Offensive Line Has Control

A day after watching his team produce outstanding efforts in several phases, USC Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday that the Trojans’ offensive line stood out prominently in its victory over Colorado State.

The unit, which features three new starters this season, was shaky at times in the opener Aug. 28 against Virginia Tech. But it took advantage of a week off and came back to provide a solid foundation for an offense that produced 553 yards in Saturday’s 49-0 rout.

“We were way sharper than we were in the first game,” said Carroll, who particularly liked the way the linemen responded to blitzes.

The line’s performance helped the top-ranked Trojans pick up one first-place vote in the Associated Press poll Sunday, giving USC 52 of the possible 65.

In the locker room after Saturday’s victory, sophomore center Ryan Kalil said Trojan linemen enter every game with the same goals.

“Zero and 250,” Kalil said. “Zero sacks, 250 rushing yards.”

USC finished the game with no sacks and 322 rushing yards.

Kalil, one of the new starters this season, said some of the Trojans’ best work was done before the ball was snapped.

“The key is identifying the defense and really communicating all the way down the line what we’re going to do,” Kalil said.

Junior right tackle Taitusi Lutui said the Trojans benefited from extra practice the week off provided.

“We stayed together and didn’t lose our poise, but we still have a lot to work on,” Lutui said.

Senior tackle John Drake agreed.

“It’s one game, so take it for what it’s worth,” Drake said. “All the handshakes ... are going to fade away.

“You have another Saturday to go out there and try to prove that this game wasn’t a fluke. But it’s definitely something to build on.”

USC plays it second consecutive Mountain West Conference opponent Saturday when the Trojans travel to Brigham Young.

Carroll said USC spent time during the off-season studying BYU, which gave USC problems last season before the Trojans emerged with a 35-18 victory at the Coliseum.

BYU’s defense features five defensive backs.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to do a little bit better than we did last time,” Carroll said.

BYU opened the season with a 20-17 victory over Notre Dame at Provo, Utah. But the Cougars lost at Stanford, 37-10, Saturday, and Notre Dame won at Michigan, 28-20.

Carroll anticipates a tough setting this Saturday at BYU.

“They have a great crowd -- they really know how to back their teams at the right times,” Carroll said. “It took its toll on Notre Dame.”

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Carroll is expected to announce today that suspended junior running back Hershel Dennis has been reinstated and will practice and be available to play against BYU.

Dennis has been held out for more than three weeks for violating team rules. Dennis told The Times last week that coaches had informed him he would return this week.

On Sunday, Carroll declined to confirm Dennis’ return date.