Halfway through Cal week, the Trojans are fired up and working to win another game at the line of scrimmage.
- Things are looking positive on the injury front for USC with WRs Darreus Rogers (hamstring) and Steven Mitchell Jr. (ankle) increasing their workloads in practice as Saturday approaches. LT Chad Wheeler (concussion) is completely healthy as are John Plattenburg and Michael Hutchings who were out last week with the flu.
- The focus all week, according to interim head coach Clay Helton, is turnovers and third down performance on both sides of the ball, two things that will be incredibly important against a Cal team that ranks first in the Pac-12 in turnovers gained and fourth in total offense. The team worked extensively on individual and unit pass rush techniques on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
- As Helton's responsibilities have transitioned, the interim head coach has increased his time spent with the defensive line, something he feels is incredibly important for the success of the team for the duration of the season. "Being an offensive coordinator and an offensive line coach's son, you pick things up. I just want them to feel the intensity and passion I have for that group. For us to win a championship, it's going to be won in the trenches. It was last week and that's our belief here."
- After a visit from former All-American Robert Woods yesterday, the wide receiving corps was boosted by the presence of another legendary USC wideout, Keyshawn Johnson, at Wednesday's practice. Helton was quick to include sophomore phenom JuJu Smith-Schuster in the growing list of all-time greats at the position. "All the great ones treat every day like a game. They don't have a third or fourth gear, they're always practicing in fifth gear. [JuJu] is one of those guys that every time he walks out here it's a game to him and he's really trying to perfect his game."
- Another player consistently making his presence known on offense is freshman Ronald Jones II, the Trojans' current leader in rushing and potentially the second freshman to ever lead USC in rushing if the trend continues through the rest of the season. His 15 carries against Utah were a career-high and not an anomaly according to the interim head coach. "As you produce and you put great stuff on film, your roll increases. That's just the nature of football," said Helton. "Earlier in the season he was trying to become a better complete player - learning pass protection, learning how to be a receiver out of the backfield, being an assignment runner - and he's starting to do that. As he produces like he does, his role is going to increase."
- According to the running back himself, Jones still has work to do to become the player he'd like to be remembered as at USC. "It's a great feeling," the freshman replied when told that he may join LenDale White as the only freshman to lead USC in rushing in a single season. "But at the end of the day it doesn't really mean much. We have to win all together. I still have some areas to work on like my fumble on Saturday and just being versatile - like pass blocking and catching."
- Jones isn't the only freshman turning heads early in his USC career. LB Cam Smith, Saturday night's hero, currently leads USC with 62 tackles while Iman Marshall has evolved into what Helton described as a "premier corner in our conference".
- "I think our youth and talent is what shines so brightly here at USC," the interim head coach added. "I think there is a tremendous future at this university because of the young talent and the numbers as they continue to increase."
- Marshall will be just one of a handful of young members of the USC secondary to square off this weekend against talented Cal QB Jared Goff who was described by USC defensive backs coach Keith Heyward as "fearless when throwing the ball" as well as a "really accurate thrower".
- Part of stopping the second-leading passer in the conference includes being physical when making plays on the ball in the secondary. Despite two pass interference calls on Marshall against Utah, Helton says he wants his corner to continue his aggressive style of play. "I don't want him to be less physical. He's so big and strong, he's an absolute weapon. You can look at 60 other plays where they're just not going to his side because he's dominating the wide receiver. I don't want to take that part of his game away."
- Here is Helton after practice on USC's offensive identity and more...
