Smith Puts In a Good Word for USC’s Defense

With spring football practice concluding Friday at USC, Coach Larry Smith is happy with the way his defense has performed.

“It’s a big-play defense, and it was the dominant side of football in the spring,” Smith said.

Smith, however, had only 10 of his top 22 offensive players available, which may partially explain his lack of enthusiasm for the offense.

Injuries, academic problems and two prominent players competing in baseball--quarterback Rodney Peete and wide receiver John Jackson--left some holes in USC’s offensive unit.

But it’s only April, and Smith expects the offense to have a different look when practice resumes in August.

Nevertheless, he expects the defense to carry the team in early-season games until the offense comes together.

Smith doesn’t have a senior starter on defense, yet it’s an experienced group.

He said that his three down linemen--Tim Ryan, Don Gibson and Dan Owens--are experienced and talented, one of the best such groups in the Pacific 10.

Smith also said he has never had a better pair of safeties than Mark Carrier and Cleveland Colter.

He is also pleased with his linebackers--Craig Hartsuyker, Delmar Chesley, Scott Ross, Brian Tuliau and Michael Williams--even though he has lost talented players such as Keith Davis, Rex Moore and Marcus Cotton.

He predicted that Junior Seau, who didn’t even participate in spring practice because he is ineligible under the Proposition 48 rule, could be a starter by midseason.

With Peete absent, Smith was hopeful that either Pat O’Hara or Shane Foley, both sophomores, would emerge as a solid backup quarterback in spring drills. It didn’t happen.

“They made some progress, but it was very painful,” Smith said. “However, the defense put a lot of pressure on them, so it wasn’t a true picture.”

The USC coach was, however, gratified by the way that tailbacks Ricky Ervins and Scott Lockwood practiced. Steven Webster, the No. 1 tailback, missed spring practice while recovering from major knee surgery.

Smith said Webster is four weeks ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and expects that he’ll be ready to play in the fall.

Leroy Holt, USC’s starting fullback last season, also missed spring practice. He is trying to become academically eligible while attending Santa Monica City College.

Smith has other promising fullbacks, though, in Aaron Emanuel, a converted tailback, and Jeff Brown.

Is spring practice really necessary considering the injury factor?

UCLA Coach Terry Donahue is not an advocate of the spring session, citing injuries.

However, Smith said he favors spring practice.

“I think it’s necessary because we have only three weeks in the fall preseason,” he said. “I like the 15-5 rule of 15 days of contact and 5 of no contact. I think you need some contact.”

USC Notes

In the final spring scrimmage game, the Cardinal beat the Gold, 20-14. The teams were divided in a draft by the seniors. Quarterback Shane Foley scored two touchdowns for the Cardinal on runs of 1 and 6 yards. The Gold tied the score at 14-14 on two 1-yard touchdowns by fullback Aaron Emanuel. Then Foley teamed with wide receiver Marlon Washington on a 52-yard scoring pass for the winning margin. . . . Foley competed 6 of 8 passes for 97 yards; Gold quarterback Pat O’Hara completed 7 of 14 for 102 yards while throwing 1 interception. . . . Cardinal linebacker Craig Hartsuyker was the defensive star of the spring game. He had 6 tackles, 4 of which were for losses totalling 26 yards. . . . USC Coach Larry Smith said he doesn’t necessarily plan to redshirt freshman quarterback Todd Marinovich, the much-publicized prep star. “We’re going to give him a lot of work (in the fall),” Smith said. “If he ends up as the No. 2 guy, he’ll play. I’m going to play him this season, not four seasons from now.” . . . Smith has moved tailback Marcus Hopkins to wide receiver to provide more depth at the the position.