Kelly Won’t Start but Will Play

USC Coach Pete Carroll made it official Friday, pulling his top receiver, Kareem Kelly, from the starting lineup and replacing him with little-known D. Hale.

Kelly missed practice earlier this week after getting into a minor accident in his girlfriend’s car. But don’t read too much into the move, Carroll said.

“I’m not making any big statement about this,” he said. “Hale has been busting his butt in practice, so we’ll give him a look.”

Kelly is expected to enter the game as early as the first series.

Carroll also said Lenny Vandermade will start at center with Norm Katnik switching to guard. Guard Zach Wilson did not practice much this week but is expected to rotate into the game.

In a season of losses, the defeat at Notre Dame last weekend was especially painful for USC players. So cornerback Kris Richard sees today’s game as a test for the team.

“The season didn’t end with Notre Dame,” the senior said. “It seems like this game has to be an example of how we put all that behind us.”

Practice was sluggish at the beginning of the week, several players said, and Carroll was watching to see how his players responded. By week’s end, he was satisfied.

“This team has continued to stay together,” he said. “You feel good about it as a coach. Hopefully, we can get a win and get a reward for the hard work.”

Three key Arizona players were injured against Washington last week, but all are expected to play today. Quarterback Jason Johnson and his backup, John Rattay, suffered concussions. By Tuesday evening, they had returned to the practice field.

“They both feel great,” Arizona Coach John Mackovic told the Tucson Citizen. “Jason said he passed all the psychological tests with flying colors.”

Of greater concern was defensive end Johnny Jackson, who was taken out of Husky Stadium in an ambulance. Tests showed swelling in his neck ligaments, but Mackovic said Jackson has been cleared to play.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When USC has the ball: The play is called “Trojan Right” and it’s the run that failed on the goal line against Notre Dame last week. Now the offensive line and offensive coordinator Norm Chow said they cannot wait for a chance to try it again and redeem themselves. “We don’t care if the whole stadium knows, we’re still going to run it,” Chow said. Arizona has one of the conference’s top tacklers in linebacker Lance Briggs but has struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone, surrendering 34 points a game. Busted coverages in the secondary cost the Wildcats last week.

When Arizona has the ball: The Wildcats have been a streaky team, running halfback Clarence Farmer in spurts, then following up with the pass. Junior receiver Bobby Wade is still the big-play man of the passing attack. The Trojans answer with a playmaker of their own: linebacker Matt Grootegoed. The key is keeping Grootegoed and the other linebackers sound because reserves Chris Prosser and Bobby Otani are injured.

Key to the game: If USC’s special teams have been spotty, Arizona’s have been worse. The Wildcats rank last in the Pacific 10 in field goals, ninth in kickoff returns and fifth in punting and punt returns.

Fast fact: More than a year has passed since Arizona defeated anyone in the Pac-10. The Wildcats are 0-4 in conference this season, but they haven’t lost to USC since 1996.

The pick: On paper, the Trojans have more talent, but that didn’t stop them from losing to Notre Dame. Coaches insist their top players need to break the habit of losing, especially stumbling in the fourth quarter. USC’s best hope is to open a big lead as it did against Arizona State. The edge: Trojans.

The line: USC by 6.