September 2011 Archives

• Is Fox Sports broadcasting the game in your area?  Click the link to find out:
  Pac-12 Football - Arizona at USC.pdf
• Former USC staff member Kelli Sargent started the "Run for Her" to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.  Jill Painter has a great story on the cause.
• Pat Haden made the San Pedro Sportswalk. 
  Sportswalk_Press_Release_2011.docx
• Seahawks rookie LB Malcolm Smith is doing a video blog about his first year in the pros.
• Former USC safety Daniel Harper is having a great season at UNLV.
• Lane Kiffin and Pat Haden talk about their love of golf in the latest "Fore Magazine."
• The Pac-12 caught up with former superstar offensive lineman Tony Boselli who has found great success after football.
• Sports Illustrated has a cool new app celebrating the greatest college football rivalries including USC and Notre Dame.
• Gary Klein looks at the latest Trojan freshman sensation WR Marqise Lee.
• Scott Wolf breaks down the attendance at USC football games.
• Michael Lev scouts how opposing offenses attack the Trojans defense.
• Pedro Moura previews the battle with Arizona.
• Garry Paskwietz sizes up Nickell Robey's height disadvantage.

• Good news injury report: LT Matt Kalil and LG Martin Coleman returned today.
• Bad news injury report: CB Torin Harris, LB Lamar Dawson and RB Amir Carlisle are still out.
• Quote of the day: "I think he's going to be one of the best receivers ever to play at this school," said Lane Kiffin about freshman Marqise Lee (photo by Jon SooHoo).
• Lee made a great TD catch on a deep ball in practice, which prompted fellow wideout Brice Butler to turn to the media and say, "Y'all write about that in your articles.  He's unstoppable on the go route."
• The Lee and Robert Woods combination could be deadly going forward.  "Our two top receivers in our mind are a true sophomore and a true freshman.  The future is bright," said Kiffin.
  
• Arizona's defense has yielded big plays in the running game in all three losses, but Marc Tyler is not a downfield speed threat.  "It is what it is," Kiffin said about his starting back.  "You can't all the sudden make a guy really fast."
  
• George Farmer could provide breakaway speed from the running back position next year.  "I am committed fully," Farmer said about the switch from wide receiver.  "I'd still like to play some receiver.  If they flank me out there, with Robert and Marqise on the outside, it'll be good because I'll have a linebacker covering me.  If it's going to help the team, I'm down for it."
• Farmer has already added six or seven pounds of muscle since arriving at USC.  "I feel I can put on a lot more weight," he said about bulking up to play running back. 
  
• First things first, he'll have to swap out that #88 jersey for a running back's number.  "1, 4 or 8," he's thinking.
• The defense and freshmen are under the gun this week.  Hayes Pullard is a core member of both groups.  "We're feeling real good right now," said a confident Pullard.  "We're going to be way more aggressive than last week."
• Arizona St. exposed the Trojans horizontally by isolating defenders in space one-on-one, which puts pressure on the outside linebackers.  "I think they probably will after watching that film," Pullard expects Arizona to come with a similar game plan.  "We just played bad ball last week."
• As for the kids on the whole, "It's all just experience," Pullard quoted his coach.  "You are a freshman until you experience that moment.  Now that we all experienced a lot of moments, we'll be able to play fast."
• Near the end of a padless practice, CB Isiah Wiley crushed FB/TE Rhett Ellison going up to defend a pass.   A scary moment but both players walked away.
• Here is Lane Kiffin's last media chat before the big home game...

• Lane Kiffin updated some of the long term injuries.  LB Marquis Simmons (neck), OL Abe Markowitz (foot), OL John Katnik and WR Cody Gifford are all out for the season.
• CB Torin Harris, LB Lamar Dawson, RB Amir Carlisle and LT Matt Kalil did not practice today.
• Kalil did not disclose his injury, but, "It's nothing serious.  I'll be out there." 
  
• Dawson is out of his walking boot.
• The head coach had a great quote elaborating on Matt Barkley's reprimand by the Pac-12.  "Matt can't lie.  He can't really say anything different than the way he feels.  It's who he is."
  
• The music was blasting on the practice field as the team focused on turnovers.  The defense won the battle with a Shane Horton pick six and a J.R. Tavai interception.  Cody Kessler was the guilty party on both turnovers.
• Lane Kiffin is trying to find a gamebreaker in the backfield and George Farmer (photo by John McGillen) is the latest candidate.  The Serra product came into USC as the most highly decorated receiver in his class, but the coaches are trying him out as a running back.  "He looks great there," Kiffin said.  "A big, physical guy that's one of the fastest guys in the country, so that would be exciting."
• The coaching staff thought about lifting the redshirt from Farmer since he has greatly improved of late, but they decided against it.
• The competition between Kevin Graf and Aundrey Walker continues at right tackle.  "They come in here knowing that there's going to be competition," Kalil said about his teammates.  "You've got to earn the right to play where you are going to play."
• Walker has had a tough time since he moved to guard and now back to tackle.  "Just practicing hard all the time," Kalil explained what Walker needs to work on.  "It's hard to get him in [the game] if you're not showing it in practice.  He's got to learn that you have to work hard all the time not just in games."
• If the Trojans are going to get better at converting third downs, the offensive line needs to protect Matt Barkley.  "It's just about being stout in your spot," Kalil emphasized winning one-on-one battles. 
  
