Assistant Axman Fired by Dorrell

In a continuing effort to pump fresh blood into an anemic attack, Coach Karl Dorrell fired offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Steve Axman on Thursday and appointed new line coach Tom Cable offensive coordinator.

Dorrell has made three coaching changes since the Bruins ended their disappointing 2003 season with a 6-7 record, and Axman’s departure was not unexpected.

“It became obvious to both of us during our ongoing discussions that it would be best for all concerned for Steve to pursue other coaching opportunities,” Dorrell said.

“I respect Steve’s abilities as a coach, but we both came to the realization that this is not the right fit for him.”

Coincidentally, Axman gave Dorrell his first offensive coordinator title in 1990 when Axman was head coach at Northern Arizona. When Dorrell was hired at UCLA last year, he tabbed his longtime friend to run the West Coast offense. Axman had been coaching quarterbacks at Washington.

But UCLA had one of the worst offenses in the nation, averaging 294.4 yards and 19.1 points a game. And two of three quarterbacks on scholarship -- Matt Moore and John Sciarra -- transferred after the season, leaving only starter Drew Olson.

Cable, who will continue to coach the line, spent the last four years as head coach at Idaho and was offensive coordinator at Colorado in 1999. His Idaho teams, somewhat successfully, ran a scheme similar to Dorrell’s.

The Vandals ranked sixth nationally in 2001 with an average of 464.8 yards a game, eighth in 2000 with 453.2 and 27th in 2002 with 404.6. However, they slipped to 381.4 yards last season, and Cable was fired with an overall record of 11-35.

“Tom is well versed in our offensive system and is extremely familiar with its blocking schemes,” Dorrell said. “I expect us to be much improved and much more efficient with Tom at the controls.”

Dorrell said he would add a quarterback coach in the near future.

-- Steve Henson

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As expected, USC announced several changes and additions to Pete Carroll’s coaching staff.

Rocky Seto, who coached safeties last season, will handle linebackers with assistance from new graduate assistant Ken Norton Jr.

Carl Smith, 55, has been hired to coach tight ends. Smith coached the Cleveland Browns’ quarterbacks the last three seasons and previously worked under Carroll with the New England Patriots.

Norton, 37, was an All-American linebacker at UCLA and played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. Norton replaces Brennan Carroll, the coach’s son, who is leaving to pursue business interests.

“It’s an opportunity to bring a guy in with tremendous potential,” said Carroll, who coached Norton as the defensive coordinator for the 49ers in 1995 and 1996. “I’ve been around him enough to see the effect he has on people.”

Carroll said he hoped to hire a new running backs coach by next week.

-- Gary Klein