New "Inside the Trojans' Huddle" (Tuesday/March 7) edition: Spring position changes, specific player development, spring objectives, transfers, Pac-12 venue change, viewers' Q&A
In Tuesday’s “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle”, panelists Marc Kulkin, Erik McKinney, Chris Arledge and Greg Katz give commentary over spring roster position changes, which offensive and defensive players need to show the greatest progress in the spring, top three spring objectives for offense and defense, and potential transfers. Halftime examines a Pac-12 Football venue relocation, and, of course, Overtime viewers’ questions and panel answers.
In the first half of the Huddle, panelists discuss offensive and defensive position changes and three names in particular: Korey Foreman, Devan Thompkins, and Carson Tabaracci. The panel then gives their prospective on which three offensive and defensive players need to development most to make the 2023 season a success and some of the names may be surprising. Offensively, one name on offense was a star in the Cotton Bowl. On defense, a starter is named by one panel member, a former transfer portal from last season. Adding to the topic, the panel is then asked to project the areas on both offense and defense they think will show the most improvement over the 15 days of spring practice. See if you agree with each panelist’s assessment.
Turning to Halftime, the panel gives its perspective to why Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff made the recent decision to switch venues for the upcoming July Pac-12 Football Media Day from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. One panelist says it’s because Vegas is the home turf of the commissioner. Another panelist says it’s a big deal, and it’s the process of separating the Pac-12 from the Los Angeles area. Another panel member claims going to Vegas is more centrally located for schools located within a convenient drive for schools like Utah and ASU.
The second half kickoff, the panel is asked if they were Lincoln Riley, what would be their top three goals and objectives in the spring for the offense and defense respectively. Getting more specific, each panelist is asked if they were defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, what would be their three main goals and objectives for their defense. Offensively, there seems to be agreement in the priorities, and defensively there is one major objective agreed by all. Care to guess?
And in a bit of forecasting, each panelist is asked to name three likely candidates either from offense, defense, or special teams that could enter the transfer portal after the spring game on April 15. A couple of panelists didn’t like the question because it is a sensitive question. However, doing their duty, they mentioned names on both offense and defense, and perhaps one name is a surprise while a couple of others seem to be a given.
In the Overtime segment, the panel answers viewers’ questions pertaining to QB Dylan Raiola and the class of 2024; the potential ease or difficulty of the Trojans transitioning from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, more Coliseum renovation ideas; Zachariah Branch comparisons to past USC receivers (one past player’s first name goes by his initials, and a mention regarding a former Trojans player being hired as the new high school head football coach in the Bay Area.
