The intensity of practice rose to a new level today...
- The coaches set the tone of intensity early during the session and the team responded with one of the best practices of fall camp, especially offensively.
During special teams drills, John Baxter had his guys firing off the edge trying to block field goals. CB Ryan Henderson made a great play to knock one down and pick it up for a return.- At the end of practice, Andre Heidari had to make a 45-yard field goal and the team would get to sleep late. He drilled it...but then RB Curtis McNeal went double or nothing. Heidari needed to make from 50 and tonight's meetings would be cancelled. Heidari missed left.
- Lane Kiffin joking about McNeal's gamble: "I said to Curtis, 'That's why you have no money.'"
- In all seriousness, the coaching staff tries to find ways to put pressure on the special teams since all the focus of camp tends to be on offense and defense.
- The final play of practice was a beauty as Cody Kessler rolled to his right and hit freshman WR Nelson Agholor in stride for a deep touchdown pass. Kiffin said that Agholor has "hit the wall," which is typical of freshman at this stage of camp, but he still "flashes."
- TE Randall Telfer also caught a long touchdown pass. It seems like he has been open a lot during camp. "I needed a lot more work at my pass catching game, so that's why it seems like I've been open a lot," Telfer said his coaches put him in for the best plays.
- Telfer made 26 catches as a freshman. How many can he have in this offense with Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, etc.? "I honestly couldn't tell you. It could be 50. It could be 10."
- More importantly, Telfer is looking to fill the leadership void left by Rhett Ellison, who had an all-time work ethic. "We titled him the 'machine,' and the more I can be a machine and lead by example, the better our team will be."
- The tight end group is deep with freshmen Junior Pomee and Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick behind Telfer and Xavier Grimble. Pomee is "growing into his body," said Telfer, and he expects him to be a factor as a blocker, while Cope-Fitzpatrick is "excelling" at a faster rate than most freshmen.
- Aundrey Walker actually had a shoulder injury not a wrist problem during his stay on the sideline. He is back now and ready to test it Sunday at the scrimmage. "We just have to really push him," Kiffin said about his left tackle. "He's got to have a great two weeks here and get ready to play."
- RT Kevin Graf did not practice today. Walk-on Nathan Guertler stepped in with the first team at right tackle.
- Former DB Tony Burnett also worked in with the first team at linebacker with all the injuries to starters.
- Jawanza Starling and Demetrius Wright will take equal reps at strong safety in Sunday's scrimmage as the competition continues.
- Here is Kiffin...
Leave a comment