Trojans Try a Compact Model at Tailback and Like the Mileage

USC tailbacks are expected to achieve a certain standard, such as gaining 1,000 yards a season. It has been accomplished 17 times, starting with Morley Drury in 1927.

Charles White and Marcus Allen escalated that figure to more than 2,000 yards in 1979 and 1981, respectively, with Allen holding the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. record of 2,342 yards.

It’s doubtful, though, that any USC tailback will accumulate 1,000 yards this season. Instead, four Trojan tailbacks will most likely account for substantially more than 1,000 yards.

In a competitive situation, Aaron Emanuel, Ricky Ervins, Steven Webster and Scott Lockwood have all played the position.

Emanuel is temporarily out of the competition with a severely sprained right ankle. Webster, the Pacific 10’s leading rusher last year with 1,109 yards, is easing back into the rotation after major knee surgery during the off-season.

So the No. 1 tailback at the moment is sophomore Ervins, a round mound of a running back who careens across the field like a runaway pinball.

Ervins, at 5 feet 7 inches and 195 pounds, got his opportunity to excel last Saturday night against Arizona--and made the most of it.

He gained 135 yards in 26 carries, saying he was just picking up where the injured Emanuel had left off and was trying to uphold the Trojan tailback tradition.

Ervins probably will be the starting tailback Saturday against unbeaten Oregon at the Coliseum, but he has to win his spurs every week in practice.

“The tailback position is so competitive now that it makes each one of us better,” Ervins said. “We practice hard every day and take every run (with no contact) to the end zone.”

Said Clarence Shelmon, USC’s backfield coach: “The running backs know that we’ll be honest in our evaluations. If a person does well in practice, he gets an opportunity to start. Then, in a game, we’re going to stay with the one with a hot hand.”

For example, Shelmon replaced Ervins with Webster in the fourth series of the Arizona game.

“Webster was playing pretty good. Then, when we went back to Ervins, he started to make chunks of yardage,” Shelmon said. “So who do I go with?”

Shelmon said that Webster had played tentatively against Oklahoma on Sept. 24, his first appearance in a game since he hurt his knee against UCLA last year.

“Steven will gradually get more playing time,” Shelmon said. “I was pleased with the way he ran against Arizona. He was a little unsure of himself against Oklahoma.”

Ervins understands why Coach Larry Smith is rotating the running backs.

“No one gets tired that way, and you can wear a defense down,” he said. “The defense isn’t able to key on one back as other backs come in with different running styles.”

Ervins isn’t sure how to describe his own running style.

“Because I’m short, maybe my style looks funny because I’m bouncing off like a ball rolling over people,” he said, adding that his size is advantageous in the sense that defensive players have difficulty finding him behind his blockers.

Ervins, a former sprinter from John Muir High School in Pasadena, has another advantage in his speed. Football 40-yard dash times are sometimes hard to believe, but Ervins said he was timed in 4.3 seconds, along with reserve tailback Calvin Holmes and wide receiver Gary Wellman, last spring.

“And that was on wet grass,” he said.

Ervins said he gets encouragement from Mike Garrett, USC’s first Heisman Trophy-winning tailback. Perhaps Garrett recognizes his clone in body types.

“In high school, I was listed at 5-9, but when I came here the tape read 5-7,” Ervins said. “I don’t care how tall I am.”

Although Ervins is a small target, he’s an experienced pass receiver. He caught 44 passes for 568 yards in his senior season at Muir, and has 6 catches for 56 yards this season, best among the Trojan running backs.

Shelmon said that Ervins’ running style reminds him of Robert Newhouse, the former Dallas Cowboy fullback. Shelmon teamed with Newhouse at the University of Houston in the 1970s.

“Ricky has probably a few more moves than Newhouse, along with excellent speed,” Shelmon said. “Even though he’s short, he’s a big person with that build.”

Shelmon then described the styles of the other running backs, sort of a composite of the perfect tailback:

Emanuel--”He has the strength for the tough inside yardage, with the ability to go outside. We’ve tried to teach him the game from a mental standpoint. He is not relying so much on his physical capabilities as he did in high school.”

Shelmon added that Emanuel is a better runner now, having abandoned his previous upright style, and is learning to protect the ball.

Webster--”He knows exactly where the ball is going after taking his first step, based on what the defense does. He looks faster than he is because he takes less time to react.”

Said Ervins: “Steven hits a hole like Ben Johnson coming out of the blocks.”

Lockwood--”He destroys angles because he runs so effortlessly with a nice, easy stride. You think you’ve got him and he’s in the end zone.”

Shelmon said that he was surprised that Ervins and Lockwood were so mature last year as freshmen, and that their maturity got them their playing time.

“I’ve told the running backs not to think of themselves as backups because if I call on them to start, or play, I don’t expect the efficiency level to drop off,” Shelmon said. “The Arizona game was an indication of that. Jeff Brown (a fullback) had an almost flawless game and graded out at 98%

“It’s a good group of kids, and I haven’t seen any jealousy or animosity among them. They’re team-oriented.”

Trojan Notes

Oregon Coach Rich Brooks said Tuesday that quarterback Bill Musgrave is doubtful for the USC game. He suffered ligament damage to his right ankle against Stanford Sept. 24 and did not play Saturday night against San Diego State. “He jogged yesterday and he had a noticeable limp,” Brooks said. Musgrave completed 22 of 32 passes for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns last year as the Ducks shocked the Trojans at Eugene, Ore., leading 21-0 at halftime, before eventually winning, 34-27. If Musgrave can’t play, he’ll be replaced by junior Pete Nelson. USC Coach Larry Smith said Tuesday that he is preparing his team with the prospect of Musgrave playing.

Smith said that he won’t know until Thursday whether kicker Quin Rodriguez will be able to play against Oregon. Rodriguez suffered a hip injury while warming up before the Arizona game Saturday night and had to leave in the first quarter. Ron Dale will most likely be the kickoff specialist if Rodriguez can’t play and split end Erik Affholter will become the placekicker. Affholter, who was recruited by USC as a kicker-receiver, is bothered by a sprained ankle that has to be taped. Otherwise, USC didn’t incur any serious injuries while winning, 38-15. Strong safety Cleveland Colter has a sprained knee, but is expected to play against Oregon.

As a former Arizona coach, Smith saw the Tucson newspapers feature his return with front-page banner headlines that presumably haven’t been used since Gen. Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines. “I think we were able to keep all of that away from our players and let them concentrate on Arizona,” Smith said. “I didn’t read a single paper over there, didn’t look at any damn signs, or hear any stupid songs, but my wife thought it was funny.” . . . Play of the game: Quarterback Rodney Peete hiding the ball on his hip in the fourth quarter, fooling the Arizona secondary, and then throwing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Affholter. The Trojans borrowed the deceptive play from Oklahoma, of all teams. The Sooners, who usually beat teams by running, got their only touchdown against USC when quarterback Jamelle Holieway threw a touchdown pass after hiding the ball behind his back.,