Pac-12: Christian Thomas
Kiffin not worried about Barkley's INTs
March, 30, 2012
Mar 30
11:00
AM ET
By
Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com
LOS ANGELES -- The guy who had the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the Pac-12 last season is tossing a few more picks during spring ball than his coach would like to see. But USC coach Lane Kiffin isn’t too worried about quarterback Matt Barkley, who has thrown seven interceptions in eight practices. No expletives are being hurled, no panic buttons being pushed.
“He can still declare for the supplemental draft so I can’t yell at him quite yet,” Kiffin joked after practice Thursday night.
Not to worry, Kiffin said, explaining that the rise in picks is a product of Barkley not being able to work with his usual guys. Robert Woods is out for spring. Marqise Lee is balancing football with track and George Farmer continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury.
“Part of it is him getting a little bored,” Kiffin said. “He scrambles out and gets frustrated because he doesn’t have his normal guys out there and he throws the ball downfield. We’ll get him back out of it. We don’t like it, but it’s not the end of the world. As we get closer to game time, we’ll get him back to normal.”
Kiffin said to keep Barkley motivated, they have installed some different routes and concepts they’ve taken from the NFL.
“It’s been good to expose him to those and really challenge him to continue to master what he already has, but also add to his game,” Kiffin said.
Last season, Barkley threw 39 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. His 69.1 completion percentage was tied for second-best in the conference.
In other practice notes:
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Joe Andras/WeAreSC.comQB Matt Barkley, left, has thrown more interceptions with his favorite receivers absent from spring practices, USC coach Lane Kiffin said.
Joe Andras/WeAreSC.comQB Matt Barkley, left, has thrown more interceptions with his favorite receivers absent from spring practices, USC coach Lane Kiffin said.Not to worry, Kiffin said, explaining that the rise in picks is a product of Barkley not being able to work with his usual guys. Robert Woods is out for spring. Marqise Lee is balancing football with track and George Farmer continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury.
“Part of it is him getting a little bored,” Kiffin said. “He scrambles out and gets frustrated because he doesn’t have his normal guys out there and he throws the ball downfield. We’ll get him back out of it. We don’t like it, but it’s not the end of the world. As we get closer to game time, we’ll get him back to normal.”
Kiffin said to keep Barkley motivated, they have installed some different routes and concepts they’ve taken from the NFL.
“It’s been good to expose him to those and really challenge him to continue to master what he already has, but also add to his game,” Kiffin said.
Last season, Barkley threw 39 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. His 69.1 completion percentage was tied for second-best in the conference.
In other practice notes:
- With so many injuries at wide receiver, Lee has been rotating in at every receiver spot. Kiffin recently said he thought Lee has the chance to be the best wide receiver ever at USC. “Marqise is doing great,” Kiffin said. “We’re so hurt so we move him around so much that he has to play every position with Robert and George not being there. But it’s good for him, any time you have to play all the spots. We really try to wear him out when we get him because we lose him sometimes [to track] so we try to maximize the time we get with him.”
- The Trojans were scheduled to hold a scrimmage on Saturday – which will be open to the public at 11 a.m. at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – but might have to put that on hold due to the number of injuries. Tight end Junior Pomee re-injured his foot on Thursday, and with Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer and Christian Thomas all dinged up, there aren’t many options left at tight end. Kiffin said they might ditch the scrimmage and just hold a normal practice. "Unfortunately we can't seem to keep a tight end healthy," said Kiffin. "The problem right now is the offensive skill players [who are out with injury] aren't allowing us to practice the way we'd like, but we're making the best of it."
- Tre Madden, who made the move last week from linebacker to running back, fumbled for the third time in three practices.
Tight end looks like a solid position heading into 2011, which wasn't the case in 2010.
So where does everyone stand? Let's check it out.
Great shape
Stanford: An embarrassment of riches at the position, even though 2010 official starter Konrad Reuland is gone. Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Levin Toilolo all have NFL futures. Ertz was dominant in the spring game. Fleener, second-team All-Pac-10, caught three touchdown passes in the Orange Bowl. Toilolo won the starting job in 2010 before he got hurt in the opener (after catching a 27-yard pass, no less). Fleener and Ertz combined for 44 receptions and 12 touchdowns in 2010. All three are athletic and taller than 6-foot-6. No team in the nation is stronger at tight end.
Oregon: David Paulson was first-team All-Pac-12 after catching 24 passes for 418 yards with four ouchdowns in 2010. He's also a good blocker. Backup Brandon Williams is an impressive specimen who figures to contribute more this fall -- unless touted true freshman Colt Lyerla eclipses him.
