USC begins spring football practice Tuesday at 4:00 pm. Players have been working hard in the weight room the last few months and are ready to get on the field. There are several things I will be looking at this spring. Most people talk about a QB controversy. I don’t see it unless Stephen Garcia goes backward.

Garcia is one of the better QBs in the SEC in my opinion. I know he had a bad first half in the bowl game but he played a lot better in the second half. The protection in the first half was not all that great and they may have had a little something to do with him being off. The first few years he was here the offensive line was downright bad. Almost as bad as when Anthony Wright was here trying to play QB while running for his life. If Garcia is pushed during spring practice it will only make him and the team better.

I am more concerned with the defensive backfield. They took a few steps backwards last year. Seemed like one player or another was always out of position. The safety’s did not play very well. USC must have improvement with the DBs to win the SEC Championship.

The offensive line competition should be good this spring also. I want to see some of the redshirts from last year in action. Of course everyone is looking forward to the fall when the freshmen linemen arrive.

We do need to find some receivers to compliment Alshon Jeffery. It will be interesting to see who steps up during the spring.

I look forward to seeing some good spring football although I leave for a week of Major League spring training on Saturday. When I return I don’t think I will return to QB controversity. The job is Garcia’s to lose and I don’t see it happening.