'Trojan Walk' is USC football team tradition

By David Wharton Los Angeles Times

It wasn't the first time that hundreds of fans had gathered outside the Coliseum hours before kickoff, waiting for the USC team bus to arrive.

But this time they had come for a preseason scrimmage. On a weekday afternoon.

They showed up early Thursday to take part in the "Trojan Walk," a tradition that has taken root over the last seven years. Forming a path from the bus to the stadium, they clapped and shouted as the team walked through.

"I just want to see the players up close," said James Espinoza, 30, of Rosemead. "I love it."

The pregame ritual dates back to Coach Pete Carroll's debut, the 2001 season opener against San Jose State. Back then, Carroll explained, "walking into the Coliseum is a very special experience. I want [the players] to see that."

As seasons passed, the program transforming itself from mediocre to formidable, more fans joined in.

"I didn't know what it was going to be like," Carroll said Thursday. "Did I hope it was going to be great? Yeah."

The crowd for the scrimmage -- on a weekday, after all -- was about the size of the group that showed up for that first San Jose State game: Relatively small compared with the throngs that have shown up before games the last few seasons.

Carroll gathered his players and told them to imagine what it will be like on Sept. 13 when they face Ohio State in a game with national championship implications.

"You can't help but feed off the energy," senior receiver Patrick Turner said. "The fans feel like they can pour their hearts out."

Shoemate: ‘I came to USC to take care of business’

ADAM MAYA OCRegister.com

Coming out of Servite High School this fall, D.J. Shoemate was considered, pound-for-pound, one of the best prospects in the country. But with 11 scholarship receivers on USC’s roster, I wondered how the true freshman would fit in. That was my mistake.

I had forgotten Shoemate is not a receiver. He is a football player.

Watch him on just about any play where the ball is not headed in his direction and his head is up, his eyes searching — who am I going to hit? Since the beginning of camp Shoemate has made an impression on coaches and teammates alike for his willingness to get physical and mix it up. For him it is instinct, although he’ll be the first to tell you he still has a lot to learn.

“This is like an advanced placement football class,” he said. “I just want to play the freshman role, learn as much as I can from my teammates and my coaches, just take advantage of what they tell me and try to apply that to my game.

“There’s a lot of great receivers on this team and they have so many different attributes to contribute. I feel that with the opportunities ahead of me I have to take advantage of them because you only get so many.”

He did that again in Thursday’s scrimmage, showing off what were maybe the best hands in the County in 2007. Playing for the second-team offense and against the first-team defense, he caught three passes for 36 yards and returned three kickoffs for 63 yards.

He was also involved in what might have been the highlight of the scrimmage, turning a short pass into a 28-yard gain and finishing it off by by nearly hurdling free safety Marshall Jones only to be leveled on the way down by strong safety Will Harris. Shoemate held on.

“I just wanted to get out of the way because I saw him coming full speed at me,” said Shoemate, talking about Jones, not Harris.

Eevrything has been full speed for him since arriving at USC, from taking summer school classes to moving into a dorm to studying the playbook.

“Get serious, get in your playbook.” he said his mentality has been. “A lot of great players played before you and you have that in the back of your head while you’re learning all the formations and plays,” he said. “All the coaches are going to come out and challenge you with high expectations.”

Like fellow true freshman Blake Ayles, Shoemate said adapting to the speed and physicality of the college game has been the biggest challenge thus far. And like Ayles, Shoemate said he is just trying to find his way onto the field.

“I came all the way to USC to take care of business,” he said. ”It was a mystery to me. I didn’t really know what to expect. I expected (high) standards and big shoes to fill.”

So far the Shoe fits.

Trojans assistant coach Morton forgets receiver at scrimmage

Scott Wolf LA Daily News

USC assistant coach John Morton took the unusual step of saying he should be fired Monday, perhaps a first for a coach in the Pete Carroll era.

Morton's offense was that he forgot to play wide receiver Jordan Cameron during Saturday's scrimmage at the Coliseum.

"I totally screwed that up. I didn't put him in," Morton said. "I should be fired for that. I made a mental error. I ask the players not to make mental errors so I shouldn't make them myself."

