USC’s Fate Is in Its Hands

It was the beginning of the end. Though USC defeated San Jose State at the Coliseum last September to remain unbeaten through three games, the Trojans had to overcome a slew of fumbles--an Achilles’ heel that would quickly sink their 2000 season.

“We didn’t win at the Coliseum after that,” fullback Charlie Landrigan said. “Turnovers cost us a lot of games last year.”

Now comes a chance to start fresh with a new coaching staff, new offensive and defensive schemes and another game against the Spartans, who come to the Coliseum on Saturday for the season opener.

Landrigan and his teammates will have a lot on their minds, playing for the first time in coordinator Norm Chow’s spread offense. The attack is fast-paced, with lots of passing and quick plays designed to spring long gains.

But no amount of scheming or play calling can withstand a tendency for giving the ball away, as Coach Pete Carroll observed while watching videotape of every play the Trojans ran last season.

He saw a team that led the Pacific 10 Conference in total offense, a team with a quarterback who accounted for almost 3,000 yards and a tailback who added 1,000 more. He also saw a team that led the nation with 36 turnovers and struggled to a 5-7 finish.

“I think last year you couldn’t tell about this team,” Carroll said. “Turnovers just mar your chances.”

So, beginning Saturday, the offense knows that its hopes for a successful season rest in large part on limiting mistakes.

“The staff came into camp drilling that into our heads,” receiver Kareem Kelly said. “Coaches were really explaining ball control.”

The message was delivered in two ways.

First, running backs coach Wayne Moses and the other assistants returned to fundamentals, teaching runners and receivers how to cradle and protect the ball as they run through traffic. This technique was reviewed in film sessions after practice each day.

“Close-up and tight,” Landrigan said. “Coach Moses is always watching us.”

Second--and perhaps equally important--the defense played a role.

Defensive players say they have a different philosophy this season. Starting in spring practices and through summer training camp, they have worked on creating turnovers. Linemen have tried to strip the ball as they make tackles and cornerbacks have tried to anticipate routes, breaking on the ball as the pass is thrown.

“If they ease up or relax for one second, we’re trying to get it,” cornerback Darrell Rideaux said. “We’re in their face.”

Said outside linebacker Frank Strong: “The defense has been more physical with the offense in practice.”

It has been enough to get under the offense’s skin, especially early in camp when the defense is always ahead in terms of learning new schemes and finding a rhythm. Kelly says he lost the ball a few times before he grew accustomed to the tempo. Same for Carson Palmer.

“Every chance they get, they’re slapping at it, pulling at it, jumping routes,” the quarterback said. “It’s a little nerve-racking.”

At the same time, ballcarriers say they are sharper for it. And Palmer hopes that practicing against that aggressive secondary will help him cut down on interceptions when the season begins. “It’s always in the back of our minds,” he said.

So are memories of last season’s scare against San Jose State. The Trojans needed 572 yards of offense to pull off a 34-24 victory.

They fumbled four times beginning with the opening kickoff. They fumbled into the end zone for a touchback. They fumbled reaching for extra yardage. A Palmer fumble led to a Deonce Whitaker touchdown run that gave San Jose State a 12-point lead at halftime.

Former coach Paul Hackett called it a “team embarrassment.” Former tackle Brent McCaffrey added: “I guess you could say we deserved to lose.”

San Jose State appeared to agree. Coming off the field, Spartan players crowed at fans in the Coliseum and tailback Whitaker said: “This was our game.”

Part of the problem might have been that USC players--coming off victories over Penn State and Colorado, both ranked in the preseason polls--overlooked San Jose State and were unprepared to play.

“We laid back,” Strong recalled. “We were like, this is San Jose State

The Trojans promise not to make the same mistake Saturday, aware of how dangerous Whitaker and the Spartans can be. Besides, this is a home opener, not the sort of game to take lightly.

And that also might help when it comes to costly errors. “When we play our best football, that will cut down on turnovers,” Palmer said.

Carroll realizes all this talk is, well, only talk until backed up by actions. Still, he takes hope from watching tapes of the fumbles and interceptions from last season. He believes an improved takeaway ratio could solve all sorts of ills.

“The exciting thing is you could win five games with that many turnovers,” he said. “That’s what I’m hanging my optimism on.”

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