On a pivotal game-tying drive late in the third quarter of USCs 49-31 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, the Trojans offense needed 17 yards for a first down.

So Sam Darnold found Deontay Burnett.

Burnett, who was lined up as the slot receiver, ran almost 15 yards along the right hash marks, draped by a defensive back, until he spotted an opening. Burnett said he then decided to alter his route, drifting over the middle of the field toward a slice of green grass. Darnold spotted him and delivered a throw.

The ball arrived a little low, but the junior receiver dove and scooped it up for a gain of 27 yards on third down. The adjustment on his route mirrored the one he made downfield in the final minutes of the Rose Bowl last January, snagging the tying touchdown.

Any time hes open, Darnold said, he knows when to slow down, knows when to speed up.

In USCs season opener, Darnold showed a continued chemistry with Burnett, who caught a game-high seven passes for 142 yards.

But he otherwise struggled to establish a similar rapport with a bevy of new targets.

Darnold, who completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 289 yards, had four passes dropped and two more intercepted.

Two drops came on third down, one by redshirt freshman Tyler Vaughns when he was running a 10-yard out route in the first quarter and a second by redshirt junior Jalen Greene who was running a quick slant in the second quarter.

Vaughns was among four receivers to make their college debut Saturday, including freshman Joseph Lewis, as well as redshirt freshmen Velus Jones and Trevon Sidney. Greene, a former quarterback, made his first start at receiver.

USC had an almost entirely new cast of receivers in the wake of the departures of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers.

We know theres going to be some growing pains, Coach Clay Helton said Sunday during a teleconference with reporters. Any time that youre dealing with young people, when theyre making their first starts and first experiences, some things are going to go good and some things are not going to go so well. Its a learning experience.

Helton remained complimentary of Darnold, though the third-year sophomore passer and preseason Heisman Trophy favorite was held without a touchdown toss for the first time since his first start at Utah last September. He pointed to Darnolds composure.

He really trusted the guys around him and spread the ball around, Helton said.

Ten players caught passes from Darnold.

Where I was really proud of him, Helton added, was just his poise and his calmness, not to get frustrated when things werent going absolutely perfect.

At times, Darnolds timing with his receivers looked off. One deep throw in the second quarter fell just out of the grasp of Velus Jones, who had run about 30 yards along the right hashmarks and remained a step ahead of a defensive back. But he couldnt catch up to the throw. In other moments, the absence of Smith-Schuster and Rogers was pronounced. Darnold lofted a pass along the sideline toward Greene in the first quarter. Greene tried to reach over the helmet of the defensive back to bring in the pass, but dropped it. It was almost reminiscent of a play Rogers made on a winning drive over Colorado last October, the sequence occurring at almost the identical spot on the Coliseum field.

But Darnold expected improvement in time. Its a new group.

Just continue to get experience in games and practice and well be fine, he said.

Burnett offered a similar assessment.

I feel like the chemistry is there with the receivers, Burnett said. It just takes reps. Everybody is going to step up. Everybody has to step up. Were in good shape.

Quick hits

Tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe was limited to mostly run blocking, Helton said, as he recovers from a sore hip flexor. Freshman safety Bubba Bolden has a bone bruise in his knee, an MRI showed. Safety Chris Hawkins is also day-to-day with an elbow sprain. USC opened as a 5-point favorite over Stanford.

Read the rest here:
Sam Darnold, new USC receivers look to form chemistry after ... - LA Daily News