USC: The underrated Rhett Ellison caught 21 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns in 2010, and Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer and Christian Thomas provide quality depth. Ellison is versatile enough to double as a fullback, when necessary. Grimble, a redshirt freshman, led the Trojans with eight receptions for 73 yards the spring game.
Good shape
Colorado: Ryan Deehan, honorable mention All-Big 12, caught 25 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown in 2010. Backup DaVaughn Thornton has potential.
The position figures to get more work with new coach Jon Embree, a former Buffaloes and NFL tight end.
UCLA: Cory Harkey and Joseph Fauria are both solid veteran players, though Harkey suffered an outbreak of the dropsies last fall. They combined for 17 receptions -- 14 from Harkey -- in 2010.
California: Both Anthony Miller and Spencer Ladner are back, and Miller had 13 of their combined 16 receptions in 2010. Both are solid but unspectacular players.
Oregon State: While Joe Halahuni is officially an H-back, we count him as a tight end.
He caught 30 passes for 390 yards in 2010 and led Beavers receivers with six ouchdowns. If he wasn't coming back from shoulder surgery -- he could miss the first month of the season -- the Beavers would be in great shape. Junior Colby Prince is the "official" tight end. He caught one pass last season.
Utah: Kendrick Moeai, a three-year starter, caught 11 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown in 2010. Yes, that's an average of 20.5 yards per reception. He might get more looks in Norm Chow's pro-style offense. Backup Westlee Tonga hasn't caught a pass.
We'll see
Washington: On the one hand, the Huskies have no experience at the position. On the other, true freshman Austin Seferian-Jenkins and redshirt freshman Michael Hartvigson looked like a potentially outstanding duo this spring. Still, you've got to prove it.
Arizona: Since Rob Gronkowski departed, tight end hasn't been a go-to position for the Wildcats. Jack Baucus, atop the post-spring depth chart, caught four passes last season as a backup. Departed 2010 starter A.J. Simmons caught eight.
Arizona State: Not a big position for the Sun Devils, either. Trevor Kohl caught two passes in 2010. Center Garth Gerhart is credited with one reception. The ASU offense uses a "Y" receiver, who sometimes operates as tight end, which would be 235-pound Christopher Coyle.
Washington State: 2010 starter Skylar Stormo is now a defensive end. Junior Andrei Lintz sat atop the post-spring depth chart, and he caught one pass for four yards last fall. Promising freshman Aaron Dunn is the backup.
So where does everyone stand? Let's check it out.
Great shape
Stanford: An embarrassment of riches at the position, even though 2010 official starter Konrad Reuland is gone. Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Levin Toilolo all have NFL futures. Ertz was dominant in the spring game. Fleener, second-team All-Pac-10, caught three touchdown passes in the Orange Bowl. Toilolo won the starting job in 2010 before he got hurt in the opener (after catching a 27-yard pass, no less). Fleener and Ertz combined for 44 receptions and 12 touchdowns in 2010. All three are athletic and taller than 6-foot-6. No team in the nation is stronger at tight end.
Oregon: David Paulson was first-team All-Pac-12 after catching 24 passes for 418 yards with four ouchdowns in 2010. He's also a good blocker. Backup Brandon Williams is an impressive specimen who figures to contribute more this fall -- unless touted true freshman Colt Lyerla eclipses him.
USC: The underrated Rhett Ellison caught 21 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns in 2010, and Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer and Christian Thomas provide quality depth. Ellison is versatile enough to double as a fullback, when necessary. Grimble, a redshirt freshman, led the Trojans with eight receptions for 73 yards the spring game.
Good shape
Colorado: Ryan Deehan, honorable mention All-Big 12, caught 25 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown in 2010. Backup DaVaughn Thornton has potential.
The position figures to get more work with new coach Jon Embree, a former Buffaloes and NFL tight end.
UCLA: Cory Harkey and Joseph Fauria are both solid veteran players, though Harkey suffered an outbreak of the dropsies last fall. They combined for 17 receptions -- 14 from Harkey -- in 2010.
California: Both Anthony Miller and Spencer Ladner are back, and Miller had 13 of their combined 16 receptions in 2010. Both are solid but unspectacular players.
Oregon State: While Joe Halahuni is officially an H-back, we count him as a tight end.
He caught 30 passes for 390 yards in 2010 and led Beavers receivers with six ouchdowns. If he wasn't coming back from shoulder surgery -- he could miss the first month of the season -- the Beavers would be in great shape. Junior Colby Prince is the "official" tight end. He caught one pass last season.
Utah: Kendrick Moeai, a three-year starter, caught 11 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown in 2010. Yes, that's an average of 20.5 yards per reception. He might get more looks in Norm Chow's pro-style offense. Backup Westlee Tonga hasn't caught a pass.
