Carroll wants more turnovers

Looking back on USC’s loss to UCLA two years ago at the Rose Bowl, safety Kevin Ellison recalled a mostly solid Trojans defensive effort, save for one area.

“We didn’t get the ball from them enough,” Ellison said Wednesday.

USC recovered only one of three fumbles by the Bruins and did not intercept a pass in the 13-9 defeat.

The Trojans enter Saturday’s game against UCLA ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense.

But the chink in the Trojans’ armor might be an inability to create turnovers -- at least at the rate Coach Pete Carroll expects.

“This has not been a great turnover year for us, actually below average,” Carroll said Wednesday. “We haven’t owned the ball like we’d like to.”

USC has caused 25 turnovers and committed 19 for a plus-6 margin. The Trojans are second in the Pacific 10 Conference, but well below their double-digit margins of the 2002-2005 teams.

“Plus-6 doesn’t carry as much weight with me,” Carroll said.

USC finished plus-4 in 2006 and plus-2 in 2007.

UCLA is at minus-11, having committed 28 turnovers and caused 17.

Last week, Arizona State recovered a fumble for a touchdown and returned three interceptions for touchdowns in a 34-9 victory over the Bruins.

Job search

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian declined to comment about his status in Washington’s search for a new head coach.

Sarkisian has interviewed for the job, a USC source who requested anonymity confirmed.

“As always, if an opportunity presents itself, I’ll assess it and look at it and deal with it,” Sarkisian said. “But right now, we need to beat UCLA.”

Quick kicks

Ellison practiced but said his availability for UCLA would largely be determined by how his surgically repaired right knee responds today. . . . Tailback Stafon Johnson (thigh) returned to practice and said he was getting close to 100%. . . . Fullback Adam Goodman will not play against UCLA and will have knee surgery Monday, Carroll said. . . . The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles, will be collecting canned, non-perishable food and gently used clothing for the holiday season during a USC-UCLA football rally at L.A. Live on Friday from 6-10 a.m.

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gary.klein@latimes.com