right and a nifty 25-yard gain. Then safety Will Harris put a nice hit on C.J. Gable for no gain. Corp then threw behind his tight end, Rhett Ellison. Defensive tackles Armond Armstead and Averell Spicer broke through and sacked Corp to end the drive.

Okay, Garrett Green now?

No, not yet. Mitch Mustain took over at mid-field and connected on a sideline pass to fullback Adam Goodman, who coughed up the ball. Malcolm Smith snared it and took it to the house for a 7-3 white shirt lead.

Garrett Green now?

No, be patient. Mustain got another chance from the 40, but it was just not his day. This time he threw a perfect strike to Marc Tyler who fumbled at the 27 on a hard hit by cronerback Kevin Thomas.

Do you see Number 14?

No, Barkley’s turn again from the 27. He started with a nice 7-yard scramble then threw a flare to Williams that lost three yards. The drive ended with an incomplete pass.

Oh, look! Finally, it’s Number 14, Garrett Green. Who? Never mind.

Green took over at the 25 and pitched to Curtis McNeal who slipped through for eight yards. Takin over at running back, Marc Tyler got stuffed at the line, but on his second try he powered to a first down at the 12. A face mask penalty put the ball at the six.

This time the defense crushed McNeal. Then Green threw an incomplete pass, but on third down, he hit David Ausberry on a right corner pattern with a perfect TD strike. And the red shirts forged ahead 10-7.

Barkley got his turn to match Green, taking over at the 30. He threw two straight strikes to Ellison. Then on a third-and-short safety Josh Pinkard stuffed Stafon Johnson for no gain. But on fourth down, Johnson powered down to the three for a first-and-goal.

Then something happened that you hate to see deep in the red zone – a freshman mistake. Barkley threw a pass that Kevin Thomas stepped up and intercepted and returned 55 yards before Barkley pushed him out of bounds.

Mustain took over next and couldn’t find a receiver and had to ground the ball on first down. Sure-handed Damian Williams mishandled a pass that would have been a first down. Rushed on third down, Mustain again grounded the ball for a three-and-out.

In the two-minute drill, Aaron Corp went six-for-eight. He started with two quick strikes to Travon Patterson then a 10-yard strike to Williams for another first down. He tried to hit Williams again, but Keven Thomas broke it up.

David Ausberry had the catch of the day bobbling then grabbing a 19-yard strike. The drive finally stalled at the 10-yard line, but Jordon Congdon missed a 28-yard field goal attempt.

Barkley took over for the final drive of the day. He threw a first-down strike to Williams that was sandwiched between two incomplete passes forced by a strong rush. Then Barkley hit Brandon Carswell for a first down and on the next play threw a nice block to spring fullback Stanley Havili on a 15-yard scamper.

The drive ended with Curtis McNeal putting his mark on the scrimmage. With what is now becoming one of his patented cutbacks, McNeal ripped off the final 18 yards for a TD and a 17-7 victory for the red-shirted offense.

McNeal wound up with 48 yards on the day while Stafon Johnson had 41 yards. In the quarterback competition, Aaron Corp had the best day throwing for about 70 yards on 8-for-13, but Garrett Green had the only TD pass. When is Green going to get more reps? He could be another Matt Cassel in the making. Are you listening, New England?

So, there you have it – the Trojans first day of spring practice in full pads. I’m sure all the fans that packed Howard Jones Field enjoyed the scrimmage. Again, it looks like the Trojans are going to have another stellar year. I’ll have more on Spring Ball in the coming week.