Arizona Football vs. USC: Rich Rod and Helton Coaches Comments, Players Pumped, Game Info
USC Head Coach Helton pregame comments:
On the beginning of their (USC’s) season, winning straight two games now:
I think the team, what they’ve done has gotten better each and every week. Last week beating a good top 25 Colorado team I think the team has been building a lot of confidence. You know we are not a finished product yet, but we’ve had some turnovers last week that we have to get rid of–we are playing really good defense at this point. Still digging ourselves out of a whole but we are getting closer.
Growing Pains and Sam Darold:
Anytime that you’re dealing with young people, you know there’s going to be some growing pains. Right now those growing pains are a couple of turnovers by Sam; three out of the four turnovers were Sam’s, two fumbles and an interception by Sam. They way he is distributing it he is doing an excellent job, he just has to limit ball security issues.
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On Arizona’s Injuries (Helton said Cody Ippolito is “One of the good guys in the conference, he’s always been a challenge to go against” and was sad to hear about his injury:
The three quarterbacks Arizona has are very very athletic, they are RPO heavy, but run and pass — so you don’t have to make different game plans. Running back wise we know Nick Wilson is a great player, we know he is injured. The wide receiving corps with Shun Brown and Trey Griffey
On Khalil Tate and Brandon Dawkins:
Being at Serra HS, we’ve had some good fortune there in the recruiting aspect. I’ve known Khalil for several years as well as Brandon Dawkins both from this area, and have grown up watching them. They are both extreme athletes — He [Tate] fits Arizona’s system extremely well. That zone read offense that includes RPO’s I mean he’s absolutely made for.
They’re doing a good job with him. He’s beyond electric, a very very strong runner. It’s like having a running back, back there, he can fight through tackles; he usually makes the first guy miss, he’s a dangerous weapon.
“They’re doing a good job with him. He’s beyond electric, a very very strong runner.” USC Coach Helton on Khalil Tate
On California players committing to Arizona and not offered by USC:
There’re 123 Pac-12 players signed here [USC], and you can only sign 25 per school. So you look at that, and you know that those you don’t sign you are going to compete against. And you know Rich Rod is one of the best out there. Not only are they well coached good players, they play with a chip on their shoulders.
On having the Rams play in the Coliseum, how does that affect the team:
I think it’s always nice to come home. One of the things that’s great about USC there’s been 496 draft picks, and that’s most in the history of college football by any school. We’re very fortunate to develop our kids here and then go off on to the NFL to several teams.
And now having the LA Rams back, they have the good fortune to be able to come back home and be able to play in the Coliseum again. I think that’s a very unique opportunity and a special one for them. I’m really really glad for them.