- The main practice field is being resodded, so the team practiced on the turf inside the track stadium (Cromwell Field) and the auxiliary field inside Howard Jones and Brian Kennedy.
- WR Kyle Prater is in a walking boot and RB George Farmer left practice early with ice on his ankle.
- Otherwise, Lane Kiffin is hoping LB Lamar Dawson and CB Torin Harris return to health after this week off to create competition and depth at their respective positions.
- The bye week seems to be coming at the right time. "It's great timing for a lot of players to get healthy and get rested up," Matt Barkley said.
- Kiffin is going to take a training camp approach to this week. "You have two choices in a bye," he explained. "You can sit around, take it easy and work on a few things...or you can get better and really work hard."
- The bye week also gives the coaches time to work on solving the defensive issues that cropped up the last two weeks. "We spent all the 7-on-7 and team down in the red zone today," the head coach has harped on forcing more field goals in that area.
- However, Kiffin is putting the defensive struggles in perspective of the opponent faced. "We've got to be careful that we're not overreacting to a game or two. It wasn't too many weeks ago that the defense was winning games for us and the offense wasn't doing their part."
- The evolution of Pac-12 offenses has forced USC to up the aerobic conditioning program and use more players defensively. "Now that everybody is spread out...you've got to play more defensive linemen because the ball gets thrown all over the place and they're turning and running all the time," Kiffin said that the defensive linemen used to play nearly every snap 10 years ago.
- On special teams, the Trojans are vastly improved in the kicking game from last season. Andre Heidari (photo by John McGillen) has made his last five field goals. "Coach Kiffin has a little faith in me now," Heidari said. "We're just building that bond together and it's going to be good in four years."
- Heidari has been working with special teams coach John Baxter on his kickoffs. He did not have a touchback in the first three games, but he has four touchbacks in the last two games.
- Kevin Graf's starting role was under siege last week, but he and his mates pitched a sack free shutout against Arizona. "Just because there's no sacks doesn't mean my technique was perfect," Graf said. "You're always competing."
- Marqise Lee made another eye-popping TD catch today, which brought a sideline explosion. He's so athletically gifted that even his teammates seem stunned by the things he can do.
- Bye weeks are good for young players to make an impression. Kiffin noted that QB Max Wittek stood out today.
- Here is Kiffin in his entirety...
University Southern California Trojans
Bye Week Tuesday: Notes
October 01, 2011 | USC Ripsit Blog
Bye Week Tuesday: Notes
The Trojans get back at it on a wet Tuesday morning...
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
Monday, July 06
