(Well, it's Wednesday where I am...)
Notes from camp and other minor details:
- HT to Student Body Right for taking the time to read ESPN and note Feldman's post about the 1st day of camp; they also link to a great picture of Allen Bradford giving new DE Everson Griffin a stiff-arm of epic proportions.
- Scott Wolf remains focused on players' weight like the high-colonic SWAT team at New York's fashion week: he notes that Lawrence Jackson is down to 260 for the season ahead.
- Also from Wolf, Aaron Corp is getting more reps than Mustain, which does make sense as Mustain is after all ineligible for the season, and, Trey Henderson has the dubious distinction of being the first injured player in this camp.
- The USCTrojans.com site has more bells and whistles, including opportunities to spend money on subscriptions; one feature in particular is pretty cool:
The big hook might be that every single film of USC football games back to the 1930s has been digitized and accessible to viewers. With the agreement of the broadcast networks, USC will also post video of this season's football games as soon as the game ends.
- The Albany Times Union wonders: is it possible that Steve Smith might be more than a #3 or #4 receiver?
Conventional wisdom holds the Giants have secured an important No. 3 or 4 receiver who will contribute early and eventually take on the role now served by aging and classy veteran Amani Toomer.
But New York may have gotten more than it bargained for: With great hands, precise routes, willingness to go over the middle and a fondness for film study, Smith could emerge as a wide receiver who stands out in the pros.
Smith, at 5-11 and 195 pounds, doesn't see himself as strictly a possession receiver.
"I see myself as an explosive receiver," Smith said. "I feel I can do a lot of things in the offense."
He models himself after St. Louis Ram Torry Holt. "He's just a tough player," Smith said. His game also resembles New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles. All three are roughly the same size; not diminutive, but hardly oversized receivers in the Terrell Owens' mold.
But all three have the hands and the guts to go over the middle, in addition to working the sidelines. They play bigger.
[snip]
"The standpoint of where he [Smith] was at with regards to other receivers at that stage, we're certainly very impressed with what we've seen," receivers coach Mike Sullivan said of Smith.
[snip]
[Corner Aaron] Ross said "[...]And Smith, he's a guy who runs really, really good routes, and has speed on top of it."
The knock coming out of USC is Smith lacked explosive speed, a concern somewhat muted when he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine.
"He has some wheels," Ross said. "That's what everybody is saying: His speed is not there. I'm facing him every day. It's there."
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Pat Forde has John David Booty at number 1 on his list of quarterbacks with something to prove:
The question: Palmer, Leinart … Booty?
The first two guys have their names on the Heisman and their places in USC history secure. Palmer led the Pete Carroll renaissance and became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Leinart turned the renaissance into a dynasty and became a first-round pick. Can Booty -- who is so Shreveport to the other two guys' Cali cool -- be a suitable heir? Can he win hardware in December and in January? Does the dynasty continue or crumble on his watch?