University Southern California Trojans
2019 Holiday Bowl Practice: Notes
December 23, 2019 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
Click the play button above to watch USC head coach Clay Helton discuss the team's prep for the Holiday Bowl.
The Trojans held one final practice before they head to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.
- OL Drew Richmond has a foot sprain and missed practice today. Richmond suffered the foot sprain at practice when his foot got caught up in the turf. "He's had three days of rest on it," head coach Clay Helton said. "He's out of the boot today, which is good. He moved around a little bit but it's still tender. We'll just take it day-to-day." If Richmond is unavailable for Friday, Jalen McKenzie will step into the position.
- DB Chase Williams was held out of practice with flu-like symptoms but is expected to play Friday.
- RB Markese Stepp is practicing but is considered "day-to-day" for Friday's game. Helton has three steps for clearing players to return to action. Medical clearance is first, followed by the player's confidence level and Helton's gut feeling on it. "He is medically cleared to practice, so he's getting some practice," Helton said. "Right now his confidence level's not very high and my gut doesn't feel very good so that's where we are right now."
- Helton acknowledged the improvement in confidence for quarterback Kedon Slovis. "As our quarterback position grows so does our team," Helton said. "Winning 5 out of the last 6 games has a lot to do with Kedon and his play. Primarily, the biggest thing that's happened is probably his decision making and protecting the football."
- It's going to be important for the Trojans to get off to a hot start against Iowa on Friday. "They're a start fast, finish strong team," Helton said. "It reminds me of the old Stanford teams, to be honest with you. You try to hopefully get up a couple scores and put them in an uncomfortable position. Because when they have the lead and they have that tempo that they like, it's right in their wheelhouse."
- The Trojans might have an upper hand on Friday because they play a different style of football than the Hawkeyes are used to seeing. "Maybe the closest team they've played against is Minnesota, with their receiving corps," Helton said. "And we'll have to adapt too. They may have a little bit of a change of a game plan just like everybody else does against us."
- Helton is looking forward to this bowl game jump starting the team's preparation for next year. "When you look at our schedule, even for next year, we're going to play teams like this," Helton said. "This is a Top 25 team, ranked 16th in the country. And when you look at our schedule for next year we could play six Top 25 opponents. So the mindset we take into this game is imperative."
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