• In the middle of the Lane Kiffin media scrum, former USC fullback and TV personality Petros Papadakis ran on the field to shoot a Fox Sports segment with Kennedy Polamalu, which prompted the head coach to say, "Look at that!  That's a bad looking athlete right there."
• Here is the rest of the presser...

This week's scholar-athlete is USC women's golf sophomore Rachel Morris, who majors in business administration.

Click here for the complete conversation!

Is there anything on campus that you would like to explore more during your time at school?

There are always things I'd like to get involved in. There are plays and a bunch of things I wish I went to - just to say I participated in other stuff too. I know the athletic director Pat Haden is trying to get athletes to participate in all this outside stuff - which I think is a good idea. I don't just want to be a student focusing on my sport. It's important that the athletes get involved in other things too.

How close are you to the other teams on campus? Do you try to go out and support them as well?

Our team is pretty close to the tennis, swimming and volleyball [teams], but [there's much more I'd like to see.] I've never seen rowing or baseball. I'd like to go to more athletic events. I want to definitely make a point to go to other sports.

And what about football?

• Kiffin's comment on the above story: "I did read that.  All I can say on that is that the alleged incident, I had no knowledge of or knowledge of a relationship at all.  I have been and always been committed wherever we've been to doing things the right way and cooperating with the NCAA."
  
• Injury report: CB Torin Harris, LB Lamar Dawson, LT Matt Kalil, RB Amir Carlisle and TE Christian Thomas all missed practice.  Also, CB T.J. Bryant will redshirt, Kiffin announced.
  
• The head coach attributed many of the mistakes made at Arizona State to youth, but he expects the freshmen and first year starters to improve from this point.  "There's really two steps to get over," Kiffin explained.  "The first one is going through a game period.  The next step is going on the road."
• USC is 113th (out of 120) in the nation in turnover margin (-6).  "The most surprising thing that's happened since we've got here this time around is the lack of turnovers that we've gotten," said Kiffin, who offered ice cream as a reward for improving the turnover situation.  "We thought that would work with the linemen."
• Aundrey Walker has been moved back out to right tackle, where he practiced during camp, to compete with Kevin Graf.  "We obviously were not satisfied, nor was Kevin, with his play on Saturday."
• Ross Cumming solidified his spot at fullback with a strong showing at ASU.  "We are really pleased with Ross," Kiffin praised the converted LB.  "He's only been on offense for a couple of weeks.  He was matched up against [Vontaze] Burfict a couple times and did really well."
  
• Kiffin has not heard from the Pac-12 office regarding clarification on T.J. McDonald's first two personal fouls.  "If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing," McDonald (photo by Jon SooHoo) said after watching the film.  "You know this game is dangerous when you sign up to play the game.  If you don't want to get hit than get out of the way."
• McDonald tweeted similar sentiments last night when the Cowboys were flagged for a hard hit on a receiver with the ball.  "That's what the fans come to see," McDonald said about big legal hits.  "I don't aim for the head.  I just try to be as physical as I can.  That's the only way I know how to play this game."
• Arizona is a deceptive 1-3.  "They've probably played the hardest schedule in the country," Kiffin said.  The Wildcats have lost to #5 Oklahoma State, #6 Stanford and #9 Oregon.
• Matt Barkley emphasized 3rd down conversions as the number one stat to improve.  "The 3rd down conversion was horrific.  I've never seen anything like that," he said.  "It was pretty ugly."
• Barkley had "a sick feeling" after the game about his performance, but he said that his confidence does not dip from week to week.
• Here is the head coach...

• Freshman starters: USC 5, ASU 0.  The Trojans played like a young team on the road for the first time.  "We had a lot of mistakes and issues there with guys that haven't played very much," Kiffin highlighted the freshmen as a group. LB Dion Bailey said his class will learn from the experience.  "In a hostile environment, we've got to keep our poise," said Bailey, who had a team-leading 10 tackles and a sack.  "We can't make mistakes and turn the ball over because it just fuels them and the crowd.  You don't want to be playing against both the whole game."

• Turnovers: USC 4, ASU 0.  Of course, the miscues were not limited to the neophytes.  In fact, veterans Matt Barkley (two INTs and a fumble) and Marc Tyler accounted for all four turnovers.  Most notably, Barkley was picked off by his opposite number Vontaze Burfict (photo by Arizona State athletics) in the red zone.  "I assumed that he was going to be pressuring, but he slipped off and dropped into coverage," Barkley explained.  "We didn't see that coming."
  

• Red zone offense: 6 trips (2 TDs, 2 FGs and 2 turnovers).  Several times, USC ceded the momentum by coming away with three points or no points deep in ASU territory.  "You're not going to go on the road against a really good team and win the game with a bunch of field goals and red zone turnovers," Kiffin said. 
  

• Penalties: 10 for 87 yards.  T.J. McDonald was flagged for three 15-yard personal fouls, but the head coach wondered aloud how the junior safety is supposed to tackle without being physical.  "I don't know how you coach out of the first two," said a frustrated Kiffin.  "When a runner is running at you, isn't it his job to get out of the way?"  The Sun Devils picked up four first downs on Trojan penalties.

• Brock Osweiler: 25 for 32 and sacked only once.  The mountainous quarterback was roughed up by Illinois for six sacks in a loss last week, but he used a series of short passes to eliminate the Trojans defensive line.  "So many balls were thrown either behind the line of scrimmage or within five yards of it," Kiffin complimented the adjustment made by ASU, but he lamented that his defense failed to contain the same horizontal pass over and over again.  "It's a tough play to defend.  You've got to make the first tackle and so many times we missed the first tackle."

