COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Robinson Lauds Johnson’s Leadership

USC Coach John Robinson indicated Tuesday that the major force in USC’s 23-10 victory at Washington State was quarterback Rob Johnson.

“In order for you to handle an opponent like that, the quarterback has to play a key role,” he said.

“We’re familiar with a Buddy Ryan type of club that’s knocking the ball loose and all that stuff. . . . The quarterback, if he’s not going to make something big happen, he can’t let something big happen for the opponent.

“I think Rob did a great job of audibilizing when he had to, of getting out of plays that had the potential of being disastrous if he hadn’t recognized some things. He kept us moving.

“After accomplishing that, he made five or six big plays that were very impressive. It was one of his best games as a competitor, certainly coming off four weeks of inactivity.”

It was Johnson’s first full game since spraining his right ankle Oct. 1.

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USC’s defense, against its last two foes, California and Washington State, has given up only two first downs on 30 third downs.

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John Robinson, on the 62- and 39-yard games by his running backs, Shawn Walters and Rodney Sermons, at Washington State:

“When a back gets big holes in the line and runs for 160 yards, that’s not as impressive to me as a back getting 50 in a game like we had at Washington State, as tight as they play the run.”