We'll see
Washington: On the one hand, the Huskies have no experience at the position. On the other, true freshman Austin Seferian-Jenkins and redshirt freshman Michael Hartvigson looked like a potentially outstanding duo this spring. Still, you've got to prove it.
Arizona: Since Rob Gronkowski departed, tight end hasn't been a go-to position for the Wildcats. Jack Baucus, atop the post-spring depth chart, caught four passes last season as a backup. Departed 2010 starter A.J. Simmons caught eight.
Arizona State: Not a big position for the Sun Devils, either. Trevor Kohl caught two passes in 2010. Center Garth Gerhart is credited with one reception. The ASU offense uses a "Y" receiver, who sometimes operates as tight end, which would be 235-pound Christopher Coyle.
Washington State: 2010 starter Skylar Stormo is now a defensive end. Junior Andrei Lintz sat atop the post-spring depth chart, and he caught one pass for four yards last fall. Promising freshman Aaron Dunn is the backup.
Tight end Christian Thomas (6-3, 245) from from Palmdale, Calif., has signed with USC.
He picked the Trojans over Miami, Oregon and Oregon State.
Combined with Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, that means USC signed the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 10 tight ends in the nation.
He picked the Trojans over Miami, Oregon and Oregon State.
Combined with Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, that means USC signed the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 10 tight ends in the nation.
Here are the big-name guys who are considering Pac-10 teams today, with info provided by Scouts Inc.
Seantrel Henderson, OT
Saint Paul, MN
Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.
Scouts Grade: 86
ESPNU150 Rank: 8
Position Rank: 1
Five-star offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson of Cretin-Derham Hall (Saint Paul, Minn.) is set to announce his college decision on signing day among Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Florida and Miami-Florida.
Demar Dorsey, S
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boyd Anderson H.S.
Scouts Grade: 85
ESPNU150 Rank: 12
Position Rank: 2
ESPNU 150 safety Demar Dorsey of Boyd Anderson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) is expected to chose between Florida State and Southern California on signing day.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE
Portland, OR
David Douglas H.S.
Scouts Grade: 84
ESPNU150 Rank: 17
Position Rank: 2
High four-star defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (Portland, Ore./Douglas) will join the Huskers, Beavers or Bruins Wednesday during ESPN's national signing day coverage.
Keenan Allen, ATH
Greensboro, NC
Northern Guilford
Scouts Grade: 83
ESPNU150 Rank: 33
Position Rank: 5
Four-star wideout /safety Keenan Allen of Northern Guilford (Greensboro, NC) could no longer be headed to Alabama and head coach Nick Saban. Allen has not publicly confirmed a decommitment, but is also considering California, Penn State and Clemson.
Sean Parker, S
Harbor City, CA
Narbonne H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 49
Position Rank: 5
ESPNU 150 safety Sean Parker (Harbor, City, Calif./Narbonne) will sign with Michigan, USC or Washington Wednesday morning on ESPNU's coverage over national signing day.
Chaz Green, OT
Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 52
Position Rank: 4
Four-star offensive tackle Chaz Green of Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) will announce his Class of 2010 college choice on signing day among Florida, Southern California, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Dietrich Riley, S
La Canada, CA
Saint Francis H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 108
Position Rank: 10
Four-star safety Dietrich Riley of Saint Francis (La Canada, Calif.) is leaning toward a Class of 2010 commitment to the UCLA Bruins.
Ivan McCartney, WR
Miramar, FL
Miramar H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 109
Position Rank: 18
Ivan McCartney, a four-star receiver from Miramar, Fla., is down to West Virginia, Miami-Florida and Oregon for his announcement of a college choice on Signing Day.
Ricky Heimuli, DT
Salt Lake City, UT
Brighton H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 133
Position Rank: 13
Four-star Ricky Heimuli (Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton) spoke with ESPN affiliate Web site DuckTerritory.com a few days before sending in his letter of intent. "Utah, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington are my final four that I will choose from," he said.
J.R. Ferguson, DT
Frederick, MD
Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 136
Position Rank: 14
Four-star J.R. Ferguson of Frederick, Md./Hargrave Military Academy, Va., who had previously narrowed his Class of 2010 list to Miami-Florida, Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU and California, has added Texas Tech.
Christian Thomas, TE
Palmdale, CA
Highland H.S.
Scouts Grade: 80
Position Rank: 8
Christian Thomas, a four-star tight end from Highland (Palmadale, Calif.), has narrowed his college choices down to four for signing day.
Gabe King, DE
Eugene, OR
South Eugene H.S.
