- Interim head coach Ed Orgeron ruled OLB Morgan Breslin, CB Anthony Brown and TE Randall Telfer OUT for this Friday's game at Oregon State. TE Xavier Grimble, RT Kevin Graf, S Su'a Cravens, TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick and WR Marqise Lee are listed as questionable.
- Given the physical toll that this limited roster has had to endure, Orgeron is taking it relatively easy on them this week with only one tough practice coming up tomorrow. "I want them to be ready to go on Friday, so I chose not to come out in pads today, and have a very light week."
- While he is still on the injury report, Grimble expects to play Friday. He has been battling shoulder and ankle injuries. "The way I am feeling today, I should be out there," he said.
- In his stead, OL Nathan Geurtler was playing tight end as well as walk-on Chris Willson. Guertler wore Telfer's No. 82. "We gotta find a new number for Nate," Grimble joked. "It was great for him to fill-in. We definitely needed the help."
- The offensive line was forced to shuffle around when Graf went out, and Orgeron expects the same five to start Friday night. If Graf cannot go, here is the starting offensive line: RT Max Tuerk, RG John Martinez, C Marcus Martin, LG Aundrey Walker and LT Chad Wheeler.
- While the line might be in flux, Orgeron wants to see them pick it up in pass protection. He said that QB Cody Kessler took too many hits against Utah.
- Senior WR De'Von Flournoy was waiting his whole career for a game like last Saturday. Not just because he made a big 31-yard catch-and-run, but he got his own locker at the Coliseum for the first time. "That was a first," he said with a big smile. "It felt great not to be elbowing the guy next to me. I took it all in for once."
- While Flournoy has not produced as much as some of his younger teammates, he is the go-to guy in terms of knowing the playbook. "The guys hit me up a lot. It feels good to know that they confide in me as a veteran."
- The Trojans have not won a game in Corvallis since the 2004 escape in the fog. "It is a great football atmosphere. Besides the cold weather, the fans are in your face," said Flournoy, one of the few players to have played at Reser Stadium on this roster. "They have always had a great team, a great group of guys that are ready to give USC their best effort.
- Orgeron piped the chainsaw sound effect into practice to mimic the Beavers favorite in-stadium celebration. In general, he wants to make some improvements to USC's approach to road games. "We're going to address it," he said. "Maybe the crowd effected us, maybe it didn't, but I am going to do a better job as a head coach of assimilating some of that in practice."
- Orgeron has great respect for Beavers head coach Mike Riley. He also complimented Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks, who is a threat as a punt returner as well. Here is everything from Orgeron...
