Carroll Cuts Workload

USC Coach Pete Carroll changed his team’s two-a-day practice schedule Wednesday to avoid further injuries.

The Trojans, slowed by a number of hamstring and foot problems, attended position meetings in the morning, then ran lightly during a one-hour walk-through in helmets and shoulder pads. They broke for lunch and returned for a two-hour afternoon practice in helmets and shoulder pads before more meetings.

Carroll said the Trojans would follow the same routine until next week, when they begin final preparations for their Sept. 2 opener against Auburn at the Coliseum.

“We’re much further ahead than we were last year at this time,” said Carroll, who guided the Trojans to a 6-6 record in his first season. “This will suit us well and help us a little bit with the guys that have been nicked.”

Despite the cutback in contact, two starting defensive linemen, end Kenechi Udeze and tackle Shaun Cody, spent the majority of afternoon practice on the sideline trainer’s table.

Udeze hurt his left knee during a drill against the first-team offense.

“I planted real hard and my leg just came out from under me,” said Udeze, who added that he felt pain in the knee for the last week and was already scheduled for an MRI exam Wednesday night.

Cody hurt his right shin.

“It’s been kind of tight for a couple days,” he said. “I felt the tweak and I was like, ‘Uh-oh. Hold on.’ I’m going to see the doctor and have some treatment. I’ll be ready to go [today].”

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The Trojans have practiced in full pads only three times since beginning workouts Aug 12.

They were in full pads Aug. 15 and during scrimmages Saturday and Monday. With tailbacks Justin Fargas, Sultan McCullough and Darryl Poston nursing hamstring injuries, the Trojans will continue to tread lightly.

“Until we get everybody back, I don’t want to bang on the couple guys that can run,” Carroll said.

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A few offensive linemen are working at several spots and will continue to shuffle when senior Zach Wilson returns from a foot injury next week.

Wilson will work at right guard, where he started last season, and also at right tackle, Carroll said.

Senior Derek Graf appears to be making a push at center, freeing junior Norm Katnik to work at right guard, where freshman Fred Matua stepped in after Wilson’s injury on the first day of training camp. Junior Eric Torres, who started at right tackle last season, also is getting work at right guard.

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Senior cornerback Kevin Arbet, out for the season because of a broken bone in his right foot, said he probably will undergo surgery rather than let the injury heal with other treatment. Arbet was scheduled to start at left cornerback and was first-team All-Pacific Conference last season on special teams.... Darrell Rideaux, Jason Mitchell, Malaefou MacKenzie, Keary Colbert, Justin Wyatt and Greig Carlson handled kickoff returns.

McCullough, Poston, fullback Chad Pierson and wide receiver Kareem Kelly--all slowed because of hamstring injuries--ran lightly through plays during the morning but did not participate in drills in the afternoon.... Ricky Ervins, the last Trojan to rush for more than 1,200 yards (he gained 1,395 in 1989) attended the afternoon practice.