Woods Gets Ready to Run

Coach John Robinson won’t name a starter until later this week, but LaVale Woods is poised to get the chance to show if he can carry the load for USC at tailback.

“LaVale is going to get a lot of action and he is running first right now to get the amount of plays he needs,” Robinson said.

Woods hasn’t carried the ball this season, but Delon Washington has been ineffective, averaging only 18 yards a game, and Robinson said he doesn’t think he can carry the load in terms of “the physical part of the game.”

“Delon Washington has been hampered by leg problems throughout the preseason and is just not a powerful runner,” Robinson said. “No one would confuse him with Jerome Bettis. He’s not going to knock the pile back. He’s a guy who needs holes and needs options to run the ball.

“Right now, our problem is that we haven’t been able to push the pile and turn three-yard gains into a four-yard or five-yard gain.”

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Amid discussion of USC’s play-calling, Robinson said he’s considering having new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson call plays from the sideline.

“I’m a little more comfortable with my offensive coordinator down on the bench than in the press box,” he said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NEXT FOR USC

WHO: California

WHERE: at Berkeley

TIME: Sept. 27, 4 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: KLSX-FM (97.1)