Scouts Grade: 80
Position Rank: 19
Touted defensive end Gabe King of South Eugene (Eugene, Ore.) is expected to announce on signing day between the Bears and Oregon.
Josh Shirley, OLB
Fontana, CA
Henry J. Kaiser H.S.
Scouts Grade: 79
Position Rank: 19
USC, Arizona, Washington and Miami-FL are four-star outside linebacker Josh Shirley's (Fontana, Calif./Kaiser) finalists, ESPN's Greg Biggins reports.
Bjoern Werner, DE
Salisbury, CT
Salisbury School
Scouts Grade: 79
Position Rank: 24
Four-star defensive lineman Bjoern Werner (Salisbury, Conn./Salisbury School) will send in his letter of intent to Florida State, Oregon or California Wednesday after announcing on ESPNU.
Seantrel Henderson, OT
Saint Paul, MN
Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.
Scouts Grade: 86
ESPNU150 Rank: 8
Position Rank: 1
Five-star offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson of Cretin-Derham Hall (Saint Paul, Minn.) is set to announce his college decision on signing day among Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Florida and Miami-Florida.
Demar Dorsey, S
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boyd Anderson H.S.
Scouts Grade: 85
ESPNU150 Rank: 12
Position Rank: 2
ESPNU 150 safety Demar Dorsey of Boyd Anderson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) is expected to chose between Florida State and Southern California on signing day.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE
Portland, OR
David Douglas H.S.
Scouts Grade: 84
ESPNU150 Rank: 17
Position Rank: 2
High four-star defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (Portland, Ore./Douglas) will join the Huskers, Beavers or Bruins Wednesday during ESPN's national signing day coverage.
Keenan Allen, ATH
Greensboro, NC
Northern Guilford
Scouts Grade: 83
ESPNU150 Rank: 33
Position Rank: 5
Four-star wideout /safety Keenan Allen of Northern Guilford (Greensboro, NC) could no longer be headed to Alabama and head coach Nick Saban. Allen has not publicly confirmed a decommitment, but is also considering California, Penn State and Clemson.
Sean Parker, S
Harbor City, CA
Narbonne H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 49
Position Rank: 5
ESPNU 150 safety Sean Parker (Harbor, City, Calif./Narbonne) will sign with Michigan, USC or Washington Wednesday morning on ESPNU's coverage over national signing day.
Chaz Green, OT
Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 52
Position Rank: 4
Four-star offensive tackle Chaz Green of Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) will announce his Class of 2010 college choice on signing day among Florida, Southern California, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Dietrich Riley, S
La Canada, CA
Saint Francis H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 108
Position Rank: 10
Four-star safety Dietrich Riley of Saint Francis (La Canada, Calif.) is leaning toward a Class of 2010 commitment to the UCLA Bruins.
Ivan McCartney, WR
Miramar, FL
Miramar H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 109
Position Rank: 18
Ivan McCartney, a four-star receiver from Miramar, Fla., is down to West Virginia, Miami-Florida and Oregon for his announcement of a college choice on Signing Day.
Ricky Heimuli, DT
Salt Lake City, UT
Brighton H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 133
Position Rank: 13
Four-star Ricky Heimuli (Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton) spoke with ESPN affiliate Web site DuckTerritory.com a few days before sending in his letter of intent. "Utah, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington are my final four that I will choose from," he said.
J.R. Ferguson, DT
Frederick, MD
Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPNU150 Rank: 136
Position Rank: 14
Four-star J.R. Ferguson of Frederick, Md./Hargrave Military Academy, Va., who had previously narrowed his Class of 2010 list to Miami-Florida, Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU and California, has added Texas Tech.
Christian Thomas, TE
Palmdale, CA
Highland H.S.
Scouts Grade: 80
Position Rank: 8
Christian Thomas, a four-star tight end from Highland (Palmadale, Calif.), has narrowed his college choices down to four for signing day.
Gabe King, DE
Eugene, OR
South Eugene H.S.
Scouts Grade: 80
Position Rank: 19
Touted defensive end Gabe King of South Eugene (Eugene, Ore.) is expected to announce on signing day between the Bears and Oregon.
Josh Shirley, OLB
Fontana, CA
Henry J. Kaiser H.S.
Scouts Grade: 79
Position Rank: 19
USC, Arizona, Washington and Miami-FL are four-star outside linebacker Josh Shirley's (Fontana, Calif./Kaiser) finalists, ESPN's Greg Biggins reports.
Bjoern Werner, DE
Salisbury, CT
Salisbury School
Scouts Grade: 79
Position Rank: 24
Four-star defensive lineman Bjoern Werner (Salisbury, Conn./Salisbury School) will send in his letter of intent to Florida State, Oregon or California Wednesday after announcing on ESPNU.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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