Bentley, McIlwain going forward, Muschamp says

Will Muschamp held his weekly teleconference on Sunday night. The highlights:

- As a team, looking back at the film Muschamp felt like they started well and converted a critical third down. Four of the first six possessions, USC scored. 50 percent on third down, which is an improvement. With 4:25 in the game, UMass didn't take another snap.

- Defensively, USC gained four turnovers and had a fourth down stop. - Muschamp said they addressed it, it was 27-7 late in the second quarter and the team busted a coverage which had not happened all season.

- Muschamp recapped several mistakes that USC made that made the game closer than it could have been. There were numerous situations in which USC could get off the field on third down and did not do it. It was frustrating, Muschamp said, but it was the first time USC had scored 34 since 2014. Muschamp feels they lost mental intensity, making mistakes, dropping an extra point snap, etc.

- Still one of seven teams in the country to not allow 30 points in a game, so they did some things right, he said.

- Deebo Samuel was offensive player of the game and OL was Cory Helms. No player of the game defensively, didn't have enough production, Muschamp said. Special teams - DJ Wonnum was the player of the game for his work on kickoff coverage and return.

- Muschamp said Tennessee went through one of the toughest four-game stretches that he's seen in the league.

- As for Bentley, Muschamp said there were some communication issues that could be handled better with signals and things; cleaning those things up. There were a couple intermediate balls in which the windows were not cleared. It's something USC will work through and continue to develop and he'll improve with more snaps.

- The game is moving at a much faster pace for Brandon McIlwain and Jake Bentley and that will continue against Tennessee. They can't ask them to do to much and have to play to their strengths.

- It's Jake Bentley and Brandon McIlwain from here on out, Muschamp said. Those two guys give us the best opportunity. Both of them do things well and that's how they'll continue to rep. Perry Orth has been great supporting the guys on the sideline and is a great teammate and young man. Muschamp has the utmost respect for him and he's a valuable member of the organization.

- Muschamp recapped Jake Bentley's recruiting process, saying he took multiple visits and after he committed, the topic was broached of Bentley potentially skipping his senior season. Bentley had completed everything he needed for college by his junior year. USC cleared him after about a month-long process. He walked on in the summer and in August, USC put him on scholarship. The conversation all started because the Bentleys wanted to be together and everyone else from the family was moving to South Carolina to be with Bobby. - Command was the first thing that stood out about Jake Bentley to Muschamp, he said. He had arm talent and a competitive edge.

- Donell Stanley practiced today. He should be ready to go for Tennessee. He gets movement at 330 pounds and one of their base runs is the inside zone. He's a guy that gives USC some girth and athleticism is inside.

- There were no serious injuries from the UMass game. Dreak Davis is out for this week again. Rashad Fenton had some hamstring tightness but he's fine and Rico Dowdle banged up his shoulder but he's fine as well.

- Assignment-wise, Cory Helms played well and also had some nice pulls and kick-out blocks. They were pleased with how he played Saturday. Muschamp said the staff will meet on how to handle the personnel with Stanley's return tonight and tomorrow.

- Larenz Bryant was solid, Muschamp said. In regular personnel, Muschamp said they don't see a lot of it. It's Vanderbilt and UGA, and everyone else USC plays a lot of nickel formation and sub-packages. The defense didn't play as well as they should have situationally, Muschamp said.

- Game-planning for Tennessee and Joshua Dobbs - Muschamp said they're very explosive and they get the ball to their playmakers. Lots of respect for Josh Dobbs, he said. Hurd will through you and is competitive. WR Tyler Byrd was committed to Muschamp at Florida for a while. Lots of talent on the perimeter.

- Muschamp said he "had a heart attack" when he saw Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes threw for over 700 yards last night. Said he can run it and through it and is a competitor. Muschamp explained that when you mix two tempo teams, you have a chance to get more points and bigger plays. Defensively, the hardest thing to deal with is facing teams that are equally effective from spread sets to run and throw it. Each week, you have to prepare for something totally different. What USC prepared for against UMass was completely opposite of what they do all year. Offensively, you have to figure out matchups and how to block different fronts. But you run your scheme each week offensively - defensively you have to match up against vastly different teams. Back in 1985, you saw the same things over and over, Muschamp said.

- Muschamp said he'd let his offense go that fast if you let him know his offense could score 70 points. Said you have to get first downs, though, and USC has not been good on third down. The team wants to go faster. But against A&M for example, USC slowed the game down - couldn't get in a shooting match against them.

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