Freshmen Get Extra Attention This Week

With USC enjoying a quiet week--the last quiet week before a stretch of 10 games--the coaching staff took another look at the freshmen, some of whom will be redshirted this season.

Offensive lineman Blair Jones, for example, got more than his usual share of snaps at practice.

Jones is one of the newcomers Coach Paul Hackett will consider over the next week or so as he draws up a list of players he hopes to save.

Last season, the Trojans played 10 freshmen. This season, Hackett would prefer to use only two or three, a group that might include receiver Keary Colbert and tight end Alex Holmes, both of whom have caught passes in games this season.

Among other freshmen, tailback Chris Howard is a top candidate for the list of players who might be kept out of action. Another candidate is Matt Cassel but, as the third quarterback on the depth chart, Cassel might play in an emergency before the season ends.

The redshirt option is also available to any player who appears in a limited number of games at the start of the season and is subsequently injured.

So safety Matt Grootegoed, who recently came down with mononucleosis, could be held out of remaining games and petition for another season.

The same is true for offensive lineman Joe McGuire and tight end Gregg Guenther Jr., both of whom played in the opener but are being evaluated for back injuries.

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The open date also gave defensive line coach Ed Orgeron a chance to provide his players with some advanced education.

Orgeron figures that seniors such as Sultan Abdul-Malik, Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed, Ennis Davis and Matt Childers are ready for more than basic technique.

“We watch a lot of NFL . . . cutting-edge stuff,” he said. “I’ve got some guys who can do it.”

The Trojan defensive linemen were not entirely pleased with surrendering 150 yards to Colorado tailback Marcus Houston last week, but they were happy to get six sacks in that game.

Starting next Saturday, they will get to show what they have learned from the NFL films against two dangerous running teams--San Jose State and Oregon State.

“They take it as a challenge,” Orgeron said. “It’s not like pulling teeth to get them to work every day. They come out ready.”

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Hackett said he will spend the weekend watching tapes of San Jose State and devising ways to help his defense prepare for diminutive running back Deonce Whitaker.

All he needs for practice next week, Hackett said, is “a 5-6 guy who can run really fast.”