Cameron, a transfer from Ventura College, has been impressive in practices, so his absence from the scrimmage was noticeable.

Meanwhile, Morton is still looking for a go-to receiver, something that plagued the Trojans last year. None of the expected candidates - Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, Damian Williams, David Ausberry and Ronald Johnson - has emerged.

"That's what we're looking for. We're trying to find that guy," Morton said. "That's the question now. Guys will have certain roles. It's our job to put them in the right roles."

Morton said wide receiver Travon Patterson is moving into the rotation based on his scrimmages.

"There's certain plays I want him in there," Morton said.

Quarterback derby

Although the coaches have not said who would start, Aaron Corp appears to be ahead of Mitch Mustain based on recent performances. Mustain was intercepted by safety Marshall Jones during Monday's practice.

"I like the way Aaron handled the four-minute drill," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "They both did a nice job though. I think we've gotten a fairly good assessment so far."

Sanchez update

Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw to stationary targets Monday but today is a much bigger day for him. He is going to try to throw to moving targets and might do some light running.

"It's more how he responds on Wednesday from it," Carroll said. "He's on course to make a recovery next week."

Sanchez said he needs to return by next Tuesday to have a realistic chance of starting against Virginia.

"I think we will have the game plan on Tuesday, so ideally we'd like him back on that day," Sarkisian said.

Injury update

Tailback Joe McKnight tried to practice with a hyperextended elbow but his finger nail started bleeding and he was pulled from the workout. McKnight smashed his fingers when a door was slammed on them by wide receiver Brice Butler.

"Joe's had a lot of little things but always comes back to play," Carroll said.

Marc Tyler has a left-ankle injury that occurred on a kick return. It is the same ankle he broke in high school while at Oaks Christian of Westlake Village.

Clearinghouse update

Freshman defensive end Nick Perry is scheduled to take an online test today and then must get certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Tailback Curtis McNeal needs to finish a class before he can send his paperwork to the clearinghouse.

Here's what we know so far about this season's USC football team

Dan Weber PE.com

LOS ANGELES - Here's what we know after Thursday's "mock" game that had the White first and second teams beating the Cardinal, 28-7, before a surprising gathering of 8,000 at the Coliseum.

We know a defense without All-America tackle prospect Fili Moala and top cornerbacks Shareece Wright and Cary Harris isn't all that special -- especially when it's limiting the work of its All-America linebackers, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing, to protect a group that's gotten pretty thin. Backup corners Kevin Thomas and Daniel Harper have a long way to go, and Josh Pinkard isn't quite there yet.

We know the best way to break the quarterback standoff between Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain will be for Mark Sanchez, who worked out in pads and legitimately threw the ball in seven-on-seven work, to be "back by Monday," as Coach Pete Carroll said he expected.

"I'm really pleased about Mark," Carroll said.

Mustain (10 of 14 for 92 yards) completed more passes for more yards and had a touchdown throw. But the reason there was little separation is the way Corp completed 8 of 10 for 85 yards and led USC to one scoring drive. Mustain managed two.

We know that with a young, quick and relatively inexperienced offensive line, we can look for this quicker USC quarterback group to roll out more and pocket-pass less, especially if it's not Sanchez.

We know the defense can be a load, especially playing as fast as it did when defensive ends Kyle Moore and Everson Griffen closed in on quarterback Garrett Green throwing from his own end zone. Moore batted Green's pass straight up, and Griffen won the jump ball for it to score the first touchdown.

We know that Joe McKnight, who has come back healthy from three injuries in the past 10 days, has to have the ball in his hands as much as USC can get it to him. He touched it six times (three runs from scrimmage, three punt returns) and picked up 66 yards and one TD.

We know that Allen Bradford (48 total yards on eight touches with six rushes and two catches) will be in the game plan, unlike his first two years here, with USC trying to get the ball to the 225-pound speedster with good hands so he can run past and over people in space.

"We love what he offers us," Carroll said. "He's got a style."

Injury updates: USC's injured defensive trio will be back next week, Carroll said, making this USC's healthiest team for an opener in years. Moala said he's hoping he's past his lower back spasms by today, while Wright said he hadn't been told how close he is for his strained hip flexor. And Harris fits in with Carroll's timetable of the first of next week.