• Marc Tyler: 22 carries for 149 yards.  When the Trojans stormed back to take the lead in the third quarter, the power run game was in full effect.  "We just regrouped at halftime and we knew we had to come out and be physical," Tyler said.  Linebacker turned fullback Ross Cumming was inserted into the contest to crack some helmets.  "He's a good blocker," Tyler praised.  "I wish he was with us since last year."

• Kicking game: Andre Heidari made all three field goals and booted two touchbacks, while Kyle Negrete punted to a 47.5 yard average, including pinning the Sun Devils inside the five.

• Weather report: Forget the heat, the dominant weather story of the night was a wild dust storm, which created a tornado of stadium garbage in the first half.  "I've never seen anything like that," Barkley said.  "That was bizarre."

• The Pac-12 featured T.J. McDonald who is following in his dad's footsteps.
• ESPN's Shelley Smith has a weekly web show on USC football, which features academic superstar LB Augusto Alonso this week.
• Chris Erskine listens in as some international USC students get a crash course in Trojan football history.
• John Robinson was named to the inaugural class of the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame.  
• Matt Barkley and Khaled Holmes have been teaming up since high school.  Michael Lev documents their special connection.
• Check out this cool movie premiere (picture and info right) being put on by the office of sports and spirituality.
• The ceremonial Ronald Reagan coin toss before the Syracuse game made CNN.
• Scott Wolf looks at Barkley's growth from the Arizona State game two years ago.
• Baxter Holmes wrote a fascinating profile of ASU star Vontaze Burfict, who almost died three times before he was 13.
• Gary Klein digs into the jersey number lineage at USC football.
• Pedro Moura breaks down the cluster of running backs behind Marc Tyler.
• Garry Paskwietz profiles Drew McAllister who finally got back into the mix last Saturday after multiple hip surgeries.

• Offensive guard Abe Markowitz is out for the season again with a broken foot.  He had another MRI, which revealed a fracture.  He will need surgery.  This is the opposite foot from last season.
• Otherwise, linebackers Lamar Dawson (ankle) and Marquis Simmons (neck) look like the only notable players in danger of missing the trip.  Also, Martin Coleman (shoulder) continues his extended time on the sidelines.
• If Dawson cannot play, Chris Galippo could be asked to take every snap, but the oft-injured senior is feeling up to the task.  "I've gone at least one game, where I played every single snap," Galippo said referring to the Minnesota opener.  "That was pretty darn hot.  That was like an 80 degree game."
  
• Even without a recognized back-up, don't expect Galippo to pace himself under the desert sun.  "No, you can't.  Hopefully, we'll get a bunch of three and outs and some turnovers and we won't be on the field a whole lot," he said.
• If Galippo comes out, former walk-on Will Andrew (photo by John McGillen) is next up on the depth chart.  "Will got a ton of reps during spring ball," Galippo has confidence in his teammate.  "He gets a ton of picks during practice and does a good job running the huddle."
• Kiffin also said that Shane Horton could move over from his outside position and play middle linebacker.
• The elements will be against USC for the first time this season.  Sun Devil Stadium under the lights will most definitely be rocking.  "It's a long walk to the locker room," Kiffin joked about the challenges of this particular road venue.  "It's just a classic loud place with a student section and heat.  We're going to have to have great focus."
• Vontaze Burfict has been the most popular topic of conversation in the media scrum this week.  Kiffin explained that he is hard to game plan against because he is too big to attack head on and fast enough to cover sideline-to-sideline.
• The head coach was surprisingly candid yesterday about the possibility of Amir Carlisle contributing.  The running back is ready if needed.  "I feel great," said the freshman after overcoming an ankle injury.  "I'll go out there and I'll do my best."
• The silver lining of missing the first three games was that Carlisle could watch and learn by taking mental reps.  "I had to make the most out of it by learning from the guys at my position," Carlisle said.  "Sitting back sometimes, you get a broader picture of everything."
• Play of the day: Freshman WR Victor Blackwell, who will likely redshirt, made several TD catches for the service team.  On one, the ball was thrown behind him, but he reached back with one hand and batted to himself and then controlled it before it hit the ground.
• Here is Coach Kiffin...

• The injury list was the same as yesterday, but DT DaJohn Harris and WR Kyle Prater came back to full action.
• MLB Lamar Dawson (ankle) is the injury to watch.  If he cannot go, senior Chris Galippo might have to play every snap in triple digit heat unless the coaches trust former walk-on Will Andrew to spell him.
• Lane Kiffin announced that freshman WR George Farmer is on track to redshirt this season.  Farmer came in as the #1 receiver recruit in the country, but he was slowed by a concussion in camp and has been crowded out of the rotation since then.
• After several dazzling runs in practice, RB Amir Carlisle showed that he is back to full strength.  While he still has not made his debut, Kiffin hinted that it could come as early as Saturday.  "We think that he can help us," Kiffin said.  "He adds another dimension.  He's got some juice."
• "After three games right now, he's ahead of where Robert [Woods] was a year ago.  This kid is really special," Kiffin said about freshman WR Marqise Lee (photo by John McGillen).
  
• OG Aundrey Walker is another freshman who could get more playing time if he starts practicing harder.  "If Aundrey would practice like he played in that game, he'd be one of our best players," Kiffin said.  "
  
• Redshirt freshman WR Kyle Prater made the play of the day with a one-handed grab while falling to the ground.  He actually caught the nose of the football.  "He's very capable of huge plays, but he's got to get more consistent," Kiffin said.
  
