Off week allows team to work out the kinks

A season opener at home was somewhat rare for USC under Coach Pete Carroll.

An open date before the second game is nearly standard practice.

For the fifth time in six seasons, USC has a week to heal, work out the kinks and experiment a bit before beginning preparations for its second game. The Trojans play No. 20 Nebraska on Sept. 15 at Lincoln, Neb.

“We love this bye,” Coach Pete Carroll said after USC’s 38-10 victory over Idaho. “We’ve always liked it and have a real clear intention of what we’re trying to get done.”

USC discovered the joys of a post-opener off week in 2002 when freshman offensive tackle Winston Justice used the extra time to win a starting job before the second game against Colorado.

Barring injury, it is unlikely that a young player will make that kind of jump this week, but the Trojans still have plenty to work on after an easy victory that lacked dominance.

“We gave up some big plays on top on the passing game and gave up some big runs -- that’s not our character,” senior defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis said. “So I think we have to come back and fix those things and get better for Nebraska.”

Carroll expects young players who got experience against Idaho to return more confident. Center Kristofer O’Dowd, defensive lineman Everson Griffen, running back Joe McKnight, receiver Ronald Johnson and linebackers Malcolm Smith and Chris Galippo were true freshmen who played in the opener.

Redshirt freshmen playing for the first time were receiver David Ausberry, fullback Alfred Rowe, linebacker Michael Morgan, offensive lineman Zack Heberer, defensive lineman Derek Simmons and fullback/tight end Cooper Stephenson. Defensive lineman Gerald Washington, a redshirt junior, and JC-transfer fullback Adam Goodman also made their debuts.

“Now, we have to get ready to get these guys on the road in a very difficult situation,” Carroll said of playing at Nebraska. “I don’t know if they have more than 92,000 [at Memorial Stadium] in Nebraska. I don’t know what they’ve got. But I’m sure it’s going to be pretty crazy.”

Nebraska drew a stadium-record 85,800 for the 2006 regular-season finale against Colorado. The crowd that watched last week’s opener against Nevada extended the Cornhuskers’ NCAA record streak of sellouts to 283.

“It’s going to be loud,” quarterback John David Booty said.

Linebacker Brian Cushing will rest the sprained ankle he suffered against Idaho, joining offensive tackle Sam Baker (rib), receiver Patrick Turner (neck), cornerback Josh Pinkard (knee) and other players with nagging injuries hoping to use this week to recover.

Senior running back Chauncey Washington (shoulder) could return this week, but Carroll said there was no reason to decide yet whether there would be a three-tailback rotation with Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable.

Freshman tailback Broderick Green was scheduled to have surgery today for a stress fracture in his foot. . . . Freshman tailback Marc Tyler, who practiced only once during training camp, will rejoin workouts today. Tyler broke his leg last season at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High.

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gary.klein@latimes.com