We passed the halfway point of camp.
- Injury news: WR George Farmer and CB Brian Baucham came out during practice.
- LT Matt Kalil and WR Robert Woods are still day-to-day, although the receiver did some light work this morning.
Lane Kiffin was pleased with the energy of the night practice. WR Marqise Lee stood out again as the "star" of practice "by far," according to the head coach.- Play of the day: CB Nickell Robey made a great instinctive read to step in front of a Matt Barkley pass and take it the distance for a score.
- The wide receivers and cornerbacks worked one-on-one in the end zone for a session. Senior Brandon Carswell (photo by John McGillen) turned his defender inside-out several times with double moves. If Carswell and Woods end up as the starting wideouts, route running will be the reason. Neither player is physically overwhelming, but they are both technically superior.
- In 9-on-7, the running game broke several big plays with Curtis McNeal and Amir Carlisle finding holes. However, the coaching staff does not seem any closer to a decision on the starting guards. "Every day is a never ending battle," offensive line coach James Cregg said. "It's just up and down."
- True freshman Aundrey Walker has to be considered the favorite to start at right guard, but he's still climbing the learning curve. "We've just got to get him overcoming some of those mental mistakes that he's making as a young player," Cregg said about Walker. "It's just understanding the big picture of things."
- At the left guard spot, John Martinez came into camp atop the depth chart. "I have not shown the coaches anything quite yet because I have not done anything in the scrimmages," Martinez admitted.
- Martinez is a weight room warrior. He bench pressed 225 pounds 33 times. However, he is 16 reps short of Oregon State's Stephen Paea who set the NFL Combine record this past spring. "Something to definitely look up to," Martinez laughed.
- Former walk-on Abe Markowitz has been working with the first team lately at guard. He's impressed LT Matt Kalil. "He's playing with a chip on his shoulder," Kalil said about Markowitz. "He's been hurt since he's gotten his scholarship and I think he's really got something to prove. He's playing with a fire and passion right now."
- Today was the final two-a-day. Thursday's practice is at 3 p.m.
- Here's Kiffin for a second time Wednesday...
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