Team’s Focus Concerns Carroll

With his team two weeks away from its Sept. 2 opener against Auburn, USC Coach Pete Carroll stood on the Coliseum turf after the Trojans’ uninspiring scrimmage Monday night and said his team must begin sharpening its focus.

“We’ll start zeroing in on Auburn now,” Carroll said. “I’m not going to feel good until we kick this thing off and start playing and look like we have our act together.”

Several key players, including tailbacks Justin Fargas, Sultan McCullough and Darryl Poston, wide receiver Kareem Kelly and safety Troy Polamalu, did not play because of injuries.

Fearing injury to other front-line players, Carroll did not allow the first-team offense to face the first-team defense during the 84-play scrimmage.

The offense scored twice in 12 possessions. The Trojans rushed for only 47 yards in 32 carries and quarterbacks passed for 311 yards.

Starting quarterback Carson Palmer completed nine of 15 passes for 163 yards and connected with receiver Grant Mattos for a 39-yard touchdown pass play on the first drive. Two series later, linebacker Oscar Lua intercepted a short pass from Palmer in the end zone.

Quarterback Matt Leinart struggled after he was elevated to No. 2 on the depth chart because of a knee injury suffered by Matt Cassel Saturday. Leinart completed six of 13 passes for 68 yards, but had two intercepted and was sacked four times.

Carroll said when Cassel returns, possibly next week, he and Leinart will resume competing for the No. 2 job.

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Freshman fullback Brandon Hancock fumbled after catching a pass on the first play, but was otherwise solid for the second time in two scrimmages.

He had two receptions for 38 yards and rushed for 20 yards in three carries.

But senior Malaefou MacKenzie and freshman Hershel Dennis did not take advantage of their opportunities at tailback with Fargas, McCullough and Poston sidelined. MacKenzie gained seven yards in three carries and Dennis rushed for 21 yards in 10 carries.

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Sunny Byrd emerged as the starting tailback last season after injuries wiped out depth at the position midway through the schedule.

Byrd returned to fullback at the start of training camp, but with Fargas, McCullough and Poston out because of hamstring problems, Byrd got carries at tailback for the second time in three days.

“We have some kind of hamstring disease going on with the tailbacks,” Byrd said.

Byrd, who rushed for 336 yards and four touchdowns last season, took two snaps at tailback and gained seven yards, four on a touchdown run.

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The Trojans were not in pads or helmets during a morning practice at Howard Jones Field that featured a walkthrough of their pregame routine.

Before going over special teams and offensive sets, players lined up along the sideline and sang the national anthem.

“I’d give us a 10 for effort,” center Norm Katnik said. “That’s the only comment I’d have on that.”

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Junior cornerback Marcell Allmond was released from the hospital after five days of treatment for an infection in his right knee.