McCown and Russell went from playing behind Walter and receiving only one-third of the plays to more time with the first-team offense and approximately half the plays today on the first day of the team's three-day minicamp.

"JaMarcus looked really good (Monday)," coach Lane Kiffin said, without elaborating. "Without going back to watch the film, it was JaMarcus' best practice since he's been here. ... That was glaring to me. I'll see if I still see that once I see the film. He looked real confident."

Kiffin also had high praise for McCown, who arguably has been the most consistent performer of the three candidates vying for the starting job created by the release of Aaron Brooks.

"(McCown) continues to make great decisions," Kiffin said. "He's a very accurate, very great decision-maker, audibles pretty much into the right plays, and has done a great job."