• While Kiffin mentioned yesterday that Torin Harris has been susceptible to trick plays against ASU last year and Syracuse last week, he is generally happy with his start to the season.  As for the third corner, "We just wanted to see how Anthony [Brown] would do in there and he did a good job."
• "The Robert Factor" opens up the field for the rest of the offense, but its namesake is not going to settle for being a decoy.  "I just try to get open when I can and if they do make a mistake, I hope I can gash them," Woods said.  "I'm happy for my teammates, but I'm still trying to get open with the double coverage."
• Add Woods to the list of players who love playing road games.  "It's more exciting to have the people rooting against you," he said. 
  
• The head coach tried to have crowd noise pumped into the practice field, but the lone speaker did not match the decibels of the Sun Devil faithful.  "We need to buy some more speakers," Kiffin said with a smile.  "Somebody stole one of our speakers actually, so we're down to one.  That was not loud enough." 
  
• Kiffin on the Pac-12 deciding against expansion: "I think it's great.  I love where we're at right now and we're just getting used to this format."
• Here is the head coach...

• DT Armond Armstead (pictured) will redshirt the season.  He is on track to graduate this semester, but he could return for one more campaign or opt to turn pro.  "I hope he's back," Lane Kiffin admitted.  "We lose a lot of guys and it'd be great to have him back to help our front."
  
• The injury report is bigger than its been since the dog days of camp.  DT DaJohn Harris, LB Lamar Dawson, OG Abe Markowitz (limited), WR Kyle Prater, LB Marquis Simmons, OG Martin Coleman and WR Brice Butler (left practice early) are the walking wounded. 
  
• The coaches chose not to pump crowd noise today, but they likely will before the week's out, so the young offensive line can become accustomed to not hearing Matt Barkley clearly.  "We've just got to really listen," RT Kevin Graf said about adapting to the noise.  "Matt's going to be louder for us, so no, we should not have any problems at all."
• True freshman LG Marcus Martin has the least experience playing in hostile environments, but he earned positive grades from Kiffin after looking at the tape of his first start.  "As you would expect, he did some good things [and] made some rookie mistakes," the head coach said.  "We're just going to have to keep plugging away in there with him.  He's got a lot of potential." 
• Martin shut down Christian Tupou during the one-on-one session in today's practice.  The left guard depth chart is a little more clear with Jeremy Galten backing up at right tackle and Markowitz still on the mend.
• While the crowd will surely be hostile, the Sun Devils have a reputation for being chippy as well, so the coaches have instructed the service team to goad the starters after the whistle in practice.  "We've given our guys the head's up about that type of behavior and we won't let it effect us," Barkley said.
• ASU MLB Vontaze Burfict will likely be at the center of any extracurricular storm, but he has also been known to lead the path of destruction during the play.  "They don't make too many 245 pound guys that can run like him," Kiffin is leading the campaign to get Burfict to go pro after this season.  "When he wants to turn it on, look out."
• Barkley has been playing Burfict since high school.  "He'll kind of do his own thing sometimes too," Barkley said Burfict will blitz on his own.  "You kind of have to keep an eye out for him." 
  
• While the quarterback loves playing on the road, he does not have fond memories of his only trip to Tempe despite USC winning 14-9 in 2009.  "That was one of the worst football games I've ever been a part of," he confessed.  The freshman Barkley was 7/22 for 112 yards passing that day and the scores came on a Will Harris pick-six and individual brilliance from Damian Williams.  "We'll do better," Barkley said about Saturday.
• If USC wins Saturday, the Trojans will have a clear leg up in the Pac-12 South race with wins over Utah and Arizona State.  "That's still too far off right now for us to worry about," Barkley said about the conference race.  "Obviously, that's a goal of ours."
• Kiffin wants more explosiveness from his running game, but it may not come from D.J. Morgan for awhile after fumbling in each of the last two games and dropping on the depth chart as a result.  "It's almost like you have to wait for the guys in front of you to screw up again," Kiffin said about Morgan getting another chance.
  
• Play of the day: DT George Uko made a one-handed interception and returned it for a touchdown after snuffing out a screen pass.
• Here is an extended media session with Kiffin...

• With all the (deserved) hoopla over Robert Woods' incredible start to the season, "the quarterback," as Lane Kiffin likes to call him, has been pretty exceptional himself.  Matt Barkley tied his own (and others) school record with five touchdown passes.  "It felt different because I didn't really notice it," Barkley compared his big night to others in his career.  "Tonight, I was throwing the ball around to different receivers."  In fact, five different receivers accounted for the touchdowns as opposed to his previous career games, which were dominated by Ronald Johnson (Hawaii) and Woods (Cal). 
  

• The post-game chatter was all about "The Robert Woods effect."  After the 17 catch opener, the sophomore is consistently attracting double and triple coverage, which provides wide open teammates the opportunity to make plays like Randall Telfer's unabated 44-yard TD grab down the seam.  "If they're going to double team him, other players are going to have to step up," Barkley said.  Seven other players made receptions and Woods (photo by AP/Mark J. Terrill) still found a way to lead the team with eight catches for 82 yards and a TD.

• Marqise Lee is happy to take advantage of the open space.  In fact, the freshman wide receiver is just happy about everything on a night when he made his first career touchdown catch.  "I was happy, excited, couldn't stop laughing and didn't want to give up the ball for some reason," Lee described his emotions.  "Most teams are focused on [Woods], so it gives us the opportunity to show them what we got.  That one-on-one coverage is amazing." 
  

