Chow and Titans Expected to Talk

One recruiting season ended Wednesday when USC announced another stellar class of incoming players.

Now, the pursuit of Trojan offensive coordinator Norm Chow by at least one NFL team is expected to begin in earnest this week.

Sources said Tennessee Titan Coach Jeff Fisher is expected to speak with Chow as soon as today and possibly meet with him in Nashville this weekend. Chow is regarded as a leading candidate to replace offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who left for the same position with the New York Jets.

The Titans had reportedly offered Heimerdinger about $800,000 annually to remain with the team, but he left when the Jets offered him about $1 million.

Chow is one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in college football, earning about $500,000 a year.

Asked if he would be interested in the Titans’ job, Chow said, “You have to be.”

USC Coach Pete Carroll said he was aware of the Titans’ interest in Chow and would “never try to stand in anybody’s way,” if a member of his staff wanted to explore other opportunities.

Fisher, a former player at USC, held off pursuing Chow until after signing day so as not to affect the Trojans’ recruiting efforts.

Several NFL teams contacted Chow informally last month after USC won its second consecutive national title with a victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Carroll is considering a possible restructuring of his staff because of several departures since the Orange Bowl.

Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who was also assistant head coach, left to become Mississippi’s coach. Dennis Slutak, a graduate assistant who worked with special teams, joined Orgeron’s staff in a full-time capacity. Carl Smith, who coached Trojan quarterbacks last season, was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars last month.

Sources said Trojan offensive line coach Tim Davis also has had discussions with unspecified NFL teams.

Of the open quarterback coach job on his staff, Carroll said he hoped to “have that done,” by early next week.

He also said he would like to make graduate assistant Ken Norton a full-time member of the staff.

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Quarterback Matt Leinart, who had minor surgery on his left elbow last week, no longer has his arm in a sling and will begin to lightly exercise it next week. Carroll said Leinart will miss spring practice.... Defensive end Frostee Rucker is recovering from toe surgery performed last week and will also miss spring practice.