GAME DAY : USC SCOUTING REPORT / USC vs. HAWAII : Secondary a Primary Concern

USC’s depleted secondary faces a challenge tonight with cornerback Tanqueray Clark on crutches because of an ankle injury and freshman Darrell Rideaux now scheduled to dress for the game after having been ruled out because of a sore back earlier in the week.

“I’m nervous,” Coach Paul Hackett said.

The Trojans are braced for 50-60 passes, and Hawaii’s four- and even five-receiver sets will test the inexperienced cornerbacks.

Antuan Simmons is the only veteran, and sophomore Kris Richard will be making his first start at the other corner. But freshman Kevin Arbet, a walk-on who won a scholarship after training camp, and sophomores Eric Reese and DeShaun Hill will play huge roles because of Hawaii’s wide-open attack.

Clark sprained his ankle when he crashed into the wall in one of Aloha Stadium’s tight corners on a play in practice Thursday, and was in a boot Friday, although Hackett said he’ll be available for emergency duty at least.

Rideaux, originally slated to get two weeks of rest for his chronic back injury, could be pressed into service.

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Tailback Chad Morton gives a big thumbs up to Aloha Stadium’s new artificial turf.

“I love it,” Morton said. “It’s probably the best turf I’ve ever been on. Nice and bouncy. I’m looking forward to it. I feel really fast out there.

“We’re a fast team, and I don’t think they’ve seen a team with speed like ours.”

Hackett proclaimed the artificial turf “marvelous” and said, “I think we’ll be much faster on the turf, and as you know our team is built for speed.”

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Hawaii has two pro prospects in offensive tackles Adrian Klemm, who played at St. Monica in Santa Monica, and Hawaiian product Kaulana Noa.

“The offensive line is clearly the strength of the offense,” Hackett said.

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* Time: 9:30 p.m. PDT

* Site: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu

* Records (1998): USC 8-5, Hawaii 0-12

* TV: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (690), KCTD (1540)

* The offenses: USC quarterback Carson Palmer, the former freshman phenom, seems poised for a breakthrough second season. Receiver R. Jay Soward is eager to prove to doubters he is well-conditioned and that his hands aren’t the weakness they seem, and tailback Chad Morton is beginning another push for his first 1,000-yard season. Hawaii scored fewer than 16 points a game during its winless 1998 season and will unveil its new run-and-shoot offense under former NFL coach June Jones. Quarterback Dan Robinson had six 200-yard passing games last season, but threw 12 interceptions and completed only 46% of his passes. The real problem was a running game that ranked 105th among Division I teams.

* The defenses: USC has rebuilt since the departure of Chris Claiborne, Daylon McCutcheon and Rashard Cook, but the linebacking corps should be strong with Sultan Abdul-Malik, Zeke Moreno and junior transfer Markus Steele. The big question is how an injury-depleted and inexperienced cornerback corps will manage against Hawaii’s wide-open offense. Hawaii’s defense gave up 422 points last season--an average of more than 35 a game. But new defensive coordinator Greg McMackin is a respected strategist who made his name as a college defensive coordinator at Miami and was the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator the last four seasons before joining Jones at Hawaii.

* Key to the game: USC’s speed--from tailbacks Morton and Sultan McCullough to receivers Soward and Kareem Kelly--is something Hawaii can’t match, and the artificial turf should make the Trojans faster.

* Fast fact: The Trojans will wear their home cardinal jerseys at Hawaii’s request because the Rainbows chose to wear white for Jones’ first game.

* The line: USC by 26 1/2.

HOW THEY COMPARE*

USC Hawaii

26.6 Scoring 12.4

18.5 Points allowed 35.2

217 Passing 184.3

126.8 Rushing 109.4

343.8 Total offense 293.7

176.8 Passing defense 207.0

155.6 Rushing defense 189.1

332.4 Total defense 396.1

*--1998 statistics