USC has what it takes to play for BCS title, tailback C.J. Gable says

USC, which opens its season on Saturday at Virginia, is more suited to advance to the Bowl Championship Series title game than it was last season.

That, at least, is the opinion of sophomore tailback C.J. Gable, who played in three games in 2007 before he was forced to redshirt after abdominal surgery.

“This team is real close – closer than last year,” Gable said. “We’re going to do much better.”

The 2007 Trojans did not lack for talent. Five players were selected in the first round of the NFL draft, three were taken in the second round, and three more were chosen before the draft ended.

But for the second year in a row, USC fell short of playing for the BCS title.

“It had a lot of egos,” Gable said of the 2007 team. “People were just trying to hurry up to leave and get out of here.

“This year we have a goal to go undefeated and get better … so as a team we’re all doing our part.”

Most of the time, anyway.

Running backs coach Todd McNair stormed off the field after Tuesday’s practice without addressing his players. The move was a stunt to wake up the running backs about their need to block consistently.

As the tailbacks and fullbacks watched McNair exit through the gate at Howard Jones Field, Gable stepped to the center of the huddle and spoke of the need to go hard every play.

Gable, the most enthusiastic and proficient blocker among the Trojans’ six tailbacks, last week suffered what appeared to be a major hip injury. But he has bounced back and is intent on winning the nod as the starter for the opener for the third year in a row.

“We all thought he was in big trouble,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “He just wouldn’t hear of it.”

 gary.klein@latimes.com