Highlights from our latest interviews with players and coaches ...
JuJu Smith-Schuster
--He has no reservations about playing Friday.
“Just wrap it up and just go out there and play again. Just act like its another day of football, just going out there and dominating and not worrying about my pain.”
--His hand isn’t the only thing ailing him right now.
“I cramped up real bad. It’s because throughout the week I was practicing, so I guess I wasn’t drinking enough water or Powerade and I went out there in the third quarter and I was like, damn, I feel it. So it kind of kicked in.”
--There was a reason for him catching his first pass one-handed vs. Arizona.
“I caught it with my left hand. The DB was holding, so the best way for me, I couldn’t catch it with my right hand, the way my hand was, I couldn’t catch a ball one-handed. So I just put my left hand out there where I thought it was going to be and just brought it in.”
--He’ll play with a cast again this week.
--Part of playing with a fractured hand is JuJu wanting to set an example for the team.
“There are a couple guys that are playing through injuries. We have Steven Mitchell with the high ankle sprain and then you got Darreus Rogers with the hamstring issue. I think Su’a Cravens with his thumb stitched up. I think it’s just so cool to see my brothers going out there and playing, knowing we only have three more games in the season and that you just give it your all, no matter what happens. And I think me going out there and playing, just having surgery on Monday and going out there with my hand all wrapped up, I think it sets a good example. A lot of freshmen go up to me like, Dang, you’re crazy, I don’t know how you do it. Even the older guys too.”
Steven Mitchell Jr.
--After dropping some deep balls in practice, he believes he’ll improve that with more reps.
“It’s not playing outside as much, but that comes. We practice that a lot so it’ll come, it’ll come, I have confidence.”
--He can do more than catch bubble screens but he’s not complaining about them either.
“That’s something I think I’ve perfected since I’ve been here. It’s fun playing slot, getting those bubbles and turning it upfield and facing defenders and making them move.”
--His ankle isn’t bothering him.
“My ankle is feeling good. I tape it up just for support but other than that, I’m feeling good. Fast, quick, back to myself.”
--He wasn’t surprised that JuJu played last week.
“JuJu is a warrior and that’s what we expect from him, it’s what we expect from any of us. He went out there after he had surgery and he did his thing, so we’re very proud of him.”
--Playing in cold weather will present some challenges.
“That’s pretty tricky because your hands are kind of frozen. So, my cousin, actually, Devin Ross is a slot receiver there as well. I asked him how did he get used to it. He said it just comes. We’ll be ready. We’re not allowed to wear sleeves out there as a receiving corps, so that’s exciting. … We’ve just never worn sleeves as a receiving corp. No exceptions.”
--The breakout game many have been waiting for might be around the corner.
“I think all my games could be a breakout game. I try to do my best, with as much as I can. Last game, I had some dominating blocks, I believe. I told Coach Tee (Martin) like right before the game, How do you go in and chop block? and he taught me. I just went out there and executed. Most of my games I go out there with a positive mindset.”
--He didn’t realize he’d do this much blocking coming out of high school.
“Coming to college, I believe I was like 169. I came out here and I looked at these linebackers and I was like, you want me to play slot and you want me to block who? I was like no, but as I got older, I started weightlifting more, gaining more weight. I’m stronger, so now it’s fun. We really enjoy it.”
--He had a block downfield for Ronald Jones II during his long TD run.
“He was actually juking me. He was running down and I didn’t know where he was. That kid is amazing but, yeah, I try to make as many blocks as I can.”
Cody Kessler
--He has the freedom to change the plays at the line of scrimmage.
“We have different packages, we have a ton of plays where we don’t even have a play called, we get up there and there are four or five plays in my head and I’ll pick one of those to get it going, just by the look.”
--He sees the offense becoming more of a run-first team.
“I think it’s just whatever works for us right now. Our run game has been great our offensive line has done a great job with the run game, so that’s something we’ve leaned on a lot more, and the guys have done a great job in the backfield. And the offensive line loves it. I get pumped if we get a big run and those guys feel like they did all the work, which they did.
