COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : With ‘Bone to Pick, Trojans Go to Work

USC’s coaching staff wasted no time Monday preparing for Saturday’s game against Oregon State at the Coliseum. Defensive coordinator Don Lindsey said his unit even skipped the customary Monday film-viewing session of the previous game. USC beat Oregon Saturday at Eugene, 24-13.

“We’ve got a long week, getting ready to play Oregon State’s wishbone,” Lindsey said. “Used to be--15 or 20 years ago--you played two, three wishbone teams a season. Now, maybe once. And if your players haven’t seen it, a week is not much time. The problem is, it’s very hard to simulate the wishbone in practice.

“We’re going to ask Reggie Perry and Matt Koffler to simulate the Oregon State quarterback (Rahim Muhammad), but neither one really runs like him. The problem defending the wishbone is, even after the play starts, you still don’t know where the ball’s going.”

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USC defensive coaches have clashed several times this season with their talented senior cornerback, Jason Sehorn. The coaches feel there’s a wide gap between Sehorn’s athletic gifts and his performance. Sehorn has five of the team’s eight interceptions and is tied for third in unassisted tackles with 21.

Yet when defensive coordinator Lindsey blows up in practice, Sehorn is often the target. “Jason has great tools, but his concentration in practice is not good,” Lindsey said. “He gets bored. He’s the first to admit this, and he knows he needs better practice habits.”

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The Trojans lost two more starters because of injuries at Oregon. Inside linebacker Joe Barry (knee) and wide receiver Ed Hervey (foot) will sit out Saturday’s game.