1. Brown in?
Backup linebacker Luthur Brown looks ready to play. Brown, who missed most of training camp and the season opener because of a back injury, knocked out Damian Williams’ mouthpiece with a big hit, took down Anthony McCoy after a catch and broke up a pass intended for Joe McKnight. So will Brown play against Ohio State? “I’m just going to take it day by day,” he said.
2. Truly offensive
USC’s offense looked out of sync. I saw dropped passes, overthrown passes, a fumbled pitch and a high and wild shotgun snap. Perhaps that’s why quarterback Mark Sanchez wasn’t in full banter mode after practice, refusing to play along with my contention that he got a haircut in honor of Ohio State week. “I wanted to do it before the first week, but I didn’t have time,” Sanchez claimed. “It was just too long, and my helmet was too hot.”
3. It is Ohio State week, right?
I expected a media circus for the first practice leading up to the Game of the Century (or at least of the Week), and there were definitely a few more TV people than usual, plus ESPN.com Pac-10 blogger (and fine fellow) Ted Miller. But it was hardly out of control, and in a lot of ways it didn’t feel much different than the practices leading up to the Virginia game. Which is exactly how Pete Carroll wants it.
