The Trojans defense remains under the microscope.
- After the worst defensive performance statistically in school history, Lane Kiffin has sensed a different attitude from that side of the ball this week. "I can see our defense's excitement to get back out on the field. Saturday can't come fast enough."
- The head coach has taken responsibility. The defensive architect Monte Kiffin has blamed himself. And, the players have owned up to their mistakes. "We need to take all of it," said LB Hayes Pullard about responsibility. "The coaches coach; the players play. They give us the scheme and the plays to go out there and we need to go out there and execute them.
- Pullard is one of many prideful people on the Trojans defense, so the 62 point barrage was tough to swallow. "It was tough to be a part of. It humbled us," he said. "I've learned from it and I promised myself that it wouldn't happen again."
- Monte Kiffin does not want to get into specific changes in case Oregon comes up again in a month, but he spoke plainly about the performance, "We need to get better."
- Arizona State is not Oregon, but the Sun Devils will run a version of the uptempo spread offense this week. "They present issues because [Taylor Kelly] is playing very efficient with his quarterback rating," said Lane Kiffin. "They have three different backs in there that make plays...and the quarterback's ability to make plays when things break down."
- T.J. McDonald is the leader of the defense, so he needs to rally the troops after two morale sapping losses. "We've got a chip on our shoulder right now," said the senior captain. "We want to prove that we're the defense that we know we are. We just want to be able to rebound from last week."
- Several Trojans voted for the first time Tuesday. Among them, Robert Woods drove all the way back to Carson to exercise his constitutional right. He proudly wore his "I voted" sticker all day.
- Here is Lane Kiffin mostly on the defense...
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