USC center Toa Lobendahn’s pec strain might keep him out Saturday versus Stanford, according to sources briefed of the situation.

The senior captain is expected to travel with the team and is considered a game-time decision if he makes the trip. Redshirt freshman Brett Neilon would start again if Lobendahn can’t go. True freshman Justin Dedich will also make the trip.

Coach Clay Helton expressed optimism Wednesday that Lobendahn would play after making it through practice that afternoon. But Lobendahn, who was limited Thursday and held out of the season opener, has experienced a bit of a setback in the ensuing days.

I visited with four-star DE Laiatu Latu this afternoon up in Carmichael, Calif. While he released a top-five of Cal, UCLA, Oregon, USC and Washington last week, he told us that the Trojans and Bruins are at the top of that list right now.

Full story here:

https://usc.rivals.com/news/four-star-pass-rusher-laiatu-latu-says-usc-ucla-at-top-of-his-list

sumlin doing work. Mildcats down 21-0 to Houston.

Ask and I shall (try to) answer...

There were no winners last week, which is understandable because it seemed improbable that UNLV would score 21 points. A lot of you were in the ballpark for USC's points total. I think we'll see a much different score this weekend. What says you?

the Ruins getting smoked! The next best thing to a SC win!

Beat Stanford!

Fight On!

hope all is well with everyone...
https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-top-50-recruiting-teams-of-the-past-five-years
this concerns me ...

I had to see what I missed even though watching the game live. Stanford went up 3 spots in the polls based on that right? Well….

SDSU gained yard after yard running up the gut against Stanford and running by tacklers. They fell behind as Stanford reinforced the D line and Stanford scored enough to put SDSU behind by 2 scores. SDSU had to pass and by giving up the ground game opened up the flood gates.

SDSU had two major problems….their QB couldn't throw on the run and held the ball way too long and got sacked (that safety was the first of it). And, secondly the SDSU secondary was poor and porous. They allowed a less than speed burner in Whiteside to get behind them several times and ended up with pass interference. On one play the DBack was playing BEHIND the taller Whiteside on an easy throw and catch TD.

Stanford couldn't handle the overload blitzing of SDSU. Costello looked flustered and Love was sent time after time into the line (Shaw's stubbornness?). Love is dynamite at the corners and turning on the jets. But he is small and goes down quickly running up the gut. In the second half Stanford threw more. On defense Stanford seemed a little slow to the outside but SDSU didn’t press that at all.

Now I am not demeaning Stanford. They are a real team that I put #1 in the North. But at this stage they are beatable by a balanced offense. Surprisingly USC does well up at the farm. In the last 4 here are the scores (USC first): 35-37 (the timekeeper game, who was let go after that game), 14-21, 13-10, 10-27. Overall in the last 10 USC is 4-6 with a very streaky series. Stanford won 3, USC won 2, then Stanford won 3, USC won 2 again. But watch out for penalty calls up here. SDSU had 100 more yards called against them. Stopped their momentum cold. Maybe national TV tempers the refs up there.

News from USC's closed practice Thursday:

C Toa Lobendahn (pec), RT Chuma Edoga (hip) and LT Austin Jackson (ankle) were limited today. Clay Helton said it was done as a precaution to get them healthier for Saturday.

Jackson has been dealing with tendinitis in his knee; Helton said his ankle is doing better and he expects him to play vs. Stanford. Helton later said a decision would be made Friday on who would actually start. I'm guessing Edoga and Lobendahn are in. There's a chance Clayton Bradley will start in place of Jackson at left tackle, though I wouldn’t expect it.

LB Juliano Falaniko has an AC sprain in his shoulder and is doubtful.

Helton said USC spent extra attention today defending jump balls and fades. He says it's an area both Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello and his throwing targets excel in.

"I think they do such a great job of throwing the ball based of leverage and how you're playing them," Helton said. "The other thing with K.J., his No. 1 thing that I think he does a phenomenal job with is, whether it's the deep ball or the red zone fade, he leaves the ball in bounds, he lets his guys make plays. You don't see overthrows, you don't see missed chances. ... We've got to make sure that we're not handsy and that we see the ball and play the ball. We're hooked to the man but we got to see the ball and play it at its highest point. Because if you don't, they're taller than you.”

