Game Day: USC vs Hawaii

USC (LAST YEAR: 7-6, 5-4 IN PAC-12)

USC OFFENSE

Like “Groundhog’s Day,” center Marcus Martin wakes up every day to the same question: Who’s the starting quarterback? “I have the same answer: ‘Whatever Coach (Lane) Kiffin decides,” Martin said, laughing. “They’re both great quarterbacks, but they have different personalities.” Both evoke comparisons of past Trojans: The strong-armed Max Wittek is Carson Palmer; gritty Cody Kessler, below, is Mark Sanchez. There is no mystery involving the receivers. Marqise Lee, who is regarded as the nation’s best receiver, is a threat on deep patterns and screens. His quick first step makes him difficult to jam at the line; his speed (sub-4.4 seconds over 40 yards) is a corner’s nightmare. Nelson Agholor is a diligent router-runner who also forces mismatches with his speed. The third option is receiver Victor Blackwell, or burly but sure-handed tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer. Tailbacks Silas Redd and D.J. Morgan, perhaps the fastest USC player, remained in L.A. to tend to injuries. But Justin Davis would have received extended play, anyway. He’s regarded as a one-cut runner who wastes little time in heading upfield. There are four returning starters on the O-line, although Martin is moving from guard to center. Martin also has the power. He can bench-press 320 pounds 15 times. 

USC DEFENSE

After USC struggled with the Tampa-2 scheme, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin — the head coach’s pop — resigned, leading to Clancy Pendergast’s hiring. Pendergast has an impressive resume. He was the defensive coordinator when the Arizona Cardinals played in the Super Bowl in 2009, and his California defenses were No. 1 in the Pac-12 in two of his three years at Berkeley. Pendergast is noted for a 3-4 scheme, which he has re-labeled as a 5-2 at USC. The outside linebackers can crash down or drop into coverage. The front five has two approaches: 1) Morgan Breslin and Devon Kennard can rush or play the flats, enabling the inside linebackers to freelance, or 2) Leonard Williams and George Uko can play across the offensive tackles, giving Hayes Pullard and Lamar Dawson each the choice of two gaps to attack. Kennard is smart  (he is working on his master’s degree) and has good genes. His father, Derek Kennard, played 11 NFL seasons. “I remember his team winning the Super Bowl and being on his shoulders after the game,” Kennard said. “He let me play (football), and let my love of the game take over.” Three 2012 starters in the secondary departed, but Josh Shaw, a transfer from Florida, and Su‘a Cravens, the nation’s top high school safety a year ago, have filled two of the pukas. Shaw has cornerback quickness. Cravens is a big hitter.  

USC SPECIAL TEAMS

Zach Smith is a YouTube sensation, with his trick-shot video receiving nearly 600,000 views since it was uploaded in June. In the 2 1⁄2-minute video, he snaps a football off a balcony and into a garbage can. He also knocks a can out of the hand of a guy skateboarding. The hope is Andre Heidari will regain his accuracy this year. Heidari was named to the Pac-12 first team when he converted 15 of 17 field-goal attempts as a freshman in 2011. But he struggled last year, perhaps because he had rushed back too quickly following arthroscopic surgery. Marqise Lee was eighth nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 28.5 yards. 

Three specialists were invited to the NFL combine — long-snapper Luke Ingram, punter Alex Dunnachie and kickoff returner Mike Edwards — but an offseason concern was about the health of incumbent Tyler Hadden, who underwent hernia surgery in January. Hadden quelled doubts the past few weeks. Last year, he averaged 61.1 yards on 52 kickoffs. The past week, he has powered kickoffs into the end zone. Joe Uglietto, a transfer from Colgate, and Jackson Dionne also are available to kick. Ruben Guzman has boomed punts in practice despite being the shortest punter in the Mountain West Conference. Scott Harding’s rugby-styled punts are a change of pace. Harding can kick with either leg. Harding also returns punts and is the backup holder.