Alexander: Bradford's turn at USC?

By JIM ALEXANDER PE.com

LOS ANGELES - The walking definition of patience and persistence -- and yes, the importance of preparation -- wears USC football uniform No. 21.

In the hyper-competitive atmosphere of Pete Carroll's program, where tailbacks seemingly arrive by the truckload and it's easier to transfer than to start, Allen Bradford has waited his turn. Interminably, it sometimes must have seemed.

Now a junior, the former Colton High superstar could finally be poised for a breakthrough, after two seasons in which he carried the ball a total of 28 times, at one point bounced back and forth between tailback and safety, and did most of his heavy lifting on special teams. That Bradford still is a Trojan is significant enough. Remember, this was a program that a year ago had one of its 10 tailbacks, Emmanuel Moody, pose for a regional cover of Sports Illustrated and then announce he was leaving days after the magazine came out.

"There were times I wanted to leave," Bradford said. "But I stuck in there.

"It was hard. There are times that you come to practice and you know you ain't gonna play. Or in the game you know you're not gonna play. There's a lot of emotions. But I just dealt with it. I handled it well and I'm still here."

Chauncey Washington, Hershel Dennis and Desmond Reed, veterans of USC tailback competitions, preached patience. So did his dad, Keith Bradford, and the rest of his family.

They presumably had to shout to be heard over the cacophony of voices telling Bradford that a former Parade All-American shouldn't be settling for scraps, even if it was at a pretty high-powered table.

But the voice that cut through the clutter belonged to Todd McNair, the Trojans' running backs coach and an NFL running back and special teams standout for eight seasons.

"If you're dysfunctional as a player here, you're going to be dysfunctional as a player somewhere else," McNair said. "So then it's just up to you: Am I going to compete to improve, or am I going to run from it?"

The message McNair left was that if Bradford were going to see the field with any frequency, he had to put in the time watching video, studying the demands of his position and reaching a point where he reacts instead of thinking about what to do next.

"He attacks it like a pro now, and his understanding has improved tremendously," McNair said. "The game has slowed down for him. ... You can be as big and strong and fast as you want, but if you're out there thinking or you're not sure, then you can't use that to your advantage. Now he's sure of what he's doing, so his physical attributes are showing up."

The physical attributes always have been there. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds, Bradford is capable of pounding you, as befits a guy who played linebacker as well as running back in high school. Or he can outrun you if he gets the ball in open space.

The dilemma is that he still has to outrun sophomores Joe McKnight and C. J. Gable, junior Stafon Johnson and redshirt freshmen Broderick Green and Marc Tyler, his competitors for playing time. Yet it seems Bradford has carved out his own niche in USC's program, even if it's not one the public sees.

"I think (with) his consistency as just a tough guy and a leader, the guys really look up to him," Carroll said. "He's really a stud. He's tough, he's physical, he plays hard every day, he won't back down from any challenge. ... They respect him because they know he's hard as nails and every day he brings it. Quiet toughness, you know.

"I'm sure there were times when people were talking to him, 'Hey, it's not working out for you, you should go somewhere else.' But he really wanted to be here, and it did take him a while. He'd done so much in high school that he hadn't really focused in on one side of the ball or the other. He just kind of played everything, and I think he was behind a little bit in really zeroing in on all the stuff we were doing at running back.

"But you could always see the explosiveness, you could see the great hand-eye coordination he has, and you just saw big plays in him. He's really become a big-time player."

With all of those plaudits, Carroll didn't say Bradford was his starting tailback. Nor will he, in all likelihood, since Johnson is statistically the Trojans' top returning rusher, Gable started two games last season and McKnight is coming off a monster Rose Bowl.

But Bradford will do a little bit of everything -- catch some passes, block, line up at fullback as well as tailback, and continue his work on special teams. If others get hurt or aren't performing up to expectations, he'll be ready.

"My dad always told me that you compete with yourself," he said. "You can't control what everybody else does, you can only control what you do."

And if you're patient, persistent and prepared ... eventually, you'll play.

Reach Jim Alexander at 951-368-9543 or jalexander@PE.com

USC's Mays: Offense? We don't need no stinkin' offense!