• The running game was a tale of two halves and maybe one speech.  The Trojans had six yards rushing in the first half, but finished with 175 ground yards on the night.  Running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu delivered a fiery halftime address to his unit, which obviously worked and was particularly evident in Curtis McNeal's energetic display late in the 4th quarter.  The head coach acknowledged McNeal in front of the team in the post-game locker room as an example of a player who consistently works hard in practice and then makes the most of his limited game touches.

• The defense put in another solid shift.  Thanks to the offensive outburst, the coaches were finally able to sub more freely and keep the first team fresh.  While the game was still competitive, freshman LB Tre Madden and redshirt junior safety Drew McAllister made their season debuts defensively.  Anthony Brown worked in as the nickel corner.  True freshman MLB Lamar Dawson spelled Chris Galippo for several series until the Kentucky native came limping off in the fourth quarter.

• The young linebackers are a different breed.  "The days of having big 260 pound linebackers are over," said Galippo about his outside mates Dion Bailey (200 lbs.) and Hayes Pullard (225 lbs.).  Bailey (9 tackles) and Pullard (7 tackles) were the two leading tacklers in the game for USC.  The Trojans should be in a much better position to defend spread offenses with their sideline-to-sideline speed.  Madden (220 lbs.) and Shane Horton (200 lbs.) are more of the same coming off the bench. (Bailey pictured by AP/Mark J. Terrill)
  

• Kiffin jokingly tried to shift blame on the play-action call late in the game when Barkley got sacked going for his sixth TD pass.  The head coach has seen Barkley, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer tie the school record and apparently wanted to take a shot to break it.

• The offensive play-caller was in a good mood after a game that featured three USC plays over 40 yards.  "We got one today that felt like the old days," Kiffin said about his team's performance.

• LB Marquis Simmons (neck) and OG Martin Coleman (shoulder) did not practice, while OG Abe Markowitz (foot) was limited.
• Lane Kiffin themed this week's practices, "It's all about us."  He is focused on week-to-week improvement.
• USC is 93rd in the country in turnover margin, so part of improving is protecting the ball offensively and taking it away more defensively.  S Drew McAllister could help the cause with his ball-hawking instincts.  "I think it goes back to high school when I played quarterback," McAllister described his knack for reading opposing QBs.  "Coach Kiffin has been stressing that we need to get more turnovers on defense."
• McAllister is not certain of his role for Saturday, but after all the injuries, he is thrilled to be in the mix for playing time.  "I have been waiting for a while, coming back from the surgeries and stuff," he said.  "Working hard in camp, it's paid off."
• The secondary has not had trouble recording interceptions in practice.  Nickell Robey grabbed a pick-six today and T.J. McDonald rang in the three horns by leaping to reel in an end zone jump ball.
• Robert Woods (photo by Jon SooHoo) made a one-handed grab for the play of the day.  The sophomore will be highlighted in opponent's scouting reports for the rest of the season.  "If the guy can catch eight passes for over 100 yards each week, we'll take it," said Kiffin.
• If Thursday's practice is any indication, true freshman Marcus Martin will start at left guard, but Kiffin expects to rotate players at that position.  Nevertheless, the local Crenshaw product is excited.  "It's just something a freshman always dreams of," Martin said about starting in the Coliseum in front of family and friends.  "The Crenshaw area always comes out to support me."
  
• Off the field, Martin's camp focus was on shedding weight, which means making sacrifices in the cafeteria.  "I've given up a lot just to be a better player.  As long as I'm improving, I have no problem with giving up things." 
  
• If he does start Saturday, he will have the comfort of playing between two seasoned veterans.  "Khaled Holmes and Matt Kalil have really been a big influence on me," Martin said.  "They've shown me the bigger picture, not just to know my assignment, but to know everybody's assignment."
• John Martinez worked with the first team at right guard over Aundrey Walker.
• Here is an abbreviated chat with Lane Kiffin...

• *25-7 in 1969 for the Mets*
• 20-10 in in 1971 for the Mets
• 21-12 in 1972 for the Mets
• *22-9 in 1975 for the Mets*

• 22-14 in 1974 for the Royals

• 20-4 for the Mariners in 1997
• *21-6 for the Diamondbacks in 2001*
• *24-5 for the Diamondbacks in 2002*

• *23-5 for the A's in 2002*

• Marquis Simmons was sporting a neck brace.  He sprained his neck on a collision against Utah, but he expects to play this week.  With Simmons out, freshman LB Tre Madden moves up to the second team on the depth chart. 
  
• Otherwise, the injury report was standard with Cyrus Hobbi and Martin Coleman out.  Abe Markowitz is practicing on a limited basis.
• Despite few injuries, Lane Kiffin is giving some young players an opportunity to shake up the lineup.  Anthony Brown is pushing Tony Burnett and Torin Harris for playing time. "It's his chance to get a turn," Kiffin said about Brown.  "[He's] physical, a good tackler and really wants to be good."
  
• When Harris left the field with cramps against Utah, LB Dion Bailey became the nickel corner not Brown.  "I am trying to get in my DB mentality when I'm at nickel," Bailey said.  "I can't be out there playing like a linebacker that definitely wouldn't be good."
  
• Bailey has had a strong start to the campaign, including snuffing out the Utes fake punt attempt.  "I played well for my first two collegiate games," he said.  "I had a good week two; I'm trying to have a better week three."
  
