Defense Is Ready for a Challenge

Something will have to give when 11th-ranked USC plays at No. 25 Kansas State on Saturday.

The Trojans lead the nation in total defense, yielding an average of 171 yards a game after victories over Auburn and Colorado. Kansas State, benefiting from a soft schedule, leads the nation in scoring, averaging 59.7 points through three games.

“They’ve got a great offense, so we’ve got a lot to prepare for,” said USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody. “We’re excited. We want to play a 3-0 team that scores a lot of points. We thrive on stuff like that.”

Since the second half of the opener against Auburn, USC’s defense has been nearly impenetrable. The Trojans have allowed only 96 yards in the last six quarters, including 61 in a 40-3 victory over Colorado on Saturday.

Coach Pete Carroll said the defense adopted a more basic scheme after missing several tackles in the first half against Auburn on Sept. 2.

“We’ve really eliminated mistakes and breakout plays because of that,” Carroll said. “Early in the Auburn game we looked kind of shabby. We went back to a more basic approach to make sure we did things right, and it’s obviously been a better approach.”

Said Cody: “Coach Carroll has us moving around a lot. We’ve got a lot of speed on defense, so he has us flying around everywhere.”

As usual, strong safety Troy Polamalu was among the more disruptive Trojans against Colorado, recording a team-high 11 tackles. He said he has played more aggressively against the run because USC has yet to face an effective passing attack.

“As a secondary, we have yet to be challenged,” said Polamalu, who was named Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the week. “I think Kansas State is going to test us. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

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Kansas State’s “preseason,” as some in the media have called it, ended Saturday with a 63-13 victory over Eastern Illinois, a Division I-AA school. The Wildcats’ other victories were over I-AA Western Kentucky, 48-3, and Louisiana-Monroe, 68-0. All three games were at Manhattan, Kan.

Nonconference schedules don’t get any softer than that, but Carroll said he has a “different level of respect” for the Wildcats because they defeated the Trojans, 10-6, last season at the Coliseum, rushing for 340 yards.

Saturday will mark the first time Kansas State has faced a ranked non-conference opponent since losing at Washington, 56-3, in 1991.

“They are very physical and tough to go against,” Carroll said. “I didn’t know what to expect as much from Colorado or Auburn, but [Kansas] State I do, and so I hold them in higher regard.”

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USC tailback Justin Fargas, who got his first and only carry of the season against Colorado, has recovered from a strained hamstring and will play a bigger role this week, Carroll said.... Zach Wilson practiced with the first team at right guard Monday and could start against Kansas State, Carroll said. Wilson, a senior, has been bothered by a strained foot and played late in the game against Colorado.