No One Can Afford to Blow Their Cover

First things first: This is about secondaries.

USC’s is untested, Oregon State’s unforgiving.

So when No. 18 USC plays the 23rd-ranked Beavers in a Pacific 10 Conference opener today at the Coliseum, defensive backfields move to the forefront.

USC went 2-1 during its nonconference schedule with nary a deep-ball challenge in victories over Auburn and Colorado and last week’s loss at Kansas State.

Meanwhile, Oregon State rolled to victories against four overmatched opponents with a passing game that produced a dozen plays covering more than 30 yards, five of them for touchdowns of 40 yards or more.

Sophomore quarterback Derek Anderson has passed for 300 yards a game and 15 touchdowns, the longest an 80-yard hookup with slotback Kenny Farley in a season-opening rout over Eastern Kentucky.

Anderson will throw against a Trojan secondary that includes redshirt freshman William Buchanon, who is making his first start at left cornerback.

“They’ve got some tall receivers, some athletic receivers and also some speed,” USC safety DeShaun Hill said. “There’s no doubt, they’re going to spread it out and try to go deep.”

USC’s offense prefers the shorter route. Quarterback Carson Palmer’s longest completion covered 37 yards.

The fifth-year senior will operate against a Beaver defense that leads the nation with 11 interceptions. Cornerbacks Terrell Roberts and Dennis Weathersby and safeties Lawrence Turner and Mitch Meeuwsen helped Oregon State pick off four passes against Eastern Kentucky, three against Temple, one against Nevada Las Vegas and three in last week’s 59-19 pasting of Fresno State.

“They are supposed to be a lot like the Oregon State defense two years ago,” USC wide receiver Kareem Kelly said. “If that’s true, it’s going to be a challenge.”

In 2000, Oregon State defeated the Trojans at Corvallis, 31-21, the Beavers’ only win over USC in 29 years.

Last season, the Trojans won in overtime, 16-13, keeping Oregon State winless at the Coliseum since 1960.

In that game, freshman tailback Steven Jackson came off the bench for Oregon State and rushed for 119 yards. He is averaging 134 yards a game this season for an offense that is producing nearly 500.

“They look formidable in all areas,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ll see if that’s the competition or that’s them. I think it’s a lot of them right now.”

Carroll hopes the Trojans can neutralize Oregon State’s big-play capability by controlling the clock with long drives.

Senior Sultan McCullough, who has rushed for a team-best 241 yards, will start at tailback. Seniors Justin Fargas and Malaefou MacKenzie also will play, but, Carroll said, the Trojans will abandon the rotation they have employed if one back asserts himself.

Carroll also hopes for a better performance from special teams.

Sophomore transfer Ryan Killeen will handle field-goal and extra-point attempts in place of senior David Davis, who struggled the last two games. If Killeen falters, Davis will have a shot at redemption.

Oregon State kicker Ryan Cesca is looking forward to the same. Last season against USC, Cesca missed two late field goals that might have won the game.

Palmer eventually scored on a four-yard run in overtime to give the Trojans the victory.

Palmer does not anticipate a low-scoring game today.

“We know they can put a lot of points on the board,” he said. “We’re just going to have to score a lot more.”