• In the continuing effort to solidify the offensive guard spots, true freshmen Aundrey Walker and Marcus Martin were on the first team today.  "We're going to give the young guys a shot," Kiffin said. 
  
• "I'm just trying to get in," said Walker, who enjoyed his first college playing time Saturday.  "I was just amazed.  Growing up as a little kid, I watched it and now I'm actually in it, it was like crazy."
• Lane Kiffin has not named a starting running back as of yet for the Syracuse game, but Marc Tyler (photo by John McGillen) feels that he is no place to complain.  "I don't really have any voice to say anything right now, just shut up and play," said the senior, who is just happy to be out there.
• Kiffin reiterated that Kris Albarado will redshirt, so Kyle Negrete is not in any punting competition.  While some of the punts were ugly in week two, the coaches' priority is avoiding punt returns. 
  
• Kyle Prater did get a couple snaps Saturday, but he has not been a factor yet despite his five-star reputation.  "He really just hasn't been able to get into the groove," Kiffin said about Prater who is finally healthy after a year and a half of injuries. 
  
• TE Christian Thomas is a big time athlete who opened eyes as a freshman, but he has been hurt most of this season.  He showed a great burst of speed on a catch and run today.
• Freshman DT Christian Heyward dominated during one-on-ones.  Kiffin mentioned him as a possibility for playing time after week one, but he did not get in against Utah.
• An extended media chat with Lane Kiffin today...

• Matt Kalil has a new nickname.  "The Hammer" blocked two field goals in as many games, which turned out to be vital considering both three-pointers could have cost the Trojans a victory.  "That's why we practice special teams for an extra 30 minutes each day to make plays like that," Matt Barkley said.  How many teams utilize a star left tackle on field goal block?  "As an offensive lineman, you don't get too many chances to get glory like that," said Kalil who had the entire team chanting his new nickname in the post-game locker room.  (Bottom photo by Pierson Clair)
  

• Marc Tyler continued his redemption story with a grinding 113-yard rushing performance on 24 carries.  "I kinda thought it'd be that type of game," said Lane Kiffin who was not surprised Tyler became an offensive focal point.  The senior was written off by many after a series of off-the-field indiscretions in the offseason, but the head coach stood by him.  "I just love those stories," Kiffin said.  "There's so much negativity in college football.  It's just a cool story when kids make it like that."  Scroll down to watch our interview with Marc Tyler.

• The defense has officially put 2010 in the past.  The 2011 unit was under pressure time and time again tonight and never folded.  "Our defense, they won the game for us," Barkley admitted.  While Kiffin would have loved to close the game with an offensive drive, he realized that the team needed this defensive performance to build confidence for the rest of the season.  "I'm excited that it finished this way," he said.  "I think it's important for this team."

• Monte Kiffin has found a new favorite chess piece in Nickell Robey.  The sophomore cornerback lined up all over the field tonight, including coming after the quarterback in several blitz packages.  "I went out there and I just unleashed myself," said Robey who joked that he wants to get more sacks than Nick Perry.  "That's the goal, but it's going to be real hard to do it."

• After several week one drops, the redshirt freshmen tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer responded with seven catches (no drops) for 94 yards and a TD.  Grimble led the way with a three catch drive culminating in his first USC touchdown.  "I can't even explain it.  I didn't know what to do, but it was a great feeling," said Grimble who watched his high school highlights to get his "swagger back." Of course, he did have a crucial fumble as well.  "I got hit right on the ball, but I should have had it high and tight."

• For the second straight week, the Trojans dominated statistically, but found a way to make it interesting.  USC outgained the Utes by nearly 100 yards (416 to 319), but three turnovers and several key penalties cost them chances to run away with it.  "We just don't put people away," Kiffin said.  The head coach attributed many of the inconsistencies to youth.  "Freshmen mistakes showed up."

• After the game, the Pac-12 counted Torin Harris' touchdown return on the blocked field goal, which makes the official final score 23-14.  They ruled it a dead ball foul on the bench, so the penalty would have been enforced after the play.  "The referee announced the penalty was against the bench," tweeted Mike Pereira who consults the Pac-12 on officiating.  "That means it couldn't be enforced because the game was over."
  

• The quarterback has never played a game at USC on his birthday, but he is 2-0 with wins over Ohio St. and Virginia in his birthday week. 
  
• Barkley (photo by John McGillen) is not the only Trojan great born on September 8.  He shares his special day with famed Notre Dame killer RB Anthony Davis and legendary assistant Marv Goux.
• While most college kids go crazy celebrating their 21st birthday, USC's captain is taking it easy.  "I'm just having dinner with my family.  It's tradition."
• Former Lombardi winning lineman Brad Budde addressed the team after practice.
  
• On the field, the injury report was limited to offensive linemen Abe Markowitz and Cyrus Hobbi.  "We think he'll be available to us," Lane Kiffin said about Markowitz.
• "When they call me, I'll be ready, but right now, I'm going to be supporting whoever is starting this weekend," said Markowitz who has been diagnosed with a "really sore foot."
• Martin Coleman will likely start at left guard.  "He's done alright," said Kiffin about Coleman.  "He's kind of plugged away in there.  He's been here five years and really hasn't played."
• A padless practice featured several highlight reel catches.  Brandon Carswell ripped a 50-50 ball out of Nickell Robey's hands.  And, Brice Butler made a physical jump ball catch over Anthony Brown and a leaping TD snare in the back of the end zone.
• Freshman MLB Lamar Dawson, who is expected to make his debut this weekend, intercepted Matt Barkley.
• Defensive backs coach Sammy Knight had little time to adjust to his new role after the surprise resignation of Willie Mack Garza last week.  "A very big adjustment," Knight described it.  "I feel more comfortable (this week).  It is just a matter of me seeing the little detailed things that I thought we could get better at and trying to improve on those."
• Knight was a physical safety in his career and even played linebacker at USC.  What is the identity of a Sammy Knight secondary?  "Disciplined playmakers who tackle."
  
