Is USC defense ready to take a leap in Year 2 under Todd Orlando?

LOS ANGELES — It was clear for most of fall camp. Even for much of spring camp. Every time USC football scrimmaged, there was one side of the ball that dominated much of the live periods: the defense.

It has been quick to the ball, aggressive in its pass rush situations, effective at creating interceptions and disruptive in clogging the line of scrimmage on run plays.

It’s a testament to what a normal offseason has done for second-year coordinator Todd Orlando and his ability to install the defense and instill the mentality he wants from his players. Aggressive, physical, unfearing.

But so far, it’s all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. One it has practiced against every day for months. So it’s difficult to judge just how good the defense truly is at this point.

That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener.

Scrimmages will be over. The familiarity with the opponent will be gone. Then we’ll get an idea of what the defense is truly capable of after losing contributors like DT Marlon Tuipulotu, CB Olaijah Griffin and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Talanoa Hufanga.

But returning veterans on the roster like safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and defensive end Nick Figueroa have made a point of helping the young players come along and be ready to contribute in 2021.

“Sometimes when you’re a good player, you’re just worried about yourself and making your plays,” Orlando said. “They’re not only making plays, but they’re trying to help other guys. They’re helping us as a coaching staff and that stuff, you can’t put a price on those things.”

Defensive line

This might be the most talented position group on the USC roster, but there are still some concerns.

Figueroa had a breakout 2020 season and since then has added 15 pounds of muscle to give himself the flexibility to line up at his natural defensive end position or slide inside to play tackle. Tuli Tuipulotu, one of the stars of spring football, brings similar flexibility to the position.

That pair figures to start at the two end positions, with either Jamar Sekona or Stanley Ta’ufo’ou at tackle.

“Stanley, he has natural mobility. You know, he was a linebacker previously, and he’s really strong, so being able to move in this system is really a high priority,” defensive line coach Vic So’oto said. “And then Jamar’s just played that his whole life. There’s a little learning curve for him just the speed of the game and all that, but then Stanley also being very new to the position has his own learning curve.”

But the concern with this unit is depth. End Jacob Lichtenstein is expected to be a contributor this season, and freshman Korey Foreman will be ready on third down early in the season. But beyond those six players, USC has question marks. Are De’jon Benton and Kobe Pepe ready to play? Will Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher be healthy enough to do so?

Linebacker

Drake Jackson will man the hybrid outside backer position again this season. After missing the first week of camp in health and safety protocols, Jackson was practically unblockable in practices, using his finesse moves on the edge to cause havoc in the backfield.

At the three traditional LB spots, converted safety Raymond Scott has grabbed control of the outside backer spot while Kana’i and Ralen Goforth return inside.

“We continue to progress in the pass,” Orlando said of the group. “They’ve been physical in the run game but they all kind of complement each other.”

As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup.

Defensive back

The deepest position on the USC defense is safety. Pola-Mao returns and has been a stud in camp, causing chaos in blitzing situations and making plays on the ball in pass coverage that he has not made in the past. Chase Williams has turned into a leader at the position while delivering physical blows when he attacks the ball. Greg Johnson is the veteran returner at nickel back.

Behind them, USC has transfers like Xavion Alford and Chris Thompson, not to mention a slew of freshmen.

Cornerback is a different situation. Junior Chris Steele was an unquestioned returning starter, whereas it was an open competition for the second job, with Isaac Taylor-Stuart seeming like the leader entering game week.

“I think he’s in line to have a terrific year and have one of those elite years,” head coach Clay Helton said of Taylor-Stuart. “In watching ‘ITS’ throughout this fall camp and knowing that he has a sense of urgency to really capture that position as well as be elite at it has been really nice to see.”