With four days until the Bruins face No. 18 BYU, coach Rick Neuheisel said Wednesday’s practice was good, but not perfect. Yet, he also said it didn’t have to.
"As I told them, it doesn’t need to be perfect today, it just needs to be spirited and you need to show that you are eager to learn. Tomorrow’s the day that we come out and know exactly our assignments and execute them crisply and exactly how the coaches are asking them to be executed."
Neuheisel added that he thinks the Bruins are almost ready to face the Cougars, yet cautioned that "it’s a very tall hill to climb because this is a team that is very, very consistent and very methodical."
Here are some more notes:
– Running back Khalil Bell dressed and stretched with the team, yet left shortly afterwards. Bell returned without pads and his ankle wrapped in ice. Neuheisel said that Bell has been downgraded to "very, very doubtful." Bell will travel with the team.
– Defensive end Korey Bosworth and defensive tackle Brigham Harwell returned to practice Wednesday. Neuheisel said both will start on Saturday.
– Neuheisel said it was "huge" that quarterback Kevin Craft played against Tennessee and was able to lead the Bruins to victory.
– In 7-on-7 drills, wide receiver Taylor Embree made a spectacular one-handed catch over safety Bret Lockett, which prompted much celebration from the Bruin offense.
– Linebacker Reggie Carter did not wear a redshirt and participated in contact drills.
– Former Bruin running back Chris Markey was in attendance.
– Tight end Logan Paulsen watched practice from the sidelines on crutches.
– Darius Savage continued to practice with the first-team offense at left guard.
– Neuheisel said that while he has not talked to running backs coach Wayne Moses, he expects running backs Raymond Carter and Chane Moline to be starters "1A and 1B." He joked that USC coach Pete Carroll has five starting running backs, so he could have two.