USC spring football - talking offensive line in full pads and new player practice incentives

In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and Chris Trevino return to the studio to discuss the first open to the media full-pads spring football practice for the Trojans. After two practices in helmets and jerseys, the USC football team was in full pads for their Saturday (closed) and Tuesday (partially open) workouts. With offensive players and coaches available on Tuesday, the focus moved away from the skill players and honed in on the big guys up front, the offensive line. Head coach Lincoln Riley went in depth about his thoughts on the offensive line, a group with a lot of experience that still has a way to go to learn the new offensive system brought in by Riley and company. We also discuss what offensive line coach Josh Henson had to say about his unit, including who the current starting five players are, and we hear from several of those starters to get their thoughts on adjusting to a new offense.The guys also dive into some of the other topics from USC spring practice like Riley talking about adding double-digit players to the roster after spring football ends. USC currently has 76 players on scholarship and with more defections probable, it gives Riley more room to add players from the NCAA Transfer Portal. Ryan and Chris were each able to talk to a new assistant coach for the first time this spring, interim inside wide receivers coach Luke Huard and tight ends coach Zach Hanson. They also discuss some of the candid comments made by running back Darwin Barlow, comparing the complexity of last year's offensive system to this year's.Lastly the guys share an interesting tidbit they learned from talking to offensive lineman Courtland Ford, a new practice incentive program for USC football players. According to Ford, if a player performs well at practice he will get a "gold plate" for his helmet. We originally thought he meant some sort of helmet sticker system like other programs use, but apparently it is a type of enhancement to the current USC Trojan logo on the side of the player's helmet. The guys talk about breaking away from tradition here and if implementing a system like this would be a positive or a negative.Ryan and Chris will be doing regular podcasts together going forward, so make sure you send in your questions addressed to them at [email protected] review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.