On USC and JBD (John David Booty)

USC coach Pete Carroll, a former Vikings assistant, talked during the course of the NFL draft with Star Tribune writers Sid Hartman, Judd Zulgad and Mark Craig. Here are highlights from their conversations:

On John David Booty adapting to pro football: "He's been taught by pro coaches, and the [USC] system is as close as you can get to what everybody else is doing. They're not going to do anything more complicated than what we've done, so he understands coverage principles and all that kind of stuff. So I think he's going to fit in fine. It's just a matter of getting the rhythm and the system down and make sure that he's got his reads right and all of that. He'll have a normal learning curve for a young quarterback coming in with a lot of background. It shouldn't be too big for him."

On Booty's leadership skills: "Two-time captain at SC, that's a big deal. Not too many guys have been two-time captains before. He was actually chosen captain by his teammates his junior year before he had ever played a game, so they already took to him. Hard-working, dedicated ... He's all of the right stuff."

On comparing Booty to former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart: "He’s an extraordinary throws, he’s really got tremendous natural accuracy. The reason he came to SC is he watched Matt Leinart and Matt Cassel battle it out in spring football when he was still in high school and he said, 'Shoot, I can throw better than those guys.’ He was right. At that time he was more accurate and just has a natural way of moving the ball around. Whether he’s in the pocket or he’s on the move or off play-action stuff. He’s a tremendous passer. So, he’s going to fit beautifully. You can’t expect John to do a lot of running around, that’s not his style, he’s a classic NFL pocket guy. He won’t have any trouble with the system or picking things up or being able to throw the throws they want to throw.”

On becoming an understudy with the Vikings: "He had to do it for a couple of years behind Leinart, so he's been in that role before until he waited his time. He was very patient and very focused and tuned in. His brothers played in the league some, and he just knows. He understands how this all works. He'll compete like crazy but he'll understand, too. So I think he's a great guy for you to get."

On Booty not being drafted until the fifth round: "It happens where it happens. After a number of quarterbacks went I’m sure teams weren’t just looking for a QB, but that really doesn’t matter and John knows that too. It’s what you do with the opportunity that you get. John’s revved up and ready to go. I saw the interview (with ESPN) where he said he was hoping that it would happen with Minnesota. So that’s a great deal for both sides.”