USC was back out on Dedeaux Field today under gray skies...
- The defense dominated this morning's session. "I thought the defense for two days in a row played very physical and uptempo," said head coach Lane Kiffin. "I think we are going to play really well on defense [Saturday]."
While the USC defense has been sized down in the front seven during the Kiffin era to adjust to all the spread offenses, the head coach is hoping that practicing against a pro-style offense each week will help them adjust to Stanford's physical style.- After games against pass-happy Hawaii and Syracuse, the Trojans are gearing up for a fistfight Saturday. "They are a real tough team," said DE Kevin Greene. "All their hard work and dedication really shows up on film. We just have to get our mind right."
- (Classic John McGillen photo of Greene from 2011)
- Greene's specialty as an end is pass rushing. When it comes to run defense, he is focused on "just staying low and making sure that I come off physical every play."
- Morgan Breslin, who started the first two games, is another speedy defensive end. "He does have to be a little more aware on outside plays of overrunning them," said defensive line coach Ed Orgeron about Breslin, but, "I'd rather have that than the other way."
- Breslin has been the biggest surprise on the team, according to Kiffin. "He's just continued to grow every day," said Orgeron, who then reminded the media it's only been two games. "We've got a long season. This guy has a lot of things to get better at."
- Greene is another player that has been thrust into the spotlight due to the depth issues at defensive end, but as Lane Kiffin likes to say, "If you stay, you play." "It's all about hard work. It's all about keeping your mouth shut and getting better every day," said Greene. "What you can control is how hard you work and how serious you take things on and off the field."
- While Curtis McNeal answered questions yesterday about the game-ending fumble against Stanford last year, S T.J. McDonald's costly personal foul late in regulation was a topic of discussion today. "He has [changed his play]," said Kiffin about McDonald. "In general, he tries to avoid that area. I still don't know...will never know...how the penalty we are discussing could have been stopped."
- Kiffin called Robert Woods and Marqise Lee the best blocking duo of wide receivers during his time at Troy.
- The head coach is also impressed by Jim Mora Jr.'s work across town. "[UCLA] got off to a great start. Some gigantic numbers. It is not easy to get your offense and defense playing that well that fast."
- The atmosphere in Palo Alto was electric two years ago with a big Trojan contingent amid a nearly sold out crowd. "It was huge [two years ago]," said Greene, a Bay Area native. "It was loud and the crowd was rowdy." However, Stanford is on the quarter system, so the students are not in school yet.
- A much better camera angle of Coach Kiffin as he addressed the media today...
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