Players Mentioned
Practice Report: Alex Grinch Ready To See USC Football's Defense In Action Against Rice
August 31, 2022 | Football
There are some things you just can't recreate on a practice field: live tackling and responding to adversity. USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is anxious to see both on Saturday (Sept. 3) during the Trojans' debut against Rice.Â
"The one thing that you're promised on Saturday is adversity," Grinch said Wednesday. "You don't know when it's going to come, but ultimately you're in control of how you respond to it. That's something we haven't been in. We haven't been in that fight together."
USC's coaching staff has stressed how physicality will be present during the team's regular season practices. Grinch has previously described the team's Tuesday and Wednesday practices as "the first two games" of the week before Saturday. But now that the most physically demanding practices for the Trojans are finished, what's left for the rest of game week?
"Now the mental [component] goes through the roof," Grinch explained. "If we can't stress you physically, we're going to stress you mentally. So we don't take any days off. We got a lot more to accomplish this week."
Notes from USC's Wednesday practice of Rice Week:
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Earlier in the preseason, Grinch expressed concern about the development at USC's rush end position. He shared an update Wednesday:
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"I think for the most part that guys have gotten healthy, gotten some reps. It's trial by fire. There's a reason you have practice, right? And if you're not involved in it, it's really hard to get better when you're not on the grass. But all credit goes to coach Manning. He's great at what he does in terms of getting those guys up to speed mentally and those things."
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Despite what he's accomplished so far in his football career, team captain is a new achievement for quarterback Caleb Williams:
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"It's actually been one of my dreams. I've always wanted to be a captain. I had a COVID year in high school, so I couldn't really be a captain and be out there with those guys working out, leading them. So it's always been a dream of mine. I really can't wait to get out there and help them and help us as a team reach our goals."
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Williams will experience his first game as a Trojan Saturday and was asked if he has a message for the student section:
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"I want y'all to be loud. I want y'all to be rowdy… except when we're on offense. Other than that, do you're thing. Have fun, be safe, and after the game we'll be running over."
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Wide receiver Brenden Rice shared high expectations for his position group Wednesday:
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"I want to see this wide receiver room come together. I think we definitely can live up to the hype. I think we are the top wide receiver room in the nation."
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Wednesday's media availability:
New numbers to know:
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Defensive lineman Nick Figueroa, who previously wore No. 50, now dons 99. The redshirt senior wore that number during his stint in junior college.
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Defensive back Bryson Shaw, who transferred from Ohio State as a redshirt junior this summer, wears 27.
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True freshman running back Raleek Brown sports the number 14.
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Wide receiver Michael Jackson III, who previously wore No. 13, now wears the number 9.
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Wide receiver Jordan Addison wears the once-retired No. 3, after Trojan legend Carson Palmer gave his blessing.
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Redshirt senior defensive lineman Solomon Byrd, who transferred from Wyoming this summer, dons No. 51.
