Intense Practice a Product of Penalties

With only two days remaining before USC breaks camp at UC Irvine, the offense’s biggest problem is a familiar one--penalties.

After the Trojans committed 15 penalties, 11 on offense, in a scrimmage Tuesday at the Coliseum, Wednesday’s practice was a particularly intense one, geared at improving the team’s mental toughness.

After originally scheduling the practice to be in shorts, Coach Paul Hackett decided to put his team in full pads on the hottest day of training camp.

“The fact that we were only going to have one practice and it was 24 hours after the scrimmage, I thought we should get two practices at Irvine,” said Hackett, whose team will have a walkthough in shorts this morning and go in full pads in the afternoon.

The result Wednesday was a practice with a more vocal coaching staff and more emotional players.

Running back Chad Morton, who planned on calling a meeting for the offensive players Tuesday night before deciding against it, said penalties are what the offense has to address if it is to improve from last year’s ninth-place ranking in total yards in the Pacific 10 Conference.

“It’s a few mental things that are hurting us,” said Morton, who opted against the meeting after talking to Hackett and seeing film of the scrimmage. “We moved the ball well [Tuesday]. If we just get rid of the penalties, we’ll be a great team. Penalties are what killed us last year.

“We were really intense today. We talked about the mental mistakes out there. We talked about not jumping offsides before a running drill and we were perfect. We responded well.”

Added Hackett: “We want the players to have a clearer focus, particularly when they’re tired. It’s easy to play when you’re fresh.”

In 13 games last season, USC committed 127 penalties.

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The depleted receiving corps took another hit when freshman Marcell Allmond went down with a foot injury.

During a play, Allmond’s shoe fell off but he continued on, injuring the foot when he was tackled. Allmond was to have X-rays Wednesday night.

“Hopefully it’s just a sprained foot,” Hackett said.

Allmond had two catches for 50 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown play, in the scrimmage.

The team learned Tuesday that junior college transfer receiver Craig Mitchell did not complete his summer academic requirements and will not be admitted to USC.

All-American candidate R. Jay Soward is expected back at practice today, Hackett said. Soward sprained his right knee at the scrimmage and did not practice Wednesday.