USC Gives Defense Free Rein

One of the second-half keys for USC in its 37-17 victory over Arizona State on Saturday was getting defensive pressure on Sun Devil quarterback Andrew Walter, who was sacked five times.

Last week, the USC front put very little pressure on quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Reggie Robertson in a triple-overtime loss to California.

Defensive tackle Shaun Cody, who had 2 1/2 sacks Saturday, said the Trojan front four was upset after Arizona totaled 207 yards in the first half.

Cody said the coaches told the defense to be more aggressive. “They were running the rock and throwing the ball on us in the first half,” Cody said. “ ... In the second half, they turned us loose. They said, ‘It’s on you guys now.’ ”

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USC kicker Ryan Killeen came back strong this week.

Killeen, a junior, had missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt in the third overtime against California last weekend, setting the stage for Cal’s game-winning field goal.

Killeen kicked field goals of 45, 28 and 38 yards against Arizona State.

“After a game like [Cal], you know it’s pretty much on the line, you either do it or you don’t,” Killeen said. “I knew coming into this game that I had to perform.”

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USC Coach Pete Carroll and many players pointed to the tackle sophomore safety Mike Ross made on the final play of the first half as a turning point for the Trojans.

Ross pounded Arizona State’s Daryl Lightfoot on a kickoff return following Killeen’s game-tying 45-yard field goal with three seconds left in the second quarter.

“The bell sounded, bon-n-n-ng,” Carroll said. “Just getting three points at the end of the half was not enough. Our guys had a ball running up the tunnel after that play.”

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Although Walter’s Heisman Trophy campaign is pretty much a bust now that the Sun Devils have fallen to 2-3 this year, the Arizona State junior quarterback actually had a pretty good game against USC.

Walter completed 19 of 38 passes for 305 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“I thought the offense played great today,” Walter said. “For the first time all year, I felt the offense clicking. It felt good to have the team in rhythm against the best team in the Pac-10.”

Despite Saturday’s loss, Arizona State is at least starting to resemble the team some thought might contend for this year’s Pac-10 title.

“I know sometimes it doesn’t appear like it to people on the outside, but our football team is getting better,” Arizona State Coach Dirk Koetter said. “We went through two very rough weeks against Iowa and Oregon State, but we have a lot of individual players getting better in practice.”