Freshmen Get a Big Test

Running backs C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Emmanuel Moody all showed flashes of talent during USC’s first six days of training camp.

Today, the freshman trio that is being counted on to help replace Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and LenDale White, will cap the week with their biggest test to date when the Trojans’ scrimmage for the first time.

“The number one thing is to get those guys out there playing full speed and see how they do,” Coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday.

Last weekend, Carroll praised the freshman running backs but said, “I can’t tell yet about hanging onto the football and all that stuff.”

Senior linebacker Oscar Lua said the defense would help Carroll find out.

“It will be a little bit more of a pressure cooker,” Lua said. “For them, younger guys wanting to show their stuff, when you’re trying to showboat and do what you were able to do in high school, you’re going to be careless about the ball.”

Junior Chauncey Washington, the Trojans’ No. 1 tailback, will not participate in the scrimmage and could be out several days after straining his left hamstring Monday. Washington suffered the same injury a few weeks before camp began.

“It’s more sore than I thought it might be,” he said. “I’m just going day to day to see how it feels.”

Along with evaluating the running backs, Carroll says he’s eager to see how quarterbacks John David Booty and Mark Sanchez fare against a full rush in game situations.

Both quarterbacks had their most efficient performances of the week Tuesday.

“You want to get in the game-type mode so you can see where you’re really at without the coaches out there giving you hints,” said Booty, who is on track to start the opener Sept. 2 at Arkansas.

Sanchez says he is benefiting from a novel way to study the playbook in his dorm room.

“I took the mattress off the bed and put it under underneath,” he said. “I put the playbook on top and I’m reading notes through the holes in the bed.”

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The absence of Lawrence Jackson, who has not practiced in five days because of a groin strain, has created plenty of opportunities for sophomore Kyle Moore and junior Jeff Schweiger to work at both defensive end spots.

“They probably don’t enjoy it, but it will make them better players,” said Jackson, who was not expected to participate in today’s scrimmage.

During Tuesday’s morning workout, the usually reserved Moore was ejected during a two-minute drill for going after offensive tackle Kyle Williams.

“I lost my cool. I shouldn’t have done that,” Moore said. “I need to calm down and need to handle myself in those situations better and protect our team.

“I don’t need to be thrown out of the game, especially in two-minute drill because they’re going to need me in pass rush.”

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Freshman Travon Patterson appears generously listed at 5 feet 11, but the smallish receiver already is carving out a niche with his speed, elusiveness and pass-catching ability.

“We’re always looking for something unique here and he brings a different dimension,” Carroll said.

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Freshman Butch Lewis was switched from defensive tackle to the offensive line to help improve depth and worked at the guard and tackle positions.... Carroll said freshman safeties Allen Bradford, Taylor Mays and Alfred Rowe would take a majority of repetitions over the next week to get them ready as back-ups. Junior Josh Pinkard and sophomore Kevin Ellison are the starters and freshman Antwine Perez went through spring practice.