‘Cats Require Careful Handling

All week long, Mike Pollard has preached the same thing, over and over, to his teammates.

“Discipline,” he says. “I’m always talking about discipline.”

The USC middle linebacker is talking about the hard work required to stop the option play. Defensive linemen playing their gaps. Outside linebackers forcing the quarterback. Defensive backs coming up to stop the pitch.

That is what Pollard says his team needs to corral 12th-ranked Kansas State, a team that mixes the option and the pass with sometimes blurry speed.

“It’s about defensive responsibilities,” he says. “We have to be blue-collar players.”

The Trojans know they have a difficult task at hand. Last week’s victory over San Jose State was a good start, but today’s game against an established powerhouse--the kind of team USC used to be--is another matter. It offers a chance to “see where we sit with a team of this stature,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve got to take the next step.”

Oddly enough, Kansas State feels the same.

The Wildcats have been criticized for padding their early schedule with the Indiana States and Northeast Louisianas of college football. They consider this game, on the road, their toughest opener in more than a decade.

“It’s a steppingstone for us,” receiver Aaron Lockett said. “It’s an opportunity for Kansas State to gain more national recognition.”

So both teams have something to fight for at the Coliseum.

The Wildcats did not pick the best possible year to up the ante. They must replace a dozen starters this season, including the quarterback, much of the offensive line and the better part of the defense. On the other hand, with four consecutive 11-victory seasons, they have shown a knack for reloading.

Senior linebacker Ben Leber and junior Terence Newman, a cornerback with 10.2 speed, are expected to continue a defense that ranked fourth in the nation, holding opponents to 271 yards a game. They will get help from junior college transfers such as defensive end Henry Bryant.

USC figures to see something different from last week, when San Jose State played a two-deep zone, taking away the outside receivers but leaving the middle open for short passes and the running game.

“Kansas State is probably going to bring nine guys in the box to stop the run,” quarterback Carson Palmer said.

That should leave receivers in single coverage, facing cornerbacks who play bump-and-run. “It’s going to be important to get good releases,” USC’s Kareem Kelly said. The Trojans would like to complete passes early to keep the defense honest while showing discipline of their own, avoiding the penalties that killed drives last week.

The big question for Kansas State is at quarterback, where Ell Roberson appears to have won the job. He is reminiscent of previous Wildcat quarterbacks Michael Bishop and Jonathan Beasley, which means he can hurt opponents with his arm and his feet.

“Ell is a youngster that’s been here for three years, so he’s not brand new to what we do,” Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder said. “The downside is, he hasn’t played a tremendous amount of football on Saturdays.”

Junior college transfer Marc Dunn, more of a drop-back passer, might play too. Either way, the Wildcats have senior Josh Scobey at running back.

“A real slasher,” Carroll said. “You spend all your time focusing on the quarterback in the option and he flips it out to Scobey on the dead run.”

The Trojans must answer by minding the responsibilities that Pollard has been harping on all week. He and his teammates must be cautious with the blitz, knowing one blown assignment can lead to a touchdown. They must keep track of Lockett and the passing game. They must contend with Kansas State’s offensive line.

Tackle Thomas Barnett is expected to miss the game with an undisclosed injury, so the Wildcats will have several new starters up front, but they figure to be big and strong as always.

Again, Pollard says, it comes down to determination.

“No one can go out there and do their own thing,” he said. “Against this offense, everyone has a responsibility.”