FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: What’s The Rush?

USC center Toa Lobendahn missed the past two days of practice with a pectoral strain. But he is officially day-to-day and not yet ruled out of the UNLV game.

Linebacker Porter Gustin is looking likely to play Saturday after tearing his meniscus August 7 and undergoing surgery.

I’m not sure why anyone who is a key starter and not 100 percent is even worth playing against UNLV. It’s UNLV!

USC plays Stanford and Texas the following two games. Why would you even jeopardize playing them?

32 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: What’s The Rush?”

      1. 2 – 5 week injury. This is 3 weeks out. If he’s ready, he’s ready. Talking to Dan Webber – this is NOT like last year.

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      2. It was a simple repair, not a major surgery. I doubt he will play more than a half anyway, but he is a senior, a captain, and is listed as good to go by the doctors.

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  2. In both cases the player will most likely tell the coaches they are good to go. I think Gustin is the one to be most careful with. Being cleared and actually being ready are two different things. You are right both players, should they play, should be taken out after a few series heal ing is gradual not instant.

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    2. That’s just what Helton is gonna do with Gustin, Steve —let him play for a couple of series and. then, sit him down. As far as Toa, it’s probably better that J.T. take snaps from the freshman center he’s been practicing with since summer. If Toa practices all next week and looks healthy it’ll be a different story at Palo Alto.

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      3. I suppose his practicing during full contact drills/periods and not having any swelling or irritation/pain would indicate he might be as ready today as he would be next week. After all, he could twist his knee stepping off a curb on his way to class.

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      4. Ha! [I honestly am up in the air with what to do with Porter—he has to start playing SOMETIME —-I guess best bet is ease him in a bit Saturday and play him a lot more against Stanford…..and hope he’s still good to go for Texas].
        #AfterThatWe’llNeedHimMostForUtahAndOurSouthBendPals

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  3. Keeping the player’s hydration is very important. It is so often overlooked. Water and other hydrants provide lubricants to our joints. It is to our joints as oil is to our car engines. Let it get low or empty and the grinding starts and then the snap, crackle, pop. The trainers and waterboys need to be lookouts for our boys. The players need to force themselves to hydrate to protect and serve themselves.

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    2. It struck me when Porter hurt himself, that his hydration levels had something to do with it, not just the angles and forces of impact that build up during competition and stress. Even though he’s built up, the strong can make that work vulnerable if you’re not watering sufficiently….PROTECT THE CHINA….

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      2. Hydration should be going on heavy throughout the weeks, not just game day…you can’t just expect to catch up all at once.

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      3. And if any of you are boozing? Lay off the alcohol, at least during the season because it’s a dehydration specialist….like a thief in the night! Eat well and sufficiently, mixed with hydrants, now you’re lubed up!

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      5. Prophets will be properly purged, usually broken in half over and over and over and over and over again, until clarity and season comes.

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      7. Now you truly amaze me with your medical knowledge. Really you do. Statements like this have nothing to do with me calling you McGiggles.

        DONT BE A WHORE!

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    3. I mostly like my joints dry, they smoke better. But when a do want to lubricate my joints oil is preferred. Perhaps a good hash oil, readily available through many local purveyors.

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  5. Gustin will always say he is ready. He is his own worst enemy. See how he does in warm ups. I would prefer he sits for the UNLV game

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