USC Game Plan: Keep It Simple

Three losses to nationally ranked teams. Three losses by a total of 11 points. USC coaches and players figured they were an inch away.

“It’s been almost a teaser,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “To be so close in these games and think we were just about ready to get over the hump.”

No one thinks that way anymore. Earlier this week, Carroll and his staff reviewed game films--especially of first-half mistakes against Stanford--and saw players who appeared confused and missed assignments. They saw a team with a way to go.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t catch this sooner,” Carroll said.

There has been a strategic shift leading into today’s game against No. 11 Washington at Husky Stadium. All week in practice, USC has devoted less time to adding new wrinkles, taking a step back instead.

For the offense, that meant reviewing the familiar, working on little things like tailbacks picking up blitzes and receivers running crisper routes. It meant preparing for anything and everything Washington might show so the linemen aren’t confused by defensive shifts.

“We’re running more of the same plays,” receiver Kareem Kelly said. “You can go out there and not have to think too much. If you’re out there thinking, you’re not going to perform well.”

The defense is further along in its development under Carroll’s philosophy, but linebackers needed to be sure of their responsibilities and the secondary, usually that steadiest unit on the field, worked on eliminating mental errors that have led to a half-dozen or so big plays.

“Against a team like Washington, you can’t make mistakes,” assistant coach DeWayne Walker said.

The Huskies have not been dominating, not with tailback Rich Alexis running for fewer than 70 yards a game behind an inexperienced line. They have succeeded with quick strikes and few errors, leading the nation with only two turnovers. Also, they have kept a little of the option offense from the days of quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, now with the Oakland Raiders. His successor, Cody Pickett, has run it just enough to keep defenses honest.

And that has created openings for receivers Paul Arnold and Reggie Williams, the latter a 6-foot-4 freshman with big-play potential. Cornerback Chris Cash says the secondary must be “very physical with that cat” in hopes of rattling him early. USC might also throw some stunts and blitzes at the Husky line, which struggled with different looks against California last week.

On offense, the Trojans rank last in the conference in scoring and must try to find a rhythm against an opponent that has surrendered only 16.3 points a game. Kelly met with coaches earlier this week to discuss his role in the offense and tailback Sultan McCullough has talked about making a difference after a string of dismal games running the ball.

“I’ve got to make plays regardless of what’s going on with the line,” he said. “I’m good enough to make this line better.”

Most of all, the Trojans need to cut down on mistakes--the false starts and late hits, the missed assignments and turnovers--if they hope to upset a Washington team that does not appear significantly more talented but, with help from explosive special teams, has found a way to win. Thus the shift in USC’s practice this week.

For the last few months, the offense and defense have raced to learn new schemes instituted by a new staff. The coaches slowed the pace.

The change was not dramatic. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow still needs enough tricks in his bag to keep Washington off guard, so there were gadget plays and a little of backup quarterback Matt Cassel, who is mobile and has good hands, lining up as a receiver in the slot.

But Chow eliminated a few existing plays from the game plan and added fewer new ones than he might ordinarily have. He needs his players to be on the same page.

“I don’t think we have been in sync all year long,” he said.

This elementary theme got bandied about at a players-only meeting several days ago when seniors urged the younger players to concentrate and guard against trying to do too much.

“The coaches call the plays,” fullback Charlie Landrigan said simply. “We just have to run them.”