Helton confirmed Tee Martin is calling all the plays on offense.

Two areas Helton said USC must be better versus Stanford than it was versus UNLV: limiting explosive plays and finishing offensive drives.

Another point of emphasis for him is the QB getting the ball out quick because of what he believes is a strong Stanford pass rush.

With that said, Helton said he has considerably more confidence in the offensive line depth than he did last year. (Granted, he said at the beginning of last year the O-line was two deep at every spot.) But we did see a bit of rotating with the starters at multiple spots vs. UNLV. The Trojans might very well be deeper on the O-line. I believe that to be true. But the jury is still out on how good it is.

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are we ever going to see either of these guys on the field?

Does anyone have the Offensive Line Grades for the USC Line during the UNLV Game?
Hear spattering mumbles about poor performance but would love to see how each guy
graded out.

eom.

The plan for USC on Saturday starts with slowing down running back Bryce Love. But much more goes into beating Stanford.

USC-Stanford analysis

JT Daniels acknowledged that he didn't quite have the same on-field chemistry Saturday with veteran WRs Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman as he did with longtime friend and HS teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown. Daniels, Vaughns, Pittman and offensive coordinator Tee Martin shared their thoughts on the matter, expressing confidence that the rapport will come quickly.

https://usc.rivals.com/news/veteran-wrs-explain-connection-issues-with-new-usc-qb-jt-daniels

Week 2 is a big one for the Trojans as they take on the furd. Check out our review of UNLV and we preview the big conference match up this week.
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I’m soooo over this soft mentality.

Helton “wants them not have heavy legs.” These are viral young men. They need two days of intense competition and can catch up Thursday and Friday. Last year revealed this mentality and practice approach is costly when facing real competition from around the nation. Oregon under Kelleyand Carroll and many others haven proved that practice must be harder and more painful and intense than games if that team is to be in the Natty or playoff picture.

This is my number one concern going into the season and at its start. I just don’t like the philosophy from Helton’s own mouth: “don’t want guys’ legs under them tired.”

Hat just seems the opposite of adding more physicality, grit and toughness.

Thoughts?

Today marks not only the start of another football season for USC, but it also signals a new start for TrojanSports.com. I'm beyond excited to take over as the new site publisher and help build this great community into the future.

Before I introduce myself, though, let me start by saying how thankful I am to have a reporter the caliber of Adam Maya already in place. (And I know that's a shared opinion, as I've read the Adam Maya appreciation thread!). Adam will continue delivering the same thorough reporting, analysis and expertise that has been the face of this site for years. I'm also excited about working with Tajwar Khandaker, our young up-and-comer who has already made such a strong impression with his contributions.

We have a strong team in place and a vision to deliver another level of USC coverage year-round. So where do I come in?

I spent the last two years covering the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla., after previously working for the Kansas City Star and spending enough time in Myrtle Beach, S.C., to cover Coastal Carolina's improbable College World Series championship. Before all that, I spent several years in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., media scene while attending the University of Maryland. So I've been around, but I view Los Angeles and this job as a final destination. No matter where you are in the country, USC is perennially on the radar of every college football fan. I was there when the Trojans opened the 2004 season with a win over Virginia Tech at the Washington Redskins' stadium because I had to see those great Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush teams in person. I'm just as excited now to head to the Coliseum today for the debuts of perhaps the next two USC stars in JT Daniels and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

As for the site, we have so many ideas for how we plan to elevate our coverage and bring more to our subscribers. Our community is ultimately what makes this site go, and we want to provide you the best coverage on the beat. So get ready for more. More daily content. More in-depth looks at USC's recruits and signees before they reach campus. And more conversation, with more frequent podcasts (details to come). Adam and I are already well practiced in debate, having spent much of the last few weeks bantering about the prospects of Trevon Sidney, so yeah, we're ready.

Thanks for reading and being open-minded about a new direction for the site. I know change can be jarring, but let us show you what we have in store for this season and beyond. I look forward to interacting with everybody.

