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NFL Video: USC Player Highlights Week 5

Steve Smith is tearing it up!

Pic of the Day: Steve Smith's Locker

Reppin' his SC days.  Who can guess what game the picture is from?

Picture of the Day: Steve Smith

Congrats to Steve. 

Pic of the Day: Steve Smith @ Nets/Knicks Game

Steve got a nice ovation when he was shown on the big screen.  The guy sitting to Steve's right wearing the big watch is Lendale.  Nice to see Steve rocking some SC gear after a big game on Sunday.  I'll be rooting for the Giants the rest of the way. 

Will Ronald Johnson Be Better Than Steve Smith?

Mike Farrell of SportingNews.com believes so:

Ronald Johnson, USC. Stunning how another USC guy makes this list (they had two in the running back category I did in late March). Johnson, in this scenario, is replacing the departed Steve Smith -- not Dwayne Jarrett. Smith was a superior talent for Southern Cal and will be a very good NFL player. However, Johnson is already the same size as Smith. Johnson will get bigger and faster, and is a pure game-breaker. The only way Johnson doesn't surpass Smith's tremendous production at USC is if he moves to cornerback, where he would also be an upgrade. Verdict: Better.

I personally think it's a bit of a stretch, but I will admit that I never thought Steve Smith would come close to Keary Colbert.  Based on what I've seen of RoJo, there is no question that he's the greater game-breaker, but will he be as consistent and reliable as SS?  I'm not so sure about that one.  Opinions?

Steve Smith, the Giants' New Weapon

Update on Steve Smith:

Smith and Manning spent some of last week getting on the same page and practicing routes, which the wideout said will play to their benefit later in the year.

"He's a great player and I'm just excited to work with him," Smith said of his new quarterback. "I love the smooth balls that he throws and his confidence out on the field. He makes a lot of plays and I just want to be one of his favorite targets."

..."He made some nice catches. He has got good hands," Coughlin assessed. "I was up at the other end listening. You can listen and tell a lot about a guy catching the ball. He sounded good."

That's coach-speak for saying Smith has soft hands, one of the first things receivers are judged by.

"I want to hear that nice, soft … poof," Coughlin said following Saturday's practice. "I don't want to hear that 'whack' against the palm of the hand or the ball going against the fence," he continued.

No surprise to Trojan fans...

NFL Draft Recap - Day One

For the first time since 2002, USC did not have a player drafted in the 1st round:

2nd Round 13th Pick (45th overall) - Dwayne Jarrett, WR to Carolina Panthers

2nd Round 19th Pick (51st overall) - Steve Smith, WR to NY Giants

2nd Round 27th Pick (59th overall) - Ryan Kalil, C to Carolina Panthers

Many experts are picking Carolina as the winners of day one.  Sometimes you put immediate needs aside for high value picks and Carolina did just that.  Although Dwayne has reason to be disappointed, he will have the luxury of playing behind Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson, which will greatly help in his development.  Kalil should be a significant contributor right away at center or guard. 

As for SS, I also think he's in a good situation where he has an opportunity to outwork the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart.  He can overtake Moss fairly quickly and get significant PT.

Friday Top 3

• Jurrell Casey, a four star DT from LB Poly, has given SC a "soft verbal":

“I have pretty much given USC a soft verbal,” Casey said.  “I haven’t made an official commitment yet because me and my boy, Vaughn Telemaque (safety), want to commit at the same time.  We’re planning on doing it as soon as school is over, in early summer.”

• Frank Coyle of DraftInsiders.com rates Steve Smith #3 on his "Top 10 Underrated Players" list for the NFL Draft:

3. Steve Smith, WR, Southern California
- Fast, big-play receiver combines prototypical numbers with fine production. This guy made nice progress over his career despite playing a supporting role opposite Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams. He has the burst of speed to separate in the deep game. He also has the size and toughness to go over the middle. He carries a definite starting NFL grade and could be one of the real sleepers with big play ability. He has moved up quickly and could go in the top 50 selections despite receiving little fanfare during his college career.

• Some 40 times from Scott Wolf's blog:

Jamere Holland 4.3
Vidal Hazelton 4.5
Patrick Turner 4.5
Stafon Johnson 4.51
Note: We also hear that Taylor Mays was clocked at 4.25 in addition to 4.28

I have a hard time believing Mays ran a sub-4.3.  If the times are even close to true, the kid will be a top 7 pick when he enters the draft.  That is simply scary...

Monday Top 3

• Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are out to downplay the USC WR jinx:

Adds Jarrett: "It's unfortunate it didn't work out the way he wanted, but his situation is totally different from mine. We have to let everyone know that is a myth about USC receivers. We can break the curse with a good rookie year."

• Nice article on DJ's life growing up:

"He said to me: "Ma, can you believe it? You're not going to need, you're never going to want for anything ever again,' " Camille recalled this week. "I think all those emotions came out because he knew in his heart that from the time when he told me he was going to play professional ball, when he was 7, to now, it's finally here.

• USC basketball recruits shined at the Kingwood Classic this weekend:  Brandon Jennings, Angelo Johnson, and Demar DeRozan all led their respective squads in scoring.

Tuesday Top 3

• Here's a seven-round NFL mock draft from Tom Marino of Scout.com.  Tom has Dwayne Jarrett as a 1st round 30th pick, Steve Smith as a 2nd round 41st pick, Ryan Kalil as a 2nd round 46th pick, and Dallas Sartz as a 5th round 147th pick.   

• Sam Baker and Keith Rivers were named to the Playboy All-American team. 

• Nice to see Steve Smith getting some attention.  Interesting little tidbit:

It's another great receiver who Smith tries to emulate. That would be Jerry Rice, who is part of the agency that represents Smith. Rice's visit to the Smith home helped convince him to sign with his current agency and agent Ralph Cindrich.

Rice, in fact, was the one who pushed Cindrich to make a run at Smith.

"He told me he's the guy he really liked," Cindrich said.

I think SS will represent well in the pros...