- USC put the shoulder pads on for the first time, which upped the physicality of practice. As a result, several Trojans visited the trainers, including freshman DL Noah Jefferson, who hyperextended his elbow, and freshman RB-WR Domonic Davis, who landed hard on his lower back after leaping in the air to try to make a catch.
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Along with bumps and bruises, mental fatigue led to more mistakes on day three. "Collisions can cause fatigue similar to running," explained head coach Steve Sarkisian. "With fatigue came a little bit of distraction and with distraction came a few more mistakes." - The offense won the "finish challenge" as Cody Kessler hit RB Tre Madden for a touchdown. Sarkisian craves versatility from his backs, so he was pleased to see Madden and FB Soma Vainuku, who made a great TD catch on a wheel route, impact the passing game.
- The safety spot is a major storyline of Fall Camp as an inexperienced group sorts out its roles. Sophomore John Plattenburg, who missed today's practice with a hip pointer, is expected to be a key contributor, and Holiday Bowl hero Leon McQuay is also running with the ones. Several highly-touted freshmen are hoping to climb the depth chart. "I think all of them are in a battle right now," said defensive backs coach Keith Heyward. "Nothing is guaranteed. The new guys are playing pretty good. As we get going, because the number of reps for each guy decreases, the competition in those reps increases. The reps each guy gets become more important, and we're really going to see who is disciplined."
- Sarkisian said that freshman CB Iman "Biggie" Marshall (pictured) had his best practice of Fall Camp because he was able to play his game in shoulder pads. "Iman is just so physical," said Heyward. "He has that swagger and he's strong at the point of attack."
- Redshirt senior Cody Temple is working with the first team defensive line at defensive end after playing nose tackle behind Antwaun Woods last season. "I appreciate the opportunity the coaches are giving me. I've been, as we all know, dealing with a bunch of injuries my entire career," said Temple, who is taking yoga to improve his flexibility and quickness. "I really feel like it is benefiting me out here when it comes to one-on-ones and pass rush being a little more explosive out of my hips."
- Temple now has to face USC's "big, 6-foot-9 Jurassic Park" tackles, but he learned a lot battling head-to-head with center Max Tuerk during the spring when Woods was out with an injury. "Me going up against Max every day made me better," said Temple. "I may have weighed more than him. I may be stronger in the weight room at points, but when it comes to technique and effort, which is what we all emphasize out here on the field, that man always gives it."
- While Tuerk has center locked down, Toa Lobendahn started in place of Viane Talamaivao (hamstring) today at right guard. The sophomore's versatility makes him invaluable to the coaches. "He's so unique," said Sarkisian about Lobendahn. "Honestly, we could put him at center too. He's a very gifted guy. He's got a really high football IQ, a really versatile frame and an athletic build to him that he can go do all those things. That's the luxury of having a guy like that and that's the luxury of having depth on the offensive line."
- Lobendahn did have to adjust to playing on the right side of the offensive line after a year on the left. "You have to feel your stance different, your vision is way different because most of the time I'm looking one way and now I'm looking to the right most of the time. You just have to keep the same mindset that you do on the left side, but it's the basically opposite on the other side."
- Tuesday and Wednesday's practices were moved to 5:30 p.m., and both are open to the public. Here is Sarkisian after practice today:
