The Trojans will get four practices in this week with an extra day to prepare.
- The injury list remains long, but the outlook is improving. DT DaJohn Harris (ankle), S Jawanza Starling, LB Hayes Pullard (neck), LB Dion Bailey (concussion), RB Marc Tyler (shoulder), WR Marqise Lee and WR Robert Woods were all out or limited.
- Bailey has not been cleared for contact yet.
- Lee and Woods practiced, but wore yellow no-contact jerseys.
- RB George Farmer (ankle) participated on a limited basis for the first time in a couple weeks, but he is still not full speed.
- Monday is usually an off day, so the ranks were even more depleted by players leaving early for class. In order to keep going, quarterbacks Jesse Scroggins and Cody Kessler played some wide receiver.
- Walk-on RB Nic Curry used his moment at wideout as a chance to shine. He made the play of the day on a diving catch that looked a lot like Julio Jones spectacular grab for the Atlanta Falcons yesterday.
Former USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt, who now runs Washington's defense, provided some bulletin board material for the Trojans. "We'll be OK against these guys," he said. "I'd rather play USC than Oregon quite honestly." The quote is posted all over Heritage Hall (photo by Dan Greenspan).- Lane Kiffin on Holt's words: "They can say whatever they want. They beat us two years in a row."
- Kiffin on his relationship with Steve Sarkisian: "It's brought us even closer, both becoming head coaches and understanding what the other person has to go through."
- Sarkisian is 2-0 vs. USC since taking the UW job, but Kiffin would not bite on the storyline. He has alluded to a personal competition in the past, but "this isn't about Sarkisian or Kiffin," he said.
- Freshman Lamar Dawson will start at middle linebacker again this Saturday. "Lamar is a great student," Kiffin explained how quickly he has adjusted to the college game. "His approach to the game is really sharp. He would have played a lot more by now if he hadn't had the setback."
- Of course, more Dawson means less playing time for senior Chris Galippo. "Just another something else that I kind of have to deal with in my career now," said Galippo, who played well off the bench at Boulder. "I'm not going to feel sorry for myself. I'm going to come out here everyday and prove what type of linebacker I am."
- Dawson and Galippo bring different strengths to a defense. "I've done what I'm good at, the mental side of the game, getting guys lined up [and] being a leader out there," Galippo described his play.
- Dawson is still adjusting to "a different level" of speed and thinking in the college game, but he is a dynamic athlete. "I played decent," Dawson said about his first start. "I missed a couple of assignments. I still have to work and get better for this week."
- Here is more from Lane Kiffin...
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