LOS ANGELES — The first touchdown Ronald Jones ran for last season was a quick dash.
Jones grabbed a handoff from quarterback Cody Kessler, kept right, split a hole between guard Max Tuerk and tackle Zach Banner and carried himself along the sideline untouched.
As he crossed the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown, there was clarity just 40 minutes into the season opener against Arkansas State: USC had speed in its backfield.
After a historic season in which Jones rushed for school freshman-best 987 yards, that is no longer enough — at least not for running backs coach Tommie Robinson.