With only nine days to go until the Trojans kick off the season against Hawaii, the team continues to battle injuries and the grind of Fall Camp.
- Today was another great day for the defense who forced several turnovers under center and were applauded by Coach Kiffin as going after the ball and pushing the tempo of practice.
- Just a couple days after Kiffin commented on the return of many players from injury as "moving in the right direction", the number of players sitting out grew yet again. Twenty-one players did not practice today including Aundrey Walker who is out with an unspecified injury. "It's very concerning for us," said Kiffin. "We're going in the wrong direction."
- Silas Redd is amongst those who are still very limited in practice. With just over a week until opening day, Kiffin said he isn't convinced Redd will be ready to go but is hopeful he can make his return in time.
- With both Redd and D.J. Morgan missing large amounts of practice so far this camp, the biggest concern surrounding the backfield is lack of experience. "You've gotta play," said Kiffin. "These guys have been missing so much time, it's obviously a big concern for us. D.J. and Silas have been unable to play and the other guys don't have game experience."
- Kiffin said it's been very difficult to evaluate the overall success of Fall Camp with so many injuries. "The massive amounts of people not practicing, getting up to 20 guys not practicing at all, obviously we didn't plan for that to happen. But we are physical team."
- As for the final practice tomorrow, Kiffin said it will be a no-tackle, organizationally-focused scrimmage. The team will be divided in a game-like scenario with ones and twos from offense, defense, and special teams on one sideline. As it will not be a physical scrimmage, the team will have the opportunity to work rotations, substitutions, and sideline communication.
- While the scrimmage will lack the same level of physicality as seen in previous weeks, Kiffin said there will still be opportunities to evaluate the quarterbacks. The focus on organization will require both Wittek and Kessler to command the huddle, control the offense, and make in-game decisions.
