New Plan for Quarterbacks

With the trouble the Trojans have had getting plays in at critical times, the USC quarterbacks probably will wear wristbands to aid them for the first time Saturday.

Coach Paul Hackett--accustomed to calling plays via radio headset in quarterbacks’ helmets in the NFL--said he’s weighing sending in some plays via receivers as well as using wristbands.

Freshman quarterback Carson Palmer welcomes the change, especially after a crucial touchdown pass was nullified because he took a delay-of-game penalty in the loss to Oregon. Palmer failed to see the 25-second clock run down after USC took a long time getting the play from the sideline.

“We needed to change it up after the delay-of-games,” Palmer said. “The other way, it’s hard to get the wordy plays--you have to have a signal for every word.”

Hackett is adjusting too--to inexperienced quarterbacks and to the college game.

“I’ve been kind of hesitant to change,” he said, “because these two young guys are going to be here a while and we want them to learn the system that is most efficient, which is signaling.”

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Freshman quarterback Jason Thomas, who is redshirting after ankle surgery, was cleared to practice and played the role of left-handed Washington quarterback Brock Huard in practice. . . . Defensive tackle Marc Matock, once considered unlikely to return until a bowl game after suffering a broken left ankle against Arizona State, is pressing ahead in hopes he can return as soon as the UCLA game Nov. 21.