Cal Thursday: Notes

The Trojans hit the field for their last practice before they travel up to Berkeley for the first road game of the season against Cal.

USC head coach Clay Helton said the injury report is nearly the same as Tuesday's, except that DL Rasheem Green and CB Ajene Harris both practiced and "looked good."

With Ajene Harris banged up, Deontay Burnett, Jack Jones and Trevon Sidney got some reps at punt returner. "Obviously if Ajene is healthy and well and feeling good, we would go with him. He is our punt returner, but we practiced the other three kids and if we have to make that decision, I'll lean on Bax and see which way he wants to go," said Helton.

Helton emphasized that redshirt freshman Tyler Vaughns "took tremendous strides forward" and is starting to feel more comfortable. "As a quarterback when you're in overtime and you decide to pull the trigger to a redshirt freshman, to Tyler, that means you've built that chemistry and that relationship that's needed in that critical situation. I thought that was a big step for both quarterback and wideout moving forward," said Helton.

The first road game of the season brings a different environment and a different mindset, but Helton is confident sticking to his plan. "You pack your run game, you pack your run defense, you play great special teams and win the turnover battle and that's usually your road plan," said Helton. "There is a mentality that, I think, you have to take into that game, to not let the outside distractions come in and you focus on executing a plan."

Helton praised the offense on their balance between the run game and pass game. "If you commit to stopping the run, you have to be able to throw the ball. If you look up and you're having a limited number of rushing yards and you're only throwing for 152 or 200 yards passing, that's a long day, but there has got to be a compliment between the two," said Helton. "If you decide that you are going to take the run away, that means wideouts and quarterbacks have to execute, perimeter stuff has to execute and then be efficient on third and short, still with that run game."

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