USC Spring Game: 3 takeaways from the Trojan sack-fest

The USC Spring Game wasn’t a safe space for quarterbacks as the defense controlled the day despite an impressive performance from Drake London.

For the first time since 2019, Trojan fans were allowed into the Coliseum to watch the USC Spring Game.

What they saw was a defense coming into its own and an offense in dire need of stability on the offensive line.

The offensive line looks like a mess

Unfortunately for Kedon Slovis and USC’s quarterbacks, the Spring Game wasn’t designed for them to thrive. In a bid to develop both the players and coaching staff, the Trojans held a draft to split the squad into Team Cardinal and Team Gold. The result? A mismatch of offensive lines full of players without much experience playing next to each other.

The quarterbacks were sacked eight times. They collectively threw four interceptions. As a whole, the offense struggled.

The most generous explanation is the lack of chemistry up front doomed the offense to failure. A more pessimistic view wonders if the performance wouldn’t have been all that much better with a first-team lineup.

Drake London and Drake Jackson are stars

If you don’t already know the name Drake London, it’s time for that to change. London is the next great USC wide receiver who looks primed to destroy defenses in 2021. He had seven catches for 139 yards, including a 45-yard bomb from Slovis, as the brightest spot for the offense by far.

London is now operating mostly on the outside after two seasons creating mismatches on the inside. Any doubts about his ability to dominate in his new role can be put to bed.

The other Drake playing for USC suits up on the defense and can create just as much excitement going the other way. Drake Jackson led an outstanding defensive line performance with a batted pass at the line and a sack, putting an end to one drive practically on his own.

Jaxson Dart is the future

USC picked up two Top 75 quarterbacks in the class of 2021, but Jaxson Dart captured imaginations with his stunningly impressive season as a senior in high school.

On Saturday, his performance will give Trojan fans something to look forward to or a bit of comfort knowing he would likely take over if anything happened to Slovis.

Jaxson went 7-of-13 while throwing for 99 yards. He made an impressive 30-yard throw to London early in the game and continued to show off his arm with a couple of pinpoint passes to Michael Jackson III late. He capped the day off with a three-yard touchdown pass dropped beautifully into the back corner of the endzone.

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