Leinart Wants to Forget Last Week

USC quarterback Matt Leinart is looking forward to Saturday’s game at Washington State so he can finally put last week’s effort behind.

On Tuesday, Leinart initially called his performance in the Trojans’ victory over Washington “probably the worst game I played in my career.” He retreated some when reminded the top-ranked Trojans won, 38-0.

“Mentally, I wasn’t as sharp as I normally am,” said Leinart, who struggled in the first half against the Huskies and finished 24 for 43 for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Leinart said faulty reads and other lapses -- some by receivers -- caused him to make “some bad throws that I don’t normally make.”

Leinart took extra snaps Monday to correct footwork problems. He continued working Tuesday on sharpening his decision-making on pass plays.

Leinart was a redshirt freshman in 2002 when the Trojans last traveled to Pullman, Wash. He did not play in a 30-27 overtime defeat on a cold October night.

“I was on the sideline with my hands in my pants to warm up -- and I’m sure it’s going to be a lot colder this weekend,” he said.

Temperatures in Pullman on Saturday are expected to be in the 30s or 40s with a chance of rain.

*

With light rain falling during the latter part of practice, the Trojans continued to work extensively on one of their practice fields that was outfitted with an artificial surface last summer.

Each of USC’s three defeats over the last two-plus seasons -- at Kansas State and Washington State in 2002 and at California in 2003 -- occurred on stadium fields that featured artificial surfaces.

Place-kicking miscues played a role in each defeat.

But after making all of his field-goal tries off the artificial surface Tuesday, Ryan Killeen said he did not foresee any problems Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter what the surface is,” he said. “We’ve kicked on this for so long now, it’s just natural.”

*

Running back Reggie Bush was absent from practice to attend a funeral for a family member, Carroll said.... Guards John Drake and Fred Matua, each nursing ankle injuries, participated in limited activity. Freshman Jeff Byers continued to work in Drake’s left guard spot. Redshirt freshman Drew Radovich and senior Travis Watkins worked at right guard in place of Matua.... Running back LenDale White (ankle) did not practice, but said he would play Saturday.... Wide receiver Steve Smith (stress fracture in leg) played catch but is not expected to participate in drills for several weeks.