USC Defense Delivers Sticker Shock

The problem with being a defender is that the better you play, the less it takes to describe your effort.

For example, all it took to sum up USC’s defensive effort against Washington at the Coliseum on Saturday was a single digit: 0.

That was Washington’s point total, repeated over and over by the fans near the tunnel as the final seconds ticked away on the top-ranked, undefeated Trojans’ seventh victory, a final score of 38-0.

“Ze-ro. Ze-ro.”

And that’s about as good as it gets for the defense. A little recognition. This group certainly deserved at least a set of headlines for this game.

To have the ball in your hands at USC means a chance for glory, a shot at adding to the Heisman collection in Heritage Hall or to have your number splayed across the giant jerseys stretched across the peristyle end of the Coliseum.

What do the defenders play for?

Stickers.

Not even those on-the-helmet stickers, a la Ohio State’s buckeyes, to be displayed for all the world to see. No, the USC defense’s accomplishments are recognized on a board in a team meeting room.

Hold an opponent under 300 yards of total offense? Sticker.

No fourth-quarter touchdowns given up? Sticker.

Win the game? Sticker.

“We have our goal board in our room to find out how well we really did,” tackle Shaun Cody said. “The truth comes out on Mondays.”

They might need an extra roll of stickers this Monday. USC’s defense was the most consistent unit on the field Saturday. It held the Huskies to 113 yards, made them go 0 for 14 on third-down conversions, didn’t give up a play longer than 18 yards.

And the Trojans ended the longest active scoring streak in NCAA Division I-A; Washington had not been shut out in 271 consecutive games.

It was a perfect blend of planning by the coaching staff and execution by the players. They had a perfect scheme to stop Washington’s option attack, knowing full well the Huskies didn’t want to throw the ball against them.

“Their defensive line impressed me,” Washington cornerback Sam Cunningham said when asked for his view of the Trojans. “I felt like they were really top caliber.”

By generating so much pressure up front the Trojans could afford to stay in their basic sets, without too many risky blitzes.

And linebacker Lofa Tatupu kept appearing in the right places, including the Washington backfield when Kenny James fumbled a pitch. Tatupu recovered and returned it 12 yards to the Washington six.

Normally this is the time of year when the offense goes into Cirque du Soleil mode, settling in for an extended run of dazzling performances. Since Oct. 19, 2002, the Trojans had scored 40 points or more in 11 of the 12 games played after mid-October.

Right now it’s the defense that’s rolling. The Trojans have given up only one touchdown in the last nine quarters.

The defense deserved a shutout last week, but Arizona State scored a discount touchdown on a 33-yard drive after a Reggie Bush fumble. (The same Arizona State squad hung 48 on UCLA Saturday). USC’s 10.7 points given up a game is on pace to be the school’s best since a 7.9 average in 1967.

“We’re getting it going on defense,” said Coach Pete Carroll, who also serves as defensive coordinator. “I’m really proud of what’s going on defensively.

“You get a rhythm for the other team. We just kept cranking those three-and-outs.”

For the defense it comes from togetherness.

“We’re a group,” Cody said. “There’s no individuals on our team, especially on the defense. It’s just a group effort. The defense had a great game tonight. We enjoy that. We’re a close bunch of guys and we all get along.”

With the defense, there’s no debate about who’s the most deserving Heisman Trophy candidate, Bush or Matt Leinart.

The only trophy the defense cares about is that piece of crystal ware displayed on the south sideline Saturday, a thing known as the ADT National Championship Trophy. It goes to the winner of the Orange Bowl this year, and the Coliseum was its latest stop on a national tour. A sign said “Please do not touch the trophy” and for most of the first half the Trojan offense appeared to honor it. A few more quarters like those first two and they won’t be getting their hands on it.

A couple of penalties, a few inaccurate passes, an interception and a missed field goal made for a scoreless first quarter.

The Huskies helped out with two missed field goals of their own in the first half, USC’s offense got untracked and then the defense made sure there wouldn’t be a comeback. Or any points at all, even with Trojan defensive backups on the field in the fourth quarter.

And then the game ended, and all the cameras went to Leinart and Bush and LenDale White.

“We don’t even worry about that,” defensive end Frostee Rucker said. “We just keep playing ... and then stuff like that’s going to happen.”

He pointed to a sign that said “Bush for Heisman. Bush for president.”

“Just keep playing good ball and your name’s going to be called for great accolades and stuff like that,” Rucker said. “So we don’t get worried. We’ve just got to grind it out. We’re going to win games for us.”

Looks like they already have.

J.A. Adande can be reached at j.a.adande@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Adande, go to latimes.com/adande.