Defense Finally Makes a Stand

There are two ways to view the final scrimmage of USC’s spring football practice.

On one hand, the starting offense sputtered Saturday afternoon, looking out of sync and failing to score.

“Sloppy,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “Just a bad way to end a pretty good spring.”

On the other hand, the defense came up with its best effort in a month of practices and scrimmages.

The secondary, in particular, intercepted three passes to show why Coach Pete Carroll points to this much-maligned group as one of the spring’s surprises.

Cornerback Kris Richard is sound after an injury-marred fall and another veteran, Antuan Simmons, has returned from life-threatening abdominal surgery last year. The younger players who filled in for them--and often struggled--claim to be wiser for the experience.

“We’ve learned a lot through thick and thin,” said Chris Cash, who intercepted two passes Saturday. At the same time, spring practice revealed the Trojans, trying to rebound from a 5-7 record, will have plenty to work on when they reconvene for training camp in August.

Linebackers: Seniors Zeke Moreno and Markus Steele are gone and a third starter, Kori Dickerson, has switched to tight end.

That leaves Aaron Graham, with four starts and 26 tackles last season, as the veteran in the middle. Chris Prosser, Mike Pollard and John Cousins got much of the work on the outside.

Special teams: The Trojans missed eight field goals and 10 extra points in 2000 and ranked last in the Pacific 10 in net punting. Help was supposed to arrive in the form of junior college transfer Trevor Lancaster, but he left school before spring practice began.

Since then, neither David Newbury nor walk-on Anthony Boscarini have earned Carroll’s confidence. Freshman John Wall, who made all five of his field goals last season, is recuperating from knee surgery.

That means the Trojans will look for an overlooked high school or junior college kicker this summer.

Offensive line: While veterans Faaesea Mailo, Lenny Vandermade and Zach Wilson anchor the middle, the tackle spots are up for grabs.

With USC’s new up-tempo offense, the quarterbacks take three- and five-step drops, which means the linemen do not have to hold their blocks as long. The change seemed to suit them.

Until Saturday.

Neither the passing nor the running game could get started. Tailback Sultan McCullough gained 30 yards in eight carries and fumbled. Palmer threw all three interceptions, though one came on a short pass that wide receiver Keary Colbert let bounce away.