O/NSO: Springing towards a defensive rebuild - a position by position, player by player edition

The Obvious: The USC Trojans defense, under new coordinator Alex Grinch, completes its first full week of spring practice on Saturday morning with plenty of challenges in remaking the defensive line, both inside and outside linebackers positions, replacing most if not all of the former starting secondary, and finding out in total who can and cannot play in the new system. The Not So Obvious: With spring practice still in its early initial stages, Saturday's workout will also break out the pads to go along with helmets. Grinch - and the entire coaching staff on both sides of the ball - will finally get their first sense of the current level of roster physicality or lack of it. However, before the initial "hitting" begins, the O/NSO takes a defensive look position-by-position, player-by-player at what figures to be a major rebuilding job. So, let’s get right to it and scrutinize the defensive candidates and our spring predictions.