A scorching hot Sunday took on a Wednesday format for the Trojans...
- With a Saturday off, USC players and coaches had some time to get a sense of the landscape of college football. The hot topic was West Virginia QB Geno Smith throwing for 8 touchdowns in a 70-63 win over Baylor. Matt Barkley called the numbers "impressive" and like a "video game."
Lane Kiffin on Smith and West Virginia: "I don't know how you do that. It's just amazing. It's hard to do that on air versus a service team."- The latest AP Top 25 features six teams from the Pac-12. Interestingly, Kiffin credits the depth in the conference partly to the new "dynamic coaches," but also to the NCAA sanctions and USC being forced to miss out on some top recruits. "I think that's a result of us just not nailing recruiting the last five years. Once we get our numbers back to where we are allowed to sign more, that's going to help as well."
- The USC story lines are headlined by the surprisingly minimal or at least inconsistent production from WR Robert Woods. He did not seem worried in the least. "Not at all," Woods said. "I am just trying to make the best of the opportunities that I do get."
- Kiffin on getting Woods going: "Throw him the ball more early would help. Teams have done a good job taking him away."
- Barkley on Woods: "His plays will come. It was great for us to establish the run game last week."
- The offensive line competition continues at left tackle as Aundrey Walker and Max Tuerk are splitting the reps 50/50 this week.
- While Barkley would love to see Khaled Holmes in front of him Thursday, he is feeling more comfortable with backup C Abe Markowitz. "He's come a long way," Barkley said. "From camp until now, I feel more comfortable with him."
- Nelson Agholor has a hold on the third receiver spot, but Kiffin is hoping that George Farmer will return soon and challenge the freshman.
- Both Kiffin and Barkley remember Pac-12 Media Day, and how the Utah press made Thursday night's game out to be the Utes "Super Bowl." "We are not taking them lightly at all. It's going to be a big game for them and their fans," Barkley said.
- Here is Kiffin's media scrum on a Sunday afternoon...
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