“Coach Helton’s always had that: run the ball, run the ball, throw it over their heads, run the ball, play action pass, whatever it may be. I think we’re really starting to find our identity on offense and guys are sticking to it. Especially with this young offensive line, guys are really starting to find themselves.”
Johnny Nansen
--Ronald Jones II’s leg drive is rare.
"It’s just a natural thing he’s got. He never stops his feet. It’s hard to bring him down. It’s going to take a couple of guys. He’s just a natural runner."
USC is handling Tre Madden very carefully in practice because of all of his previous injuries.
“He’s got to be healthy. The kid’s been through a lot. I’ve got to make sure I manage his reps. The way the game went Saturday, I told him (Monday), I want a healthy Tre. I can’t have a kid out there that’s banged up, especially trying to finish games in the fourth quarter.”
--Playing at Notre Dame helped prepare the team for Colorado’s cold weather, which might be more of a mental challenge than physical one.
“It’s a mentality thing. That’s what I’m challenging my guys – don’t wear sleeves. We’re going to work. Going to get the win. Everybody’s got to do their job. Don’t let the weather be a factor.
--He says the root of USC’s issues in the return game is opponents kicking away from Adoree’ Jackson.
“We’ve got to get our chances. People are not kicking to No. 2. Every week is something new on film. We’ve got to be prepared for all those situations. We’ve got to get better. There were some mistakes on our kickoff coverage team that are easy to fix. That’s what we’re working on this week. …
"They (were) kicking to us (last year). Now there’s a lot of popovers and things, they’re not kicking to us. After talking to a couple special team guys that we played, (they said), We’re not kicking to No. 2. It’s nice to have 22 back there to try and accommodate. They have to kick to No. 2.”
--He doesn’t expect Jackson to ever fair catch a punt.
“Trust me, it drives me crazy. That’s just the way he is. He wants to make things happen. Which is great to have. There’s a couple of times I’m like, Hey, just fair-catch the ball. But No. 2 wants to score every time he gets the ball. We’re working on it.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster
--He has no reservations about playing Friday.
“Just wrap it up and just go out there and play again. Just act like its another day of football, just going out there and dominating and not worrying about my pain.”
--His hand isn’t the only thing ailing him right now.
“I cramped up real bad. It’s because throughout the week I was practicing, so I guess I wasn’t drinking enough water or Powerade and I went out there in the third quarter and I was like, damn, I feel it. So it kind of kicked in.”
--There was a reason for him catching his first pass one-handed vs. Arizona.
“I caught it with my left hand. The DB was holding, so the best way for me, I couldn’t catch it with my right hand, the way my hand was, I couldn’t catch a ball one-handed. So I just put my left hand out there where I thought it was going to be and just brought it in.”
--He’ll play with a cast again this week.
--Part of playing with a fractured hand is JuJu wanting to set an example for the team.
“There are a couple guys that are playing through injuries. We have Steven Mitchell with the high ankle sprain and then you got Darreus Rogers with the hamstring issue. I think Su’a Cravens with his thumb stitched up. I think it’s just so cool to see my brothers going out there and playing, knowing we only have three more games in the season and that you just give it your all, no matter what happens. And I think me going out there and playing, just having surgery on Monday and going out there with my hand all wrapped up, I think it sets a good example. A lot of freshmen go up to me like, Dang, you’re crazy, I don’t know how you do it. Even the older guys too.”
Steven Mitchell Jr.
--After dropping some deep balls in practice, he believes he’ll improve that with more reps.
“It’s not playing outside as much, but that comes. We practice that a lot so it’ll come, it’ll come, I have confidence.”
--He can do more than catch bubble screens but he’s not complaining about them either.
“That’s something I think I’ve perfected since I’ve been here. It’s fun playing slot, getting those bubbles and turning it upfield and facing defenders and making them move.”
--His ankle isn’t bothering him.
“My ankle is feeling good. I tape it up just for support but other than that, I’m feeling good. Fast, quick, back to myself.”
