Analysis of the Depth Chart

QUARTERBACK

* Aaron Corp
* Matt Barkley
* Mitch Mustain
* Garrett Green

No surprise here considering Carroll made this announcement earlier in the week.  Corp deserves this.  He came into spring as the lead guy and he didn't do anything to give that up.  He was steady, he was limited in his mistakes (only one pick in 14 practices so far) and he moved the team on scoring drives during scrimmages.  Carroll was also quick to point out that Aaron has the job now and through the start of fall camp, after that the competition will continue.  The reason PC was so clear in his choice of words was the spring performance of Matt Barkley.  The much-hyped freshman came in and showed what all the fuss is about with an impressive display of arm strength, ability to work within the offense and several scoring drives of his own.  The next step for Matt will be completely learning the play calls and signals to the point where the coaches feel comfortable.  Once that takes place, the competition will go up a notch.  Right now the man on the outside looking in is Mitch Mustain.  This certainly wasn't the scenario Mustain envisioned when he transferred to USC but it's his reality now.  Mitch claims he has no plans to transfer and that is good news for Trojan fans because the guy is a very good quarterback.  He just happens to be going up against some other good QB's as well.  

TAILBACK

* Stafon Johnson OR
* Joe McKnight OR
* C.J. Gable OR
* Allen Bradford
* Curtis McNeal OR
* Marc Tyler

FULLBACK

* Stanley Havili
* D.J. Shoemate
* Adam Goodman

It is hard to really set this depth chart up for fall because we didn't see several of the leading candidates.  Joe McKnight saw very limited action, Allen Bradford didn't see any action and C.J. Gable missed half of spring due to injury.  That left carries for Stafon Johnson and a ton of work for Marc Tyler and Curtis McNeal.  The good news is that all three played well.  Stafon looks like a veteran senior, he was really in a groove this spring.  I've always thought Stafon was the most complete back we had but Tyler is giving him a serious run for that title.  Marc combines power and speed in a unique combination.  The one who often stole the show, however, was McNeal.  He can be dazzling with his moves and shiftiness and you have to imagine there will be a role for him in the fall.  I don't know where the touches will come from but McNeal can do things other guys can't. Stanley Havili is solid as the fullback starter with D.J. Shoemate now the clear heir apparent to the role.  Shoemate showed a nice ability to catch the football, which makes sense considering he came in as a receiver.  

SPLIT END

* Ronald Johnson
* David Ausberry
* Jordan Cameron
* Brandon Carswell

FLANKER

* Damian Williams
* Travon Patterson
* Brice Butler
* Garrett Green

No changes at the top here as Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson are set in their starting roles.  Williams was terrific this spring and RoJo was consistent as well.  They make a nice combination.  I think most observers, including this writer, though Brice Butler was going to step into the #3 receiver role but that didn't really happen.  Brice had moments of very good play but there were a few too many drops to think he is really ready to go.  David Ausberry was the best we have seen from him as a Trojan and Jordan Cameron has really shown the ability to make plays.  Travon Patterson is another guy who an do things with the ball.

TIGHT END

* Anthony McCoy
* Rhett Ellison
* Blake Ayles

Anthony McCoy is as set as a starter as anybody on the offense.  He looked fantastic this spring.  Rhett Ellison is firmly entrenched as a solid #2 option in part because we didn't see Blake Ayles on the field due to injury.  

LEFT TACKLE

* Charles Brown
* Butch Lewis

LEFT GUARD

* Jeff Byers OR
* Zack Heberer
* Khaled Holmes

CENTER

* Jeff Byers OR
* Kristofer O’Dowd

RIGHT GUARD

* Nick Howell OR
* Alex Parsons

RIGHT TACKLE

* Tyron Smith
* Matt Kalil

The LT spot is interesting considering we saw Matt Kalil as the starter there for much of the final portion of spring due to injuries to Brown and Lewis.  It was valuable experience for Kalil but apparently it wasn't enough to convince the coaches to move ahead of the veterans on the depth chart.  Tyron Smith was the starter for much of spring at RT so it is no surprise to see him in the #1 spot now.  A big move was Nick Howell moving ahead of incumbents Parson and Heberer at RG.

DEFENSIVE END

* Armond Armstead
* Wes Horton

NOSE TACKLE

* Jurrell Casey OR
* Christian Tupou

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

* Averell Spicer
* Derek Simmons
* DaJohn Harris

DEFENSIVE END

* Everson Griffen
* Malik Jackson OR
* Nick Perry

Everson Griffen is the clear starter at one end spot and he improved his game as much as any player on the team.  So far, so good on the experiment of moving Armond Armstead to end and putting Averell Spicer into the DT spot.  That moved raised a lot of eyebrows when it happened but it seems to be working to this point.  The reserve defensive ends, particularly Malik Jackson, have all shown good promise.  Jurrell Casey deserves the nod over Tupou although they make an excellent 1-2 punch.

STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER

* Michael Morgan
* Luthur Brown
* Nick Garratt

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

* Chris Galippo
* Uona Kaveinga

WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER

* Malcolm Smith
* Jordan Campbell

The linebacker rotation looks pretty much as we expected when we headed into camp.  The starters have all been solid and the play of Jordan Campbell and Uona Kavienga has been a pleasant surprise.  The one concern is the health of Luthur Brown, he has been injured throughout his career and missed much of spring as well.  He's a valuable and versatile player, we need him in the fall.  

CORNERBACK

* Kevin Thomas
* Brian Baucham OR
* Marshall Jones

FREE SAFETY

* Taylor Mays
* Drew McAllister

STRONG SAFETY

* Josh Pinkard OR
* Will Harris
* Shane Horton

CORNERBACK

* Shareece Wright
* T.J. Bryant

The starters at safety are set in Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard but the positions are a bit of a surprise.  Both players can play both safety spots but Mays was clear that he wanted to see action at strong safety in his senior year to help prepare him for the NFL.  Even though he is listed at free safety now, don't be surprised if Taylor sees time at SS as well.  Kevin Thomas and Shareece Wright are a solid pair of corners while T.J. Bryant showed a physical style that focuses him as the corner of the future.