2018 Notre Dame Tuesday: Notes - USC Athletics

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2018 Notre Dame Tuesday: Notes

2018 Notre Dame Tuesday: Notes

November 20, 2018 /

Aubrey Kragen

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The Trojans hit the practice field on Tuesday in preparation for their final game of the regular season against No. 3 Notre Dame.

Full injury report, per USC head coach Clay Helton: DL Jacob Lichtenstein (shoulder), DL Jay Tufele (foot/ankle sprain), LB John Houston Jr. (hamstring strain) and Greg Johnson (shoulder, will require season-ending surgery) were all held. RB Aca'Cedric Ware, (shoulder), TE Josh Falo (knee) and WR Trevon Sidney (illness) were limited. OT Chuma Edoga (knee) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (knee) practiced.

Helton is impressed with the attitude of the team following the UCLA loss and with a big game coming up this weekend. "Are we disappointed by some of the close losses we've had down the stretch? Yes we are," he said. "But I appreciate how well they came out and worked today in preparation for a big game for us."

Helton knows the Trojans have a tough test this weekend against what he dubbed the best front seven USC has faced all season. "We've seen [Notre Dame DL Jerry] Tillery for a number of years now and he gets better and better and better every year," Helton said. "And he's surrounded by four or five dynamic NFL football players."

Helton noted that patience in the run game will be key against Notre Dame's front. "You do have to have patience to be able to fit that ball in there," Helton said. "Take the ugly four, five, six yards that come with it and hopefully get to those third-and-manageables."

While Saturday will be the final game at the Coliseum for USC's 24 seniors, junior WR Michael Pittman Jr. squashed NFL rumors and explained it wouldn't be his last game at USC. "I have a lot more left here," said Pittman, who could declare for the draft following this season if he so chose. "I know I can raise my stock so much higher than it is now."

Pittman cited the desire to be a team captain and to have his name on USC's All-American wall as reasons for his return, as well as getting his body ready for the next level.

Helton is excited about Pittman's return. "You're talking about a special individual that I think is just starting to tap into his potential," he said. "He has unbelievable explosiveness and ability to garner the ball."

Next year, Pittman will continue to catch balls from USC QB JT Daniels, who will finally have a year of college experience under his belt. Helton said he's looking for Daniels to improve his core strength, footwork and his ability to throw on the run as he heads into Year 2.

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