Cal Wednesday: Notes

The No. 5 Trojans hit the practice field on Wednesday to prepare for their first road game of the 2017 season.

USC head coach Clay Helton said the injury report remains nearly identical to yesterday's, except that senior LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) got "significant work" today.

With so many defensive starters banged up this week, USC's second unit is putting extra work in to prepare. LB Porter Gustin's injuries have given Connor Murphy (pictured) a chance to step up, which he's embraced over the last week. "I definitely watched a little bit more film than I usually do, but I just need to keep on taking that approach even if I'm starting or not starting," Murphy said. It's time to get serious now."

DL Christian Rector laid the blueprint for USC's subs on how to make the most of their opportunities last game, with 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery against Texas. "I just prepared every week," Rector said of the build-up to his big game. "You never know when your time's going to be up, and my number was called, and I knew I was prepared and I was confident in myself. I think it showed."

Rector and Murphy may see increased reps on Saturday, which will be USC's first road game of the season. "I've heard a lot of guys just say in the locker room, 'Man, I want to put that white jersey on and go on to someone else's home,'" said Murphy. "So we're all excited about it.'"

Helton blasted crowd noise at practice today to prepare his team for the adverse situations it will face on the road. "The fear is, you're bringing some young people -- some redshirt freshmen and freshmen in for the first time, that have got to learn that transition," Helton said. "All of the sudden, you're in a new stadium, a new locker room ... It changes things."

USC's senior leaders, like safety Chris Hawkins, will be key in helping prepare the team for its first road test. Hawkins has spent extra time in the film room this week, and seems to have Cal's offense, which he called the "Bear Raid," figured out. "I'm expecting them to come out, hit us with a quick gain, get the ball out of the quarterback's hand real fast," he said. "We've got some guys up front that can really get up in their o-line. I wouldn't expect them to sit back and throw deep shots … I expect everything to be nice and quick: screens, slants, hitches, out routes, anything to get the ball out the QB's hands."

Bears QB Ross Bowers is averaging 266.3 yards per game, with 5 TD and 4 INT in Cal's three wins this season. His 7.1 yards per attempt ranks 74th in the nation.

Cal ranks in the upper half of the Pac-12 in scoring defense (22.0 PPG), so Helton is focusing on USC's red zone efficiency this week, saying "there was still more meat on the bone" in USC's win over Texas.

Helton praised redshirt freshman Tyler Vaughns for his 4 receptions against Texas, but lamented the potential game-winning TD that Vaughns couldn't maintain possession of when he hit the ground. He also said he's looking for WRs Josh Imatorbhebhe, Keyshawn Young and Randal Grimes to carve out roles for themselves as the season progresses.

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