Thursday Practice Insider

Brian Matthews WeAreSC.com

Thursday afternoon’s spring practice gave the Trojan football players their first opportunity at full contact with the addition of shoulder pads with bone-crushing hit’s the theme of the day.

Once again the guest list was impressive; including the likes of Brian Cushing, Alex Holmes, Ryan Kalil, Patrick Turner, Kyle Moore, David Buehler, Greg Woidneck and Trey Henderson.

Gable Has Breakout Practice

Tailback C.J. Gable has had his fair share of ups-and-downs over the past year, but in the midst of an intense competition at the running back spot, Gable shined Thursday with his wide array of abilities.

Although no move to wide receiver is in store for Gable, he spent the beginning of practice working out with the receivers in an attempt to diversify his game.

“I just go down there with coach Johnny Mo (John Morton) and catch some passes with them,” explained Gable. “I just want to show them I can catch and so I hope later on I get some passes.

“You never can’t get better.”

Unquestionably the top performer at running back today, Gable will not be satisfied until he is the starting running back.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” said Gable of his spring aspirations. “I’m just out there running hard, I gained like 20lbs, so I’m just coming out here and showing them I want to be the number one back.

“Coach Carroll told us we need to separate ourselves, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

The Sylmar (CA) native, now 212lbs, calculated this move to put on extra weight over the off-season. According to the tailback himself, he noticed some flaws in his game last year, and immediately sought out how to improve.

“I’ve added more power,” he said of the extra weight. “Last year I thought to myself I was kind of light when I was running, now I’m heavier and I feel good.

“I didn’t lose any speed though, our workouts keep us like that.”

Aside from the stable of tailbacks from last year, Curtis McNeal and Marc Tyler have really given each of the upperclassmen a run for their money.

Not going unnoticed, Gable understands he can not take plays off if he looks to be the starter for yet another season opener.

“We have to go hard all the time,” Gable said of the competition at running back. “With Moody (Curtis McNeal), you see him out there, he’s good and he’s strong as hell, and Marc (Tyler) is the same way.

“It’s better for us, we need competition. We can’t just come out here thinking it’s the same old competition, knowing that we’re the only three that are getting in. When they add in them it’s harder, and the summer will be harder because Allen Bradford is coming back.”

After entertaining the thought of jumping ranks to the NFL, Gable now looks back at the end of last year with a slight hint of regret.

Admittedly immature, Gable has come out this spring with a new attitude, and so far, new results.

“It’s fun coming out here,” he said of spring practices. “It’s like a game every time we come out here. I don’t want to leave yet, and I knew I wasn’t ready last year. I wasn’t mature enough to leave.

“With the way I was acting, that was not NFL status right there.”

Quoting Head Coach Pete Carroll

- On the announcement of Tim Floyd and his decision to remain at USC:

“Wasn’t that great? He’s coming back, and that’s awesome that he’s not going. That’s a great statement about his commitment to the university and the kids he’s working with and really to his hopes about establishing a great program. He’s obviously on the way, and to have the three years he’s had, I’m sure it’s extremely important to the players and our fans.”

- On the scrambling ability of Aaron Corp:

“Today was a really good example, two or three times he took off at the right time and the right situation for a first down on backbreaking plays. I don’t want to say Aaron will be a big runner, but he’s making very good decisions.”

- On the leader of the quarterback competition, Aaron Corp:

“I think he came in a little bit ahead, and in that regard he’s holding on to that.”

- On the first day of pads:

“It was fun, I can’t wait to see the film. I didn’t have to do anything or say anything, they just did it, and I had fun watching it. This is an energetic group and they have a lot of spunk and love playing football. Here we are week one day three of spring and we’re lighting it up.”

- On Stafon Johnson’s knee injury:

“Yeah, we’re worried about it a little bit. He’s got an MRI coming up, but he feels like he’s going to practice tomorrow. We’ll have to wait and see.”

- On Tyron Smith and his recent stint at right tackle:

“He’s been very impressive, he’s got everything you’re looking for in the tackle spot. We want to make sure we see him in the position with the first group and see what he looks like as a starter handling communications. So far he’s done very well.”

- On the improvement of the coaching staff with new special teams coordinator Brian Schneider:

“I think it’s an extraordinary improvement with Brian (Schneider) at special teams. It’s just so obvious, plus his style with the energy and juice he brings, that’s exactly how we like to practice. He does it just like the best guys we’ve ever had here.”

Practice Tidbits

- Players sitting out Thursday’s practice included Thomas Herring, Blake Ayles, Anthony McCoy, Stafon Johnson, Marshall Jones, Michael Reardon and Kris O’Dowd.

- The starting offensive line for the second practice in a row from left to right included Charles Brown, Alex Parsons, Jeff Byers, Nick Howell and Tyron Smith.

- Inside linebacker Chris Galippo had a very good showing today, with a few big hits to his name. Galippo just seems to be in the right spot at the right time, and his health will go a long way in determining the success of this team.

- Offensively, the MVP of the day hands down was C.J. Gable. Gable broke two long touchdown runs while mixing in a few nice receptions. Defensively, the standout performer was cornerback T.J. Bryant, who found his spot between the ball and receiver the entire practice.

- Aaron Corp had a solid practice, but made most of his noise with his feet, scrambling four or five times for timely first downs.

- Malcolm Smith intercepted a Matt Barkley pass during 7-on-7, a play which showed off the impressive physical abilities of Smith.

- Matt Barkley had the ball of the day when he connected 30 yards down the sideline to a streaking Ronald Johnson. The ball was placed perfectly as he hit the speedy wide out in stride.

- The catch of the day came from Damian Williams, who had beaten cornerback Brian Baucham down the sideline when Mitch Mustain under threw the ball, only to watch Williams make an acrobatic catch along the sidelines. Williams just looks so smooth going through his routes.

- Defensive end Nick Perry has been very impressive over the first three practices, and really seems to be finding his niche. Perry combined with Brian Baucham to lay a crushing hit on fullback D.J. Shoemate during team.