Devon Kennard

USC tailbacks Marc Tyler and Allen Bradford rank seventh and eighth, respectively, among Pacific 10 Conference rushing leaders. But their standing in the game-day rotation has not been nearly as close of late. Tyler started last week and carried a career-high 31 times for 160 yards in a USC victory at Arizona. On Tuesday, he was still feeling the effects of his workhorse effort, but it was a marked improvement over how his body responded the day after the game.

Is USC tough enough? Throughout the first week of spring practice, new Coach Lane Kiffin never missed a chance to emphasize that toughness and discipline were the watchwords of the new regime. On Saturday, after the Trojans' first practice in pads, Kiffin seemed to take the theme a step further. With the number of available offensive lineman dwindling and other positions such as fullback short-handed because of injuires, Kiffin did not mince words. "I'm concerned to know, could they have kept going?"

USC middle linebacker Chris Galippo watched from afar — about 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage — as freshman Lamar Dawson took most of the snaps during full-contact drills the last two weeks. Now, with the opener against Minnesota a week away, Galippo knows that he must prove his injured right shoulder is sound. "It's getting down to the nitty-gritty," Galippo said Friday. "I've got to be able get a good week of full-contact practice. " Galippo, a fifth-year senior, suffered a sprained shoulder early in training camp and was limited for two weeks.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley , the Pacific 10 Conference's top-rated passer, said this week that sharing a field with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck on Saturday night would provide no extra pressure or motivation. "I don't really pay attention to that," said Barkley, who has passed for 12 touchdowns, with four interceptions. "Just the fact that it's Stanford, a great team and a solid defense, that's more of the matchup to me. " Luck, a third-year sophomore and highly regarded NFL prospect, ranks second in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency.

Chris Galippo made his first start of the season count in USC's 48-14 victory over California on Saturday. The junior from Corona, who was supplanted at middle linebacker by sophomore Devon Kennard , started at the weak-side spot in place of injured Malcolm Smith and made six tackles. Galippo has played on the strong side and also in a rush-end position, but he did not begin playing on the weak side until Monday. "In five days he had to learn a whole new position," said Monte Kiffin , USC's assistant head coach for defense.

Marc Tyler went from worst to first in less than a month. Tyler, scheduled to start at tailback for USC in the season opener Thursday at Hawaii, recalled reporting for the first day of training camp, only to find that he was scripted for the fewest reps in his position group. "I'm not going to lie," Tyler said Saturday, "I wanted to leave. " Tyler's father, Wendell , a former UCLA and NFL running back, convinced his son that graduating from USC and playing in a program administered by new Athletic Director Pat Haden , a former Los Angeles Rams teammate, was worth waiting it out. Now, after consistent practice and scrimmage performances, the fourth-year junior from Lancaster is at the top of the depth chart.

USC expects to receive a rowdy reception from Arizona State fans when the No. 23 Trojans visit Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday night. And what of Trojans tailback Marc Tyler ? The senior will start for the second time after rushing for a team-best 154 yards in two games, but the Sun Devils faithful might give him a hero's welcome in the wake of his comments this summer. Tyler was suspended by USC for the season opener — in part because of inappropriate remarks he made on camera to TMZ.com.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley continued to struggle on Saturday in the Trojans' 14-9 victory over Arizona State. Barkley completed only seven of 22 passes for 112 yards, 75 of which came on a catch-and-run touchdown by receiver Damian Williams . Barkley was four for 11 for 24 yards in the first half and three for 11 for 88 yards in the second. He had one pass intercepted, and might have had two more if not for a penalty that overturned one and a drop that prevented another.

USC freshman Marqise Lee continued his excellent season Saturday, catching a touchdown pass and returning a kickoff for a touchdown in No. 18 USC's 40-17 victory over Washington at the Coliseum. It was the second time in as many games that Lee scored two touchdowns. "I'll get in trouble for saying this, I'm sure, but I thought Marqise looked like the best player on the field," USC Coach Lane Kiffin said. The Trojans were fortunate that Lee was available. On Friday, he was at USC's student health center tethered to an intravenous drip because of a fever.