USC Football: Tuesday & Wednesday Practice Notes

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Aug 21, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tailback Curtis McNeal (22) catches a pass at practice at Dedeaux Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The Trojans take on Stanford in three days, and there is a bit of a changing of the guard going on right now. Though the Cardinal is obviously not an ideal opponent to go against with new faces, the USC coaching staff is confident in the abilities of one player in particular to get the job done.

Here as some notes from Tuesday and Wednesday practices:

: Quick Hits:

Starting center Khaled Holmes left last week’s victory over Syracuse on a cart after suffering an apparent right ankle injury late in the game. As USC is not offering injury reports, Holmes’ status is currently unknown. Against the Orange, redshirt freshman Cyrus Hobbi stepped in for Holmes and will likely get the start against Stanford is Holmes is still unavailable.
Last year against Stanford, LB Dion Bailey left the game due to a concussion. After practice on Wednesday, Bailey told the media he still has not seen the ending of that triple-overtime spectacular.

:Coaches’ Quips:

OL Coach James Cregg offered his take on Hobbi:“I feel real comfortable with him, knowing his assignments, what’s going on. He studies the game. We’re excited about him.”
Lane Kiffin would not comment on the Andre Heidari surgery report. USC beat writer Scott Wolf reported this story late last week, and as a result was barred from USC practice for two weeks, and will not be issued credentials for the game against Cal.
Lane Kiffin was asked about UCLA head coach Jim Mora’s recent successes, and he offered this comment:”It is not easy to get your offense and defense playing that well that fast.”
Kiffin said Woods and Lee are special players and not just the catches, but how seriously they take blocking downfield.