Latest Tailback Is a Freshman as Lockwood Gets Call for USC

USC is back on national television for the second time in two weeks and, perhaps, the Trojans will have their act together this time.

They certainly weren’t impressive in losing to Michigan State, 27-13, Sept. 7 in a game in which USC self-destructed with fumbles, interceptions and dropped passes.

It’s the home opener at the Coliseum for USC, and today’s opponent, Boston College, is on a roll. The Eagles (2-0) have won 10 straight games, the nation’s second-longest winning streak, that began Oct. 11, 1986. The game will be televised by ABC, beginning at 12:30.

The Trojans have a streak of their own, but they aren’t advertising it. USC lost its last three games in 1986 under Ted Tollner and, with new Coach Larry Smith getting off to a losing start, USC would tie a school record if it loses today.

The 1957 team lost five straight games, an all-time low, while struggling through a 1-9 season.

It isn’t fair, though, to burden Smith with past failures. He has enough to worry about right now.

The most pressing problem, it would seem, is to develop a productive running game. Yes, we’re talking about USC, sometimes referred to as Tailback U.

Smith has apparently inherited Tollner’s problem in this regard. Tailback Ryan Knight gained only 53 yards in 19 carries, and the team averaged only 1.9 yards per rush against Michigan State.

Moreover, 28 pitch, USC’s staple sweep play, was ditched against MSU because Smith said that Knight didn’t have the speed to go outside.

Smith previously indicated that he would make some changes and he did that Friday when he said that freshman Scott Lockwood, from Boulder, Colo., would start at tailback.

Another freshman, Ricky Ervins, and junior Steven Webster will play in the first half, Smith said, and Knight, a senior, will get some playing time at fullback and, possibly, tailback.

“The main reason that Scott is starting is because he’s had more repetitions at the position in practice,” Smith said.

Ervins, from Muir High in Pasadena, was recently moved from fullback to tailback. Webster was the No. 1 tailback coming out of spring practice, but a summer ankle injury prevented him from playing against Michigan State.

So there’s a committee at tailback as there was during the Tollner regime. Lockwood is the first freshman to start at tailback for USC since Charles White replaced an injured Ricky Bell against Stanford in 1976.

White gained 136 yards in 23 carries and scored 2 touchdowns as USC won, 48-24. Three years later, White was a Heisman Trophy winner.

When the Trojans set passing records for attempts, 47, and completions, 29, as they did against the Spartans, you know they’re in trouble. That’s not the traditional way they’ve operated.

Moreover, the quarterback, Rodney Peete, and his receivers become the focal point of the offense. In the past, coaches, such as John Robinson, only required the quarterback to be efficient, throwing just enough to keep defenses loose, while playing second banana to the tailback.

As of now, USC doesn’t have a balanced attack. Peete, while assuming the offensive load, made his share of mistakes against Michigan State. He fumbled three times, losing one, and threw two interceptions.

Smith said that two of the fumbles weren’t Peete’s fault, adding that Peete made six extra special plays.

“Rodney, like a lot of our players, was just trying to make something happen,” Smith said. “He didn’t cost us the game.”

Smith said he couldn’t fault his team’s effort, or physical condition in the opener, but lack of execution on offense was mainly responsible for the defeat.

USC was inside Michigan State’s 30-yard line six times but came away with only 13 points.

“I don’t think Michigan State is a great team and that doesn’t mean that we’re a terrible team, or a good team,” Smith said. “We just need a win.”

USC would be better off in that regard if it were playing, say, Utah State, rather than Boston College.

The Eagles are a passing team, but, unlike the Trojans, that’s their trademark and they’re proficient at it. They’ve also displayed some balance in opening wins over Texas Christian and Temple.

For example, senior tailback Jim Bell gained 182 yards against Temple.

Mike Power, a junior, is regarded as a strong-armed, but inexperienced, quarterback. There’s nothing wrong with his numbers, though, as he has completed 53.8% of his passes for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first two games.

His primary receiver is Darren Flutie, brother of Boston College’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Doug Flutie. Darren, a flanker, is averaging 23.2 yards on 11 catches while scoring 3 touchdowns. Split end Tom Waddle is averaging 24.3 yards on 7 receptions.

It has been said that BC’s sophisticated passing game is comparable to Brigham Young’s.

Smith disagrees in a technical sense, saying: “When I think of BYU, I think of a controlled passing game. Boston College will drop the ball off to the backs, but their No. 1 thing is to go downtown with deep and intermediate passes. Their average yard per catch is very high.

“It will be a big test for our secondary, more than Michigan State, which was a test for our up front people.”

The Eagles also have some big play people on defense, namely, linebacker Bill Romanowski, an All-American prospect, cornerback Steve Williams and nose guard Dave Nugent.

So the Eagles have landed in Los Angeles for the first time. Will they encounter another passing team, or one that has revived a dormant running game?

Trojan Notes A crowd of 50,000 is anticipated for today’s game. USC is a 5 1/2-point favorite . . . Boston College Coach Jack Bicknell has taken his team to bowl games four of the past five seasons, including a 27-24 victory over Georgia in the Hall of Fame Bowl last year. The Eagles had a 9-3 record in 1986 after a 1-3 start. . . . The Trojans will open the 1988 season against Boston College at Boston. . . . USC’s defensive line, which was identified as a weak area on the team last year because of its inexperience, is now an apparent strength. USC Coach Larry Smith said that the linemen performed competently, notably tackle Tim Ryan, against Michigan State. He also cited the play of inside linebacker Keith Davis. He couldn’t find fault with his offensive line, either. However, outside linebackers Marcus Cotton and Bill Stokes and safety Mark Carrier didn’t play to their potential, according to Smith. Carrier, a redshirt freshman, was injured and didn’t play last year. “As the season emerges, Mark may be our best defensive back,” Smith said.

USC has lost an inspirational leader in senior linebacker Rex Moore, who broke his left leg against Michigan State. His replacement is sophomore Delmar Chesley. “Delmar is bigger and quicker than Rex, but not as experienced,” Smith said. . . . In each home game this season, USC will salute a great player from the past. Jon Arnett, an All-American tailback in 1955, will be honored today. . . . John Robinson (1976), John McKay (1960), Don Clark (1957) and Jeff Cravath (1942) all lost their home openers as new USC coaches. Ted Tollner got a tie in 1983, and Jess Hill was the last winner in 1951.