Otton Knew What He Was Up Against

Quarterback Brad Otton said he saw it coming--the season-long USC offensive slump. He recalled an August scrimmage at Cal State Fullerton, when the Trojan defense dominated the offense.

“That was one of the most frustrating experiences I’d ever had,” he said. “We couldn’t move the ball. I knew then we were in trouble. And we really haven’t improved.

“Later, I called my dad [a Washington high school coach, for whom Otton played], and told him that. He wrote me a long letter, telling me to make sure my concerns about the offense never carry over to my teammates.”

Throughout a season of muffed pass blocks and dropped passes, Otton has never, by word or gesture, indicated any frustration with inept play by his teammates--until recently, when coaches and players have acknowledged offensive shortcomings.

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Senior defensive tackle Matt Keneley said last week’s players-only meeting was at times heated, with “players challenging other players.”

“We all agreed that as a team, collectively, we haven’t played close to our best game yet, and that we badly want to do that against UCLA,” he said.

“We talked about JR [John Robinson] taking all the heat for us, when it’s our responsibility to get it done on the field. If we can just get a game out of ourselves like our Rose Bowl game last year, you’ll see the actual talent on this team has come to fruition.”

Keneley also said defensive players criticized offensive players for a lack of fire.

“There were some comments that defensive guys were unhappy when the offense would go three and out, and just kind of walk off the field, showing no intensity. [Guard] Chris Brymer said he agreed, that the offense had to play more physical football and play with more emotion.”

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Robinson, on 210-pound linebacker Sammy Knight’s NFL prospects:

“He could be like [Dallas Cowboy safety] Bill Bates. He’s that kind of guy. He has to make it as a nickel linebacker or a nickel safety and be a great special teams player. He’ll get a chance. If he can make plays on special teams and learn to play a couple of different positions, he’ll stick.

“He’s stuck being in between, not being fast enough for the secondary and not big enough for linebacker.”