We are 10 minutes into the game and the focus of conversation from the ESPN booth is the lack of full speed-full contact SC players have experienced in summer practices leading up to this game.
SC is thin at some important positions and it has contributed to the decision by Lane Kiffin to run more pro style practices. It may not show against the Rainbows but this is a big deal.
One of the reasons SC was so dominant over the years, in my opinion, is largely due to the practices Pete ran. SC had the greatest level of talent in the Pac-10. They still do. Yet more importantly, they had the greatest depth of talent. This allowed the Trojans to run the most physical, most energetic, fast-paced practices perhaps in the country.
SC could do this day after day-some of the best players in the country going against each other full tilt-due to that tremendous depth of talent. Carrol and co. were adding five-star after five-star three or four deep at some positions.
That gave them the luxury of running first team offense against first team defense full contact, full speed.
This is tremendously valuable come Saturday. When you have gone up against some of the best in the country, on your own team, practice after practice, you are most likely going to outperform your opponent. Plain and simple.
No question in my mind the change will hurt this SC team this season.
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