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The 10 biggest questions for USC football this season

A college football season raises more than 10 questions, but in a world of constantly-produced content, we don’t have time for an endless amount of questions, and you don’t have time to read an article which raises 100 questions. We’ll select the 10 biggest questions facing the USC Trojans as their 2021 football season begins.

Everyone knows what question No. 1 is — we don’t have to pretend it will be anything else — but questions 2-10 can certainly be argued about and discussed. One of the tensions I am wrestling with in my analysis of the 2021 Trojans is how much Todd Orlando can influence the direction of this team. Keep in mind that he didn’t have a chance to fully install his defensive system and concepts in the pandemic — or at least, if he did “fully” teach his system, he couldn’t do so under normal circumstances with a rhythm he would have preferred. He and other first-time coaches and coordinators had to work around the pandemic last year. Now that Orlando has had spring ball and normal summer camp in which to teach his system, are we going to see USC take on a different personality? That’s the kind of question you’ll see a lot in this list below:

10. WILL DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH BECOME A LATE-SEASON PROBLEM?

Jamar Sekona — John McGillen / USC Athletics

9. WILL USC'S STAFFING CHANGES PAY DIVIDENDS?

8. WILL CHRIS STEELE LIVE UP TO THE PRESEASON HYPE?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 21: Chris Steele #8 of the USC Trojans intercepts a pass intended for Dalton Kincaid #86 of the Utah Utes during the final seconds of their game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

7. WILL TODD ORLANDO'S DEFENSE STEAL A WIN WHEN THE OFFENSE STRUGGLES?

Nov 17, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive coach Todd Orlando returns to the sideline after a timeout during the fourth quarter Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports

6. WHO WILL STEP UP AT RECEIVER IN PLACE OF BRU MCCOY?

Michael Jackson III — John McGillen – USC Athletics

5. WILL USC'S O-LINE GAIN CHEMISTRY AND BALANCE ENTERING THE OCT. 9 UTAH GAME?

John McGillen / USC Athletics

4. WILL GRAHAM HARRELL TRUST THE RUN GAME WHILE ALSO SEEKING MORE DEEP SHOTS?

John McGillen / USC Athletics

3. WILL TODD ORLANDO'S INFLUENCE MAKE USC MORE PHYSICAL ON DEFENSE AND OFFENSE?

Nov 21, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; USC Trojans running back Vavae Malepeai (29) tries to break the tackle of Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

2. IS KEDON SLOVIS 100-PERCENT HEALTHY AND READY TO GUN THE BALL AGAIN?

Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) throws a first quarter touchdown pass to USC Trojans wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (not pictured) in the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

1. IF USC GOES 9-3 (not 10-2, not 8-4), WILL CLAY HELTON BE FIRED?

Jul 24, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Clay Helton during Pac-12 football media day at Hollywood & Highland. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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