It is officially game week!
- The football team had Saturday off after a grueling week. Instead of practicing, they spent the day at the pool and dined on chicken and waffles (courtesy of Ed Orgeron).
- The boys worked hard today though in the afternoon heat, which will likely simulate the conditions of Saturday's 12:30 p.m. opener.
- The heat claimed one victim, freshman OL Aundrey Walker. Otherwise, the injury report continues to clear up. LB Chris Galippo is back competing and TE Christian Thomas did some limited work.
- The 2011 USC football captains: QB Matt Barkley, FB/TE Rhett Ellison, DT Christian Tupou and DB T.J. McDonald.
- Ellison on being named captain: "It's awesome. I'm just excited the team put me in that position."
- Speaking of Ellison, the fullback experiment is starting to look like a full-time gig. Soma Vainuku, who left practice today with a migraine, does not possess threatening skills as a receiver, which the USC offense demands. Ellison is an accomplished pass catcher who could play a big role coming out of the backfield.
- In his absence, Randall Telfer and Xavier Grimble will split the tight end duties. Telfer is the more explosive option, but Grimble is a sizable target in the red zone.
- Telfer has struggled with drops during camp, but he's been better lately. "I was thinking the wrong thing at the wrong time during practice," Telfer described the mental side of the game. "I have to move on to the next play and stop dwelling on the drops."
- Both Telfer and Grimble have waited a long time to make their Coliseum debuts. "I haven't played in a game in over a year," Telfer said. "I'm psyched!"
- At some point, Lane Kiffin will name all the starters, but the coach warned everybody not to get too hung up on the first names announced. "We're going to play a lot of guys," he said. "They'll be some positions that you'll see Saturday that will be 50-50 and there will be some positions that aren't as close that will be 75-25."
John Martinez has solidified the right guard spot, but Jeremy Galten worked with the first team at left guard today over Martin Coleman. "Nobody will take it," Kiffin said. "We keep trying to give it away and nobody takes it."- If Abe Markowitz is healthy, he'll start at left guard. He worked on the exercise bike before putting the walking boot back on his injured foot.
- The receivers and corners battled particularly hard in one-on-ones today. Robert Woods and Nickell Robey are the marquis match-up with Woods winning the only battle Sunday.
- Anthony Brown, who will be in the rotation against the Gophers, had the best technique jamming young George Farmer at the line of scrimmage. If you give Farmer a free release, he has exhibited the best straight line speed of the receiving corp.
- Greg Townsend Jr. was back at practice, so he has been cleared by the NCAA.
- Dedeaux Field got a nice green paint job (pictured).
- Here is Coach Kiffin....
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