As I mentioned in the quick hits thread, Thursday practice is closed to the media and we are only allowed access to head coach Clay Helton. Here's everything he had to say after Thursday.
On injuries
“To be honest with you, I think that Steven (Mitchell) and Darreus (Rogers) are probably not going to make it unless something dramatic happens here pretty quickly. Chad (Wheeler) is a day to day but he he has not been cleared. So we’ve got some injuries on offense right now that are going on. We practiced with Zach Banner on the left and Chuma (Edoga) on the right and with Nico Falah backing up both spots, preparing for the tackle situation. Obviously you see Deontay Burnett getting some more reps, Adoree’ Jackson coming over, helping us, getting some more reps. We’re a little banged up on offense. We’ll see how Tre (Madden) is for the game, he has a really sore knee but it may give an opportunity for RoJo to get in some more and really contribute. There’s a couple game time decisions but that’s about where we’re at right now.”
On whether Adoree’ Jackson will play defense as well as offense
“He will definitely play on defense when needed and especially on third down situations. We’ll, again, monitor his reps. He’s about an 80 play max rep guy. We’ll try to keep it within that frame work.”
On concern with moving Banner to the left side against a tough opponent
“Zach is a very experienced tackle, he’s played a lot of ball now, as well as all of them. Like I’ve told them, they’re not rookies anymore. All these guys have played and played a lot. So, you know, it’s just another tool in his tool box. Does he have the talent to be a left tackle? Yes, he does. In my opinion, his strength is pass protection. He’s trying to become a better run blocker, in my opinion. But in pass protection, I think he’s more than capable of doing it. Chuma being a young guy, has the athleticism to do it but has played right tackle his entire high school career. So to have to move him to left, as a young guy, I don’t want to quite do that to him yet.”
On what Dom Davis brings to the table as a receiver
“Pure speed, pure speed. He has the ability to not only be a running back but also a great receiver out of the backfield. You’ve seen the explosion plays that he’s created. And really those younger kids are starting to come along. When you get into the second half of the season and they’re really starting to feel comfortable in their own skin, that’s when you really pour it on with them. So there’s going to be some young players playing in this game, it’s a very talented group. There will be some learning curve, we’ll have some rookie mistakes. But we’ll live with those because of the amount of explosion they bring. We’re an offense averaging 7.2 yards a play, that’s top in our league. And a lot of that explosiveness is coming from our young kids.”
On how USC becomes a physical team like Utah
“We don’t hope we’re physical, we know we’re physical. You watch our practices that have been out here the last two weeks, we’re becoming more and more. We know the game will be won upfront. I’ve told the team that, the offensive and defensive line will win this game for us because their physicality that they showed on Tuesday, the pass rush on Wednesday, that’s really, in my mind, the key to the game. You’re talking about a Utah front that goes eight deep, very physical and very big. And you’re talking about an offensive line that’s really doing a great job for Booker. So we will do a great job on the offensive front, there’s no hope to it.”
On his first time being the head coach at the Coliseum
“Very special. Anytime that you get around the Trojan Family and you get to represent them and the University of Southern California, man, what a great opportunity. I’m having more fun than anybody in the world right now. You throw some wins on top of that and I’ll be the happiest person on earth. But these kids have made it fun for myself, it’s made it fun for the staff. You seem them out here working their tails off. They want to be great. So yeah, it’s a very humbling experience. You dream about it. I’ve been in it 21 years, to have the chance to represent these kids and the Trojan family, yeah it’ll be humbling. My hair will be standing up on the back of my neck for sure.”
On how Chuma Edoga compares to other young linemen that have played for USC
“He provides an extreme amount of athleticism. His future is so bright. I was very fortunate to be around the guys like Tyron Smith and Matt Kalil and the athleticism that they brought to the table. I see Chuma as a future left tackle at this level of football and beyond. He has some of the better feet, as good of feet as I’ve seen. It’s very comparable to Matt Kalil’s and Tyron, he has those type of qualities. Not to say that he’s there yet, he’s got a lot of growing to do, a lot of work to continue, but you see the tools there. Being an o-line coach’s son, I know when I see a good one. He’s going to be a really, really, good one.”
On how Cody Kessler breaks his streak of interceptions
“The biggest thing is I don’t want him to force anything. I don’t want him to press, you know, to say ‘gosh, I got to make a play.’ Just let it come to you. Go through your reads. When he does that, you talk about a kid that’s been 70-percent plus his entire career. Just let it come to you. Don’t try to force it, don’t try to make things happen. you see the one-on-one opportunity, pull the trigger, no question. But if they’re double, triple covered, let’s don’t force it, let’s don’t put us in that position."
