The Trojans had no time to suffer a case of the Mondays, hitting the field hard today to prepare for Cal on Thursday.
- Injury report, per head coach Clay Helton: DB Ajene Harris and S Leon McQuay III practiced today and are expected to play, while RB Justin Davis did not practice and is less than 50/50 to play on Thursday.
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Helton said the team focused on two major things today: containing Cal QB Davis Webb's deep threat ability and third down efficiency on defense.
- "There's not gonna be too many overthrows or missed throws with this guy," Helton said of Webb. "He's an elite talent." Indeed, Webb is second in the nation with 27 pass TD and third in the nation with 368.7 pass YPG.
- While USC is well-rested after its bye week, Cal is coming off a grueling 2OT win over Oregon on Friday. LB Michael Hutchings (pictured) said he thinks that Cal's short week gave the Trojans a two-day advantage in preparation. "We have had a chance to get up ahead of them mentally and game plan wise and schematically," he said. "So hopefully that pays off --- the extra hours we put in the film room and getting a chance to watch them this week."
- Hutchings echoed Helton's emphasis on third down, considering the Bears' tempo (Cal's 89.6 plays per game ranks second in the nation). "They just set an NCAA record for plays in a game," Hutchings noted. "When you're dealing with an explosive team like that and a quarterback like that, it's just something you have to be ahead on."
- LB Quinton Powell offered two simple keys to stopping Cal's high-powered offense: "Physicality and running to the ball."
- CB-WR-RET Adoree' Jackson has been known to run to the ball this season, and Helton mentioned he might see more opportunities on offense going forward. "We bring his package into the game every week," Helton said. "If you can get it to where he's not tired, he's capable of coming over and helping you and they're not kicking it to him, you want to get it in his hands somehow, some way."
- Should Jackson get the ball in his hands on a kickoff return, he has the chance to break USC's career kickoff return yardage record on Thursday. He is currently tied with Curtis Conway, with 1,723 yards.
- Here is Helton's full press conference:
