SI’s Austin Murphy makes some observations after an afternoon at USC practice:

…[Mark] Sanchez, a 6-4, 215-pounder who is scary good. Sanchez has an inch and 20 or so pounds on Booty, and a little more on his fastball. His release is so quick, it’s a blur.

A big, bruising tailback with a gliding, upright, Dickerson-like carriage, punishing the Trojans’ starting defense. The mystery back was none other than Darnell Bing, the starting strong safety, who averaged 12.5 yards per carry as a tailback at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High, where he played both ways.

…the Trojans haven’t gotten the inside push they came to take for granted last season from Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody… But defensive tackles Sedrick Ellis and LaJuan Ramsay have come on strong in the second half of the season.

Preparing for battle [SI.com]