In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and new USCFootball.com senior staff writer Connor Morrissette were in studio to talking about how this Trojan football team has looked a week and a half into USC fall camp. So far the Trojans have practiced 10 times including their first full pads scrimmage over the weekend. Ryan and Connor talk about what they have seen out on the practice field during the open media windows and what head coach Lincoln Riley and the assistant coaches and players have said following those partially open practices.

The guys start out talking about some of the interesting comments Riley had following Tuesday morning's practice, where he focused on how the defensive depth has improved and there are competitive position battles almost everywhere. He said players that saw plenty of playing time last season now find themselves in a real battle to even get on the field now, showing how much deeper a roster (especially on defense) USC has heading into the 2023 college football season.

Riley also talked about the first scrimmage of camp (closed to the media) and how it was won by the defense, led by the pass rush of the defensive front. Riley said the battles of the offensive and defensive lines have gone back and forth, as have the overall offensive and defensive battles, but over the weekend in the scrimmage it was the defense that won the day led by safety Zion Branch who had a pick-6 and forced a fumble.

Next week is "mock game week" and Riley said it would be critical for guys to put themselves on the radar if they want to play this season. Guys who are playing well next week have a chance separate themselves and earn their spot on the depth chart for the opener against San Jose State.

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