• The coaching staff will know more about the secondary after matching up with a much more proficient Utah passing attack.  "Jordan Wynn is a great quarterback," Knight said.  "Any time you have a Norm Chow offense, you always have to be ready for the unexpected."
• CB Nickell Robey took every snap against the Gophers.  "We want to try to roll some guys in of course, so we can keep him fresh," Knight admitted. 
  
• CB Torin Harris was beaten for a touchdown on Minnesota's second-to-last drive, but came back to clinch the victory with an interception.  "The only bad play he had was the missed tackle," Knight compared the two drives.  "Every time you have a young secondary, you're going to have ups and downs."
• Here is the head coach rocking a USC volleyball shirt in support of the big women's game Friday night at Galen Center against UCLA...
  
  
  

• No new injury news.  Abe Markowitz is still working his way back.  Today, Martin Coleman started at left guard ahead of Jeremy Galten.
• Marc Tyler is at least in the rotation for carries Saturday.  "He's practiced really hard, so we'll mix him in there some," Lane Kiffin said.  "Those short yardage situations that we came up a couple times short on, the big back has a tendency to make those." 
  
• Tyler (230 lbs.) significantly outweighs D.J. Morgan (190 lbs.) and Curtis McNeal (180 lbs.).
• Kiffin credited Matt Barkley and Robert Woods offseason work together for making the combination what it is this season.  "They are obviously great players number one, but they prepare so well," Kiffin said about his prized duo.
• Ted Gilmore (photo by John McGillen) debuted as the USC wide receivers coach last weekend and watched his prized pupil break a school record.  "It was a pleasure to watch," he said. 
  
• Lakers fans can relate to a Kobe Bryant metaphor.  When Kobe scores 50 points, the Lakers don't necessarily win because the other players never get into rhythm.  Gilmore was not buying that comparison to Woods in the opener.  "In the first half, wherever that ball went, they were catching it," he said.  "I could care less who makes the catches as long as they catch it."
• Of course, Utah will watch the Minnesota game film and change up the coverage on USC's star receiver.  "To think that Robert's going to get single coverage every single game, shame on us," Gilmore said about distributing the ball to other weapons.  "Based on how the defense plays, who knows who is going to get the ball."
• Marqise Lee enjoyed a solid debut with five catches and 32 yards.  Even the greatest USC freshmen receivers waited a game or two before breaking through in dominant fashion.  "When a ball comes in his direction, he has a chance to do something really good with it," Gilmore said that it's all about opportunity.
• As for the receiver and tight end drops, "It always comes back to fundamentals," Gilmore said.  "Those young men who had those mishaps, I'm sure they were trying to do something before they caught the ball."
  
• In practice today, George Uko picked off Cody Kessler.  They'd like to get the talented redshirt freshman more snaps against Utah.
• Keeping an eye on the kids, WR Victor Blackwell caught a TD bomb on a perfectly laid in pass by Kessler.
• The Utah match-up is starting to take on a big game feel.  "Can you imagine playing the first Pac-12 game?" Monte Kiffin said.  "Boy, they are going to be fired up."
• From what we're all reading, the Pac-12 may only last a year.  "We just got used to this one, so whatever happens, we''l just figure it out," Lane Kiffin said about expansion.
  
• Here is Lane Kiffin on all subjects...

• Looking back, the Trojans came away from the opener injury-free.  Abe Markowitz returned today and will compete for a starting guard spot.
• Javorious "Buck" Allen (pictured by Jon SooHoo) participated in his first practice.  At first glance, he has an upright running style a la Adrian Peterson.  He'll wear #37.
• Marc Tyler is officially back.  He could help immediately in short yardage as a bigger runner and the offense will benefit from having another veteran in the huddle, Lane Kiffin said.  "He did everything right," Kiffin said about Tyler's reinstatement.
• Dillon Baxter attracted a large media scrum after practice due to the now public nature of his Sunday meeting with the head coach.  "He practiced as hard as he ever has," said Kiffin about Baxter's positive response today.  "That's what we want to see."
  
• Sammy Knight will take over as the secondary coach.  He'll get help from Monte Kiffin, especially in the meeting room.  "We've got a lot of confidence in Sammy," Lane Kiffin said.  "I know the players like Sammy a lot too."
  
• The head coach took some heat in the wake of game one for his critical post-game comments about the offense having only two good players.  "I didn't mean it that way.  Obviously, we had some guys that did play well," Kiffin mentioned Matt Kalil and Rhett Ellison as two more positives.  He also liked the running back play.
  
• Kiffin continues to be concerned about his offensive line and tight ends.  "We need to be more consistent," said Kiffin who pointed at the stark contrast between the line play in the first half (positive) and the second half (negative plus TE drops).
  
• The coaching staff feels a sense of urgency to get the offensive line solidified ahead of a stern test from Utah's defensive front four.  In the Lane Kiffin era, "This is the best front four we've seen and had to face," Kiffin said.  "The front seven in general is really, really good and dominant at times."
  