--He wasn’t surprised that JuJu played last week.
“JuJu is a warrior and that’s what we expect from him, it’s what we expect from any of us. He went out there after he had surgery and he did his thing, so we’re very proud of him.”
--Playing in cold weather will present some challenges.
“That’s pretty tricky because your hands are kind of frozen. So, my cousin, actually, Devin Ross is a slot receiver there as well. I asked him how did he get used to it. He said it just comes. We’ll be ready. We’re not allowed to wear sleeves out there as a receiving corps, so that’s exciting. … We’ve just never worn sleeves as a receiving corp. No exceptions.”
--The breakout game many have been waiting for might be around the corner.
“I think all my games could be a breakout game. I try to do my best, with as much as I can. Last game, I had some dominating blocks, I believe. I told Coach Tee (Martin) like right before the game, How do you go in and chop block? and he taught me. I just went out there and executed. Most of my games I go out there with a positive mindset.”
--He didn’t realize he’d do this much blocking coming out of high school.
“Coming to college, I believe I was like 169. I came out here and I looked at these linebackers and I was like, you want me to play slot and you want me to block who? I was like no, but as I got older, I started weightlifting more, gaining more weight. I’m stronger, so now it’s fun. We really enjoy it.”
--He had a block downfield for Ronald Jones II during his long TD run.
“He was actually juking me. He was running down and I didn’t know where he was. That kid is amazing but, yeah, I try to make as many blocks as I can.”
Cody Kessler
--He has the freedom to change the plays at the line of scrimmage.
“We have different packages, we have a ton of plays where we don’t even have a play called, we get up there and there are four or five plays in my head and I’ll pick one of those to get it going, just by the look.”
--He sees the offense becoming more of a run-first team.
“I think it’s just whatever works for us right now. Our run game has been great our offensive line has done a great job with the run game, so that’s something we’ve leaned on a lot more, and the guys have done a great job in the backfield. And the offensive line loves it. I get pumped if we get a big run and those guys feel like they did all the work, which they did.
“Coach Helton’s always had that: run the ball, run the ball, throw it over their heads, run the ball, play action pass, whatever it may be. I think we’re really starting to find our identity on offense and guys are sticking to it. Especially with this young offensive line, guys are really starting to find themselves.”
Johnny Nansen
--Ronald Jones II’s leg drive is rare.
"It’s just a natural thing he’s got. He never stops his feet. It’s hard to bring him down. It’s going to take a couple of guys. He’s just a natural runner."
USC is handling Tre Madden very carefully in practice because of all of his previous injuries.
“He’s got to be healthy. The kid’s been through a lot. I’ve got to make sure I manage his reps. The way the game went Saturday, I told him (Monday), I want a healthy Tre. I can’t have a kid out there that’s banged up, especially trying to finish games in the fourth quarter.”
--Playing at Notre Dame helped prepare the team for Colorado’s cold weather, which might be more of a mental challenge than physical one.
“It’s a mentality thing. That’s what I’m challenging my guys – don’t wear sleeves. We’re going to work. Going to get the win. Everybody’s got to do their job. Don’t let the weather be a factor.
--He says the root of USC’s issues in the return game is opponents kicking away from Adoree’ Jackson.
“We’ve got to get our chances. People are not kicking to No. 2. Every week is something new on film. We’ve got to be prepared for all those situations. We’ve got to get better. There were some mistakes on our kickoff coverage team that are easy to fix. That’s what we’re working on this week. …
"They (were) kicking to us (last year). Now there’s a lot of popovers and things, they’re not kicking to us. After talking to a couple special team guys that we played, (they said), We’re not kicking to No. 2. It’s nice to have 22 back there to try and accommodate. They have to kick to No. 2.”
--He doesn’t expect Jackson to ever fair catch a punt.
“Trust me, it drives me crazy. That’s just the way he is. He wants to make things happen. Which is great to have. There’s a couple of times I’m like, Hey, just fair-catch the ball. But No. 2 wants to score every time he gets the ball. We’re working on it.”