On injuries
“To be honest with you, I think that Steven (Mitchell) and Darreus (Rogers) are probably not going to make it unless something dramatic happens here pretty quickly. Chad (Wheeler) is a day to day but he he has not been cleared. So we’ve got some injuries on offense right now that are going on. We practiced with Zach Banner on the left and Chuma (Edoga) on the right and with Nico Falah backing up both spots, preparing for the tackle situation. Obviously you see Deontay Burnett getting some more reps, Adoree’ Jackson coming over, helping us, getting some more reps. We’re a little banged up on offense. We’ll see how Tre (Madden) is for the game, he has a really sore knee but it may give an opportunity for RoJo to get in some more and really contribute. There’s a couple game time decisions but that’s about where we’re at right now.”
On whether Adoree’ Jackson will play defense as well as offense
“He will definitely play on defense when needed and especially on third down situations. We’ll, again, monitor his reps. He’s about an 80 play max rep guy. We’ll try to keep it within that frame work.”
On concern with moving Banner to the left side against a tough opponent
“Zach is a very experienced tackle, he’s played a lot of ball now, as well as all of them. Like I’ve told them, they’re not rookies anymore. All these guys have played and played a lot. So, you know, it’s just another tool in his tool box. Does he have the talent to be a left tackle? Yes, he does. In my opinion, his strength is pass protection. He’s trying to become a better run blocker, in my opinion. But in pass protection, I think he’s more than capable of doing it. Chuma being a young guy, has the athleticism to do it but has played right tackle his entire high school career. So to have to move him to left, as a young guy, I don’t want to quite do that to him yet.”
On what Dom Davis brings to the table as a receiver
“Pure speed, pure speed. He has the ability to not only be a running back but also a great receiver out of the backfield. You’ve seen the explosion plays that he’s created. And really those younger kids are starting to come along. When you get into the second half of the season and they’re really starting to feel comfortable in their own skin, that’s when you really pour it on with them. So there’s going to be some young players playing in this game, it’s a very talented group. There will be some learning curve, we’ll have some rookie mistakes. But we’ll live with those because of the amount of explosion they bring. We’re an offense averaging 7.2 yards a play, that’s top in our league. And a lot of that explosiveness is coming from our young kids.”
On how USC becomes a physical team like Utah
“We don’t hope we’re physical, we know we’re physical. You watch our practices that have been out here the last two weeks, we’re becoming more and more. We know the game will be won upfront. I’ve told the team that, the offensive and defensive line will win this game for us because their physicality that they showed on Tuesday, the pass rush on Wednesday, that’s really, in my mind, the key to the game. You’re talking about a Utah front that goes eight deep, very physical and very big. And you’re talking about an offensive line that’s really doing a great job for Booker. So we will do a great job on the offensive front, there’s no hope to it.”
On his first time being the head coach at the Coliseum
“Very special. Anytime that you get around the Trojan Family and you get to represent them and the University of Southern California, man, what a great opportunity. I’m having more fun than anybody in the world right now. You throw some wins on top of that and I’ll be the happiest person on earth. But these kids have made it fun for myself, it’s made it fun for the staff. You seem them out here working their tails off. They want to be great. So yeah, it’s a very humbling experience. You dream about it. I’ve been in it 21 years, to have the chance to represent these kids and the Trojan family, yeah it’ll be humbling. My hair will be standing up on the back of my neck for sure.”
On how Chuma Edoga compares to other young linemen that have played for USC
“He provides an extreme amount of athleticism. His future is so bright. I was very fortunate to be around the guys like Tyron Smith and Matt Kalil and the athleticism that they brought to the table. I see Chuma as a future left tackle at this level of football and beyond. He has some of the better feet, as good of feet as I’ve seen. It’s very comparable to Matt Kalil’s and Tyron, he has those type of qualities. Not to say that he’s there yet, he’s got a lot of growing to do, a lot of work to continue, but you see the tools there. Being an o-line coach’s son, I know when I see a good one. He’s going to be a really, really, good one.”
On how Cody Kessler breaks his streak of interceptions
“The biggest thing is I don’t want him to force anything. I don’t want him to press, you know, to say ‘gosh, I got to make a play.’ Just let it come to you. Go through your reads. When he does that, you talk about a kid that’s been 70-percent plus his entire career. Just let it come to you. Don’t try to force it, don’t try to make things happen. you see the one-on-one opportunity, pull the trigger, no question. But if they’re double, triple covered, let’s don’t force it, let’s don’t put us in that position."