• Center Khaled Holmes echoed his coach's sentiment regarding Utah's talent up front and the improvement needed to defuse them.  "The way we played in the first half, if we can play like that in all four quarters, we can put a great game together," Holmes said.  "Utah has a great front four.  I'm looking forward to the challenge."
  
• Kiffin pointed out the wayward shotgun snap as the momentum changing point in the second half.  "It was a strange thing, but it's not something that is going to happen again," Holmes declared.  "As soon as I snapped it, it just felt wrong."
• As for the drops, tight ends coach Justin Mesa worked with his unit after practice on making the tough catch.  He hammered them with a pad as they tried to reel in passes.
• Play of the day: Freshman OL Cyrus Hobbi dominated fellow freshman Antwaun Woods in the one-on-one session.  He basically rooted his teammate to the spot and left him spinning his wheels.  Both players will likely redshirt.
• Here is a long media session with Lane Kiffin...

• Sophomore WR Robert Woods set a new USC single-game record with 17 catches (breaking Johnnie Morton's mark of 15).  He accounted for all three touchdowns, including a spectacular grab behind his head for a 43-yard score.  "That was something I've never seen before," Matt Barkley said about the second TD hook-up.  "He is a smart, cerebral player who has mastered the playbook...and his athleticism on top of that helps."

• Barkley was not too shabby himself.  After a near perfect 18 for 20 in the first half, he finished with a school record-setting 34 completions (45 attempts) for 304 yards with 3 TDs and no interceptions.  "I'm pleased with the quarterback," Lane Kiffin said.  The head coach wanted to see more accuracy from his QB this season and he got it.  "He's staring at 80, 85 or 90%," Kiffin bemoaned the eight drops.

• If you can remember a year ago, failed two-point conversions were a big story after the Hawaii game.  John Baxter's unorthodox style confuses fans, but the players are taught to go for it if they get an "advantage" look.  "If they give it to us, we take it," Kiffin explained that they missed a block on the first attempt.  However, Kiffin understands the fans frustration.  "I know.  I agree," he said when pressed on just taking the point. 
  

• Two-minute defense was the primary focus of the offseason since the Trojans lost so many gut-wrenching games in 2010.  With a fourth down decision to make, Kiffin elected to punt and trust his defense.  Torin Harris rewarded the coach's faith with a game-clinching interception.  "I really was just reading the receiver," Harris explained.  "I looked back and saw the ball was there and I had to make a play." 
  

• The pass rush was expected to be the strength of the defense, and they came through with three sacks.  "The sky's the limit, but we've got to do it," DE Devon Kennard said about the potential of his unit.  "I think we left some out there."  Senior DT DaJohn Harris is the least celebrated starting defensive lineman, but he produced two tackles for loss and six total tackles.

• The defense needed Chris Galippo so much today that he never came out.  Playing in between redshirt freshmen Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard, the linebackers needed an experienced voice.  "The series of events called for a little more veteran leadership," Galippo said about playing every snap.  "My job as the 'Mike' linebacker is the most difficult on the defense without a doubt.  There were times when I had to get guys lined up."  He also managed to make six tackles (2.5 for loss), a sack and broke up a pass.

• We'll do a feature on the running back group tomorrow, but keep in mind the -34 yards on the wild snap gets taken out of the rushing total (officially 67 yards).  D.J. Morgan and Curtis McNeal combined for 103 yards rushing on 24 carries.

• Lane Kiffin told Robert Woods about the single-game catch record at a meeting last night.  "It's time to break it," the head coach said to his star receiver.  "So yeah, I guess we did expect it."

• Abe Markowitz "moved around off the field," but he still did not practice, which leaves Jeremy Galten as the presumptive choice to start at left guard. 
  
• "I'm so excited for Saturday!" Galten said.  "It's a dream come true.  They have not sat me down and flat out told me, but I've been taking reps with the ones."
• Galten admitted that he might be nervous, but he will have veterans on either side of him to lean on.  "Either way, I've got Khaled [Holmes] to my right and I've got Matt Kalil to my left, so I'm surrounded by two great football players," he said. 
  
• The offensive line remains Lane Kiffin's greatest concern on this team.  "That's a huge question mark," he admitted.  "When your offensive line plays bad, it effects the health of your quarterback."
  
• The coaching staff unveiled powder blue and gold scout team jerseys, which incensed the players forced to wear them.  "Hopefully, they'll be motivated to get off service team," Kiffin joked. 
  
• The players that don't have to don rival colors had a good laugh.  "I guess they put them in UCLA jerseys, so we would see them as the enemy, but it was pretty funny at the time," RB Curtis McNeal said.
• The running back corps has a redemptive feel that runs through the group.  From Curtis McNeal (academics) to D.J. Morgan (knee) and Dillon Baxter (discipline), the unit has worked hard to overcome last year's obstacles and now Saturday is the reward.
• "I've waited a long time," said Morgan who has not played a game in two years.  "I'm a little jittery, but I think once I get out there and see the fans, I'm just going to be hyped and hopefully I remember everything I have to do."
• Kiffin has not named a starting running back.  "Whoever is in there is going to get the job done, so the Trojan fans don't have to worry," Morgan quipped.
• The head coach is really pleased with the chemistry his team has developed over the last month.  "I don't know how many wins it's going to equate to, but this team is very together.  Very few individuals, very team atmosphere and very competitive."
• Here is the Kiffin's final presser before we can start talking about games...