2018 ASU Tuesday: Notes

The USC offense is searching for consistency while trying to adapt to new pieces.

Here is today's injury report, per head coach Clay Helton: CB Olaijah Griffin (limited - shoulder), CB Jonathan Lockett (returned - hip), LB Cameron Smith (held - hamstring), QB JT Daniels (held - concussion protocol), QB Matt Fink (held - rib fracture), RB Aca'Cedric Ware (limited - shoulder) and OL Jacob Daniel (held - knee).

Senior CB Ajene Harris, whose father passed away on the Friday before the Utah game, missed practice today so he could spend time with his family.

Daniels was at practice but did not actively participate as he goes through concussion protocol. If he passes all the tests, he could return in time to start on Saturday, but Helton's philosophy is to "assume nothing and plan for everything," so the coaches are getting Jack Sears ready to start. "We'll prepare like Jack's the starter, and if JT is able to come back and be ready, we'll have it ready for him," Helton said.

Sears is being forced to cram for Saturday's potential test. "Being the third-string guy, he didn't get a ton of reps the last couple of weeks, but we've got five practices to get him ready to play, and we'll see where we're at on Saturday," QB coach Bryan Ellis said.

While Daniels could return and reclaim his starting spot, Sears is not thinking about anything other than the game plan. "I'm just controlling what I can control," he said. "Going out there, getting reps now, and preparing as if I'm gonna be the starter on Saturday, and that's all I can do."

Like Fink, Sears could energize the offense by being a second running threat in the backfield. "He's really athletic," Ellis said. "We'll have to move him around a little bit. He's got a really strong arm. He had a great fall camp. It wasn't necessarily his fault that he was named the third string guy, we just happen to have some talented quarterbacks on our roster. He's got the talent. I've got no doubt in my mind that we can win a football game with Jack Sears, and that's what we plan to do on Saturday."

Sears cannot do it alone, so the pressure will be on the offensive line to improve after a rough night in Salt Lake City. "Gotta be able to run the ball when there's six in the box," OC Tee Martin said. "Utah did a good job of winning man-to-man matchups. That's something that we challenged them yesterday, challenged them after the game, challenged them today, challenged them to improve in those areas."

Junior WR Michael Pittman Jr. is a huge help to any quarterback. "He's doing a good job versus man-to-man," Martin said about Pittman. "Actually two men on one sometimes. Give him credit, he's playing lights out. Playing his best football. If you get anywhere around him, he's making plays on the ball at a high level."

While the Trojans are undefeated at home under Helton, the head coach warned, "Don't be fooled by the record" of Arizona State. The Sun Devils have been competitive in every game this season.

Sears is not taking ASU lightly, and he would relish the opportunity to compete against them. "It'd be an honor to be the starting quarterback at USC and go out and play in the Coliseum in front of our fans, and compete against a solid ASU team that's playing well right now."

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