Here’s some USC reaction from today’s practice.
Head Coach Pete Carroll
On bringing his philosophy to the USC program…
“You come in with your philosophy and your approach. You have to deliver it and find ways to make sense of it for
those that are thinking otherwise. That’s what the culture change is all about. The first thing you have to do is let
your players feel where you are coming from and what you are all about. They have to have a sense that things
are changing in a favorable way.”
On tailback Stafon Johnson returning from injury…
“He’s had good days. He looked good when we were competing. We have the luxury of holding him back a little to
make sure he makes it through these hard days. He’s ready to play.”
On the mindset of the defense…
“They only know one way. For years here, we don’t alter anything we’ve done against opponents regardless of
what their make-up was or their personnel or where they come from. These guys have played rock solid through
all but a quarter and a half all year. The [Pac-10] conference has always posed difficult challenges and you don’t
know where it’s coming from or when it’s coming, so you have to be on it every single game. That’s the only way
we’ve ever approached it.”
On the team being in a normal game-week rhythm this week…
“It’s kind of like a bye week because you have the extra day [to prepare]. We’re in that mode and we’ve had a
bunch of those this year. It has felt good and even coming over here [McAlister Soccer Field] the guys have
responded well and we’ve had a great practice out here today and took advantage of it. Nothing is throwing us off
course.”
Safety Taylor Mays
On the national attention USC’s defense receives…
“We have a very humble approach to the season, especially after the Oregon State game. Humility is a big word for our
defense and we feel like we have to prove it every play when we go out on the field. Every opportunity, every game we look
forward to be able to prove one more time what this defense is about.”
On the defense regaining its poise after losing to Oregon State…
“I think we got to a point as a team, we didn’t care who we played, we just had to execute on defense. We would have
played anybody, anytime. We knew we would be successful if we executed. We’d play the Dallas Cowboys if it came down
to it. That’s the confidence that we had. That’s the confidence our coaches helped us get to. We were lucky to be able to
find that during the season.”
“We had great leaders and great coaches on our team. Guys are so hungry to prove our defense on every play, that we
weren’t lackadaisical at all. We were just looking for the next play.”
Linebacker/Defensive End Clay Matthews
On choosing to attend and play football at USC…
“I knew when I came here that if they gave me a shot, I was going to be able to play. I thought I was going to be a
special teams contributor and I just kept working my way up the ranks and I am really enjoying it.”
On how he would describe his position on the field…
“I consider myself a stand-up defensive lineman or a rush linebacker, however you want to look at it. I’m really
playing defensive end within the scheme. I bring more versatility to the position because I am able to cover the
running back out of the backfield, drop into coverage or rush the passer. I’m not your prototypical defensive end