Dispatch from Howard Jones

By Jordan Moore on September 17, 2009 6:43 PM | No Comments

Thoughts from Thursday's practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt...

- For the fourth straight practice, Aaron Corp took the first-team reps, completing the game week prep with another on-target performance in the half-pads practice. "He's ready to go," Coach Carroll said. "He's had a very good week."

- As expected, Matt Barkley made short passes during the practice for the first time since injuring his right shoulder Saturday, and Carroll reiterated there is no timetable to announce the starter for Saturday's Pac-10 opener at Washington. "He threw the ball today without anything hurting," Carroll said of Barkley. "We'll wait and see."

- Taylor Mays sat out of a majority of practice again, with his status for the game still up in the air. "We'll find out on Saturday," Carroll said.

- Tailback Joe McKnight missed his second straight practice while suffering from the flu, but he's expected to play Saturday. "At this point, I'm absolutely counting on him being back," Carroll said.

- Coach Carroll in the post-practice team huddle: "This is Pac-10 championship time. Let's do this one step at a time."

- During team period at the end of the short practice, Aaron Corp made an impressive mid-level throw to wideout David Ausberry, drawing praise from the coaches. "Awesome!" quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates exclaimed. "Very good!"

- As is the norm for Thursday practices, the Trojans spent a healthy chunk of the workout focusing on all facets of special teams.

University Southern California Trojans

Dispatch from Howard Jones

Dispatch from Howard Jones

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