Pac-12 After Spring: USC coach Clay Helton

Spring football is over. Real football is still far, far away.

To help bridge the gap, we’re checking in on Arizona’s competition in the Pac-12 – running some of the best comments from the league’s coaches after their recent participation in a conference call to wrap up spring ball.

Today’s Q&A is with USC coach Clay Helton, who has a quarterback situation to sort out and the toughest Week 1 opponent imaginable.

We’ll wrap up the series next week with Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, Washington’s Chris Petersen and Washington State’s Mike Leach.

But first, here’s Helton:

(on the biggest surprises of spring camp)

“Really two surprises. I really liked how the offensive-line unit came together and how much progress they made over 15 practices. Having two senior tackles (Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler) and three junior interior players (Toa Lobendahn, Damien Mama and Viane Talamaivao), I was hoping for those guys to gel under a new offensive-line coach who I think does a tremendous job in Neil Callaway. I was not anticipating how much progress they did make. By the end of camp, I thought they were as functional as they’ve been since we’ve been here, over the last six years.

“The other is probably how competitive the quarterback battle has been and how well both quarterbacks played. Between Max (Browne) and Sam (Darnold), and even Jalen (Greene), how he progressed, and Matt (Fink), just to see those kids play – I did not (anticipate) the level of play and competitiveness those kids brought to the table. I was not expecting that. I was anticipating a real good quarterback in Max Browne that had four camps under his belt to have a bigger gap. That’s what happens when you sign the best of the best, when they’re all competing together. It turns into a heck of a competition.”

(on rebuilding the defensive line)

“Probably our thinnest position right now, just to be honest with you. We had a very healthy spring with the exception of one spot, which was the defensive line with Kenny Bigelow, who was kind of our elder statesman and our leader on that front (suffering a season-ending torn ACL). To lose him really hurt us.

“We’re talented, but we’re young at the position. It reminds me a lot of when Damien, Viane and Toa came in (in 2014). You knew that you were going to go through some growing pains, (but) you would look up in a year or so and those guys would be ready. The problem is, they’ve got to be ready now (on the defensive line). We’re going to have to play above our head right now at that position.”

(on how often he mentions opening-week foe Alabama)

“As a coach, I try to focus just on us getting better. We made it all about ball (in spring), worried about fundamentals, technique, physicality, toughness – those qualities that we believe are going to win a championship.

“I’m not naïve. I know this game is special to our players. You could even hear them mention it: ‘Hey, that’s not good enough. That’s not going to beat Alabama.’ They know how special this game is, the tradition behind it.

“I don’t sell it as a coach, but these kids are smart enough to know that it’s a big game, it’s the opening game and it’s a game for them to be able to prove where they’re at, and they’re taking it to heart.”

Part 1: Arizona State coach Todd Graham

Part 2: Cal coach Sonny Dykes

Part 3: Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre

Part 4: Oregon coach Mark Helfrich

Part 5: Oregon State coach Gary Andersen

Part 6: Stanford coach David Shaw

Part 7: UCLA coach Jim Mora