Justin Dedich is USC's New 'Quarterback' of the O-Line
USC had to make a change at center last week after Brett Neilon went down. Enter freshman Justin Dedich, whom offensive line coach Tim Drevno believes has a comparably high ceiling.
The Gist
Dedich will make his first career start Saturday at Cal. His most significant action prior to this week would have been last week when he filled in at right guard, only he then played the final quarter-plus at his natural position after Brett Neilon suffered a calf injury. Neilon, a first-year starter himself, will be out at least the next two weeks, providing the redshirt freshman Dedich a prime opportunity to prove himself. The two competed for the starting job in spring and training camp, where Neilon claimed nearly all of the first-team reps.
Key Quote
“He’s like a quarterback on the field, making all the line calls," offensive line coach Tim Drevno said. "That defense we faced last week against Arizona State, there was a lot of multiple and problematic looks that they gave us. That’s a tough job to come off the bench on. Plus, so many teams now play these odd fronts where they got the 300-pound guy that’s blowing snot bubbles right down your face. You got to make a call and you’re like, can I really see through that body to what the front is?
"It’s a really cherished position. It’s a very, very important position. Usually you want the smartest guy at that position, and Justin brings that.”
X Factor
A change at the center position doesn’t always make for the cleanest transition. As Drevno illustrated, it’s certainly not a simple one. One concern he expressed is the snap count, particularly when the defensive front changes. Dedich has taken few reps with the fellow first-team linemen, but he has worked quite a bit with Kedon Slovis, as the two were on the second team together for most of August.
Drevno added that he felt Neilon and Dedich were always close in competition, noting that Neilon was a bit more prepared after an added year of experience allowed him to see more defenses. But he likes a lot about Dedich, including how he sets anchor in pass protection, moves his feet, and gets his hat on landmarks at the second level, and, most importantly, identifying fronts. The operation takes on extra significance when considering last year’s 15-14 loss to Cal was decided in part because of a bad snap.
-- Adam Maya is a USC graduate and has been covering the Trojans since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @AdamJMaya.
