Practice Update

USC practiced at Dedeaux Field today for its last bye week practice that will not include Utah game planning. Lane Kiffin said defensive end Morgan Breslin played every snap against Cal.
He also said Breslin, who does not speak to the media, says little to the team either.
“He does not have a personality at all,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin said he hoped the Cal was an example of USC’s identity as a team.
Wide receiver Robert Woods returned to practice today. Kiffin said some members of the team were “under the weather.” The flu bug apparently hit some players before the Stanford game.

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Morning Buzz

Matt Barkley believes he’s “managed the games tremendously well” this season and admitted “this is not a year for me to start complaining about stats or anything like that.”
Link here.

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Neuheisel On Injuries

“There probably should be some sort of standardization as to how you report injuries and (the Pac-12 should) adopt the NFL or ACC rules, but at the end of the day, who’s really going to tell the truth?”

— Pac-12 Network analyst Rick Neuheisel on whether the conference should adopt a weekly injury report similar to the NFL or ACC
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Practice Update

Lane Kiffin said he spoke to Matt Barkley, Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and the tailbacks before the season to let them know he would be more concerned with winning than stats this season.
“If they are going to play us the way they are (Barkley) won’t have those big numbers,” Kiffin said.
Barkley admitted his patience is being tried by opposing defenses but said “this is not a year for me to be complaining” and he is happy when the team rushes for 300 yards.
Kiffin said he could not legally discuss cornerback Brian Baucham’s health situation. Tailback D.J. Morgan (knee) is expected back this week.
Robert Woods and Marqise Lee were given the day off. Kiffin said freshman Jabari Ruffin is being moved into some pass-rush situations and will likely redshirt.

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Morning Buzz

USC coach Lane Kiffin said again teams are putting in defenses specifically for the Trojans.
“First off, we got to credit defenses,” Kiffin said. “They get paid, too, to coach. We are seeing different defenses in the first quarter of our games than on tape (because of the focus on Woods and Lee). Link here.

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Refs Watch

Mike Pereira, an officiating consultant for the Pac-12, said three fired refs are now working as NFL replacement refs in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News. Pereira previously said fired Lingerie Football League officials worked an NFL game.
Which ones were worse?

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