Ryan Young
TrojanSports.com Publisher
(Follow me on Twitter: @RyanYoungRivals)

Don't have it confirmed, and it might not be for a little while, but I'm hearing the sophomore safety is likely done with USC football. Looking further into it. As I’ve reported previously, it involves a serious allegation, one that could find him suspended for multiple years. Not merely an argument, as some have speculated.

to slow down Love, how do we deal with the jump balls to Arcega-Whiteside? The dude can flat out play. My feeling is Stanford showing that last week means more from the TE’s instead of Whiteside and more possession receptions from Trent Irwin. But, Stanford WILL get Love rolling better against SC than they could against a Rocky Long coached SDSU. IMO. So who is it? Biggie or who? Whiteside is 6-3.

USC was in shells and shorts today. I'm told that was the case last Wednesday as well. (I was still on leave.)

"Trying to keep them from getting too heavy-legged," Clay Helton said.

This means that their third-down and red-zone prep isn't in full pads.

I can't recall if USC reduced full-pad practices to just once a week at the beginning of last season. Maybe so. Still, I wonder if it's prudent. I know that's the way more schools are going these days, but not all of them do. Not trying to be that guy, but it's definitely not what 'Bama does. For some reason I thought USC would still have two days in full pads for part of the season (i.e. until mid-October, especially when Thursday is in no pads.

We also didn't see the first-team offense face the first-team defense -- "goods on goods." I guess we'll find out Saturday how much it even matters.

CB Greg Johnson returned after being sick Tuesday. He was with the first team. S Isaiah Pola-Mao was sidelined for the same reason today. Helton said there's a virus going around. Freshman Talanoa Hufanga claimed some of the first-team reps at strong safety.

DT Brandon Pili did not practice. He's wearing a cast to secure a wrist injury he suffered in the opener. Helton said he expects him to play. He did practice Tuesday in the cast. Jay Tufele worked at nose tackle while Marlon Tuipulotu lined up outside. Those guys are seemingly interchangeable. Malik Dorton was the third defensive lineman at times, as Christian Rector lined up in various spots.

LT Austin Jackson was held out, I'm presuming to rest his ankle. Clayton Bradley filled in for him.

TE Josh Falo (hamstring) remained out.

C Toa Lobendahn was again a full participant and Helton felt like he "looked great." Helton said he wasn't in pain coming out of the last practice. He'll start Saturday.

Helton confirmed that the Pac-12 still allows just 70 players to travel for conference road games. Some conferences have increased this number in light of the new redshirt rules.

LB Palaie Gaoteote -- most call him "E-A" -- was a full participant, and he made his mark on his first day back in team periods.

***
1-on-1s (OL vs. DL)
Porter Gustin beats Jalen McKenzie
Chris Brown stops Dorton
Rector beats Bradley
Gustin beats Andrew Vorhees
Alijah Vera-Tucker stops Tufele
Tuipulotu beats an OL on the scut team (couldn't make out the number)
Brown stops a DL from the scout team
Hunter Echols beats Bernard Schirmer
Mckenzie stops Kana'i Mauga
Vorhees stops Liam Jimmons
Brown stops Dorton
Schirmer stops Connor Murphy
Gustin beats Vorhees
AVT stops Jimmons
McKenzie stops Abdul-Malik McMclain
Jacob Lichtenstein beats AVT

***
A couple plays of note from 11-on-11: JT Daniels dropped a pretty deep ball down the middle of the field to Velus Jones, who had a step on his defender but couldn't hang on. Daniels' deep ball is definitely an updgrade from his predecessor. Practice ended with another downfield pass, this one to Erik Krommenhoek, who wasn't looking for the ball as it sailed directly into the arms of Johnson. For the 11th year in a row, it's probably safe to bet the under on receptions from the tight ends.

Helton echoed a point he made earlier in the week about winning first down on both sides of the ball being the key to this matchup with Stanford.

With Ykili Ross no longer on the team and Bubba Bolden likely not on it much longer, I asked DBs coach Ronnie Bradford about the possibility of moving another player to safety, where USC has just four available scholarship bodies. He somewhat causally stated that there are corners on the roster who could make that transition if needed. (He might be referring to Jonathan Lockett.) But Bradford said the staff isn't planning to move a corner to safety "anytime soon."

We have more from Bradford, Biggie Marshall, Clancy Pendergast and Cam Smith coming later. We also recorded a podcast! It'll be up soon.

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I wasn’t able to watch the game. I’ve looked on YouTube for the replay to no avail. Any suggestions on sites to watch the replay? Thanks

nm