USC OT Tyron Smith making an impression

September 4th, 2008, 8:38 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006

To some respect, this has been the week of the freshmen and the reserves.

“They can move themselves up in the eyes of the coaches and the depth chart,” Carroll said. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

So far freshman left tackle Tyron Smith seems to have caught Carroll’s attention.

“I think he’s as special as anybody we’ve had, physically, at his spot,” Carroll said. “He’s got amazing strength an unbelievable reach and length. And he’s got really good feet. Very flexible. Big guys usually can’t bend and get real low.”

Carroll said he has played Smith alongside left guard Jeff Byers, hoping that the senior captain will help Smith learn his position.

“Jeff’s telling him what to do,” Carroll said. “There’s too much for a young guy to know. (Smith’s) misses some footwork. He’s not quite ready yet.”

Smith’s expanded role in practice has led to Charles Brown splitting time with Butch Lewis at right tackle. This after Brown had 16 knockdowns against Virginia.

“He’s kind of wondering, I had a pretty good game,” Carroll said of Brown. “But we’re just trying to see the next guy and see how far he can take it. That’s the way it is.”

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