ESPN

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

	John Pyle/Icon SMI
	Taylor Mays has high expectations for the USC defense.

LOS ANGELES -- USC free safety Taylor Mays is just like you. He doesn't know who USC's starting quarterback is going to be against Virginia. Unlike you, he doesn't much care.

He wants a reporter to know that this is USC-2008, and USC-2008 is about one thing: defense.

"The only time the offense has success is if we mess up," Mays said while negotiating the post-practice festival of autograph-seekers packing Howard Jones Field that is a staple of the USC experience.

"I don't think anybody really impresses me on our offense, but the offense is going to be alright. They've got a lot of athletes and a lot of great players, too. But I'm not going to give them any pub because we're a defensive football team."

Asked who's stood out for him on the Trojans defense during preseason practices and Mays ticks off about eight names before just saying, "Everybody."

"Everybody on our defense is a cover-story player, is special," May said.

Mays leads the crew in terms of pure ability. He might, in fact, be the best athlete in college football, considering he's the best all-around athlete on the Trojans.

Mays ran the Trojans fastest 40 time during the off-season: 4.25.

And he weighs 235 pounds.

At times, there has been talk that he was too linebacker-big and that he should lose a few pounds to improve his lateral quickness.

"I can't lose any weight because my body fat is too low," he said. "It would be unhealthy and I'd be going to rehab for anorexia."

But the athleticism has been a given for Mays since he was everybody's All-American coming out of Seattle's O'Dea High School. Entering his third year as a starter, Mays points to another "muscle" -- his head.

"I just know the defense," he said. "I understand what I really need to do to be a great safety."

Which is why the preseason Playboy All-American is expected to declare for the NFL draft at the end of the season, when he'll likely be picked in the top half of the first round.

As for this season, Mays believes this Trojans defense can match that of last year's model, which ranked second nationally in total defense (273.2 yards per game) and scoring(16.0 points per game).

In fact, he thinks it can exceed 2007's spectacular unit for one reason: He anticipates it creating more turnovers -- the Trojans forced 28 last year, which ranked third in the Pac-10.

"We recognize that one of the few weaknesses we had in the defense last year was turnovers, so that's been our primary focus," he said.

So maybe all those interceptions QB Mitch Mustain has been throwing aren't such a bad thing?

But seriously, Taylor, who's going to be the quarterback?

"I don't think it really matters," he said, "because we're going to play well on defense regardless."

Catching up with Pete Carroll, Part II

ESPN

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

	AP Photo/Michael Conroy
	Pete Carroll says he doesn't think about his legacy at USC.

Part two of our chat with USC coach Pete Carroll. At one point during the interview, Carroll notes that a Brazilian gymnast Diego Hypolito looks like California coach Jeff Tedford, "How's the team, Jeff?," he quipped.

The new coach at UCLA, Rick Neuheisel, has talked about you guys a lot. Obviously, that's part of firing up his fans. Do you feel challenged by that?

Pete Carroll: Nah. He can say whatever he wants. He's a great candidate for them. A great guy to get, a great coach to get. It's really cool they got him. He's been a winner. I think he's going to do really well. But stuff that he says, he's said stuff focused on his players, his program and his people. So he can say whatever he wants.

You seem so invested in this community in around LA with your charitable foundation -- A Better LA -- and success with USC: Do you feel like you could retire here? Is this your lifetime gig?

PC: I am prepared to do that. That's the way I look at it, like this is the last job I'm ever going to have. I approach it that way. Now, whether it is or not, I don't know. Someone asked me the other day, 'Does that mean you're never going to leave?' Why do people want to make you say that? I have no idea, but I can't imagine doing anything else. It's a great place to be. I've been so lucky and fortunate. I owe so much to the school and the people who follow it. And the guys who played for us. I love being here.

I guess people wonder that if you coached 10 more years, and things stayed the same in terms of winning, it's going to be a historically amazing run.

PC: I haven't coached 10 years yet. I'm just trying to coach 10 more games.

I'm saying if you did. There's never been a moment when you've paused over the historical significance of this?

PC: No. When you're goal is to win forever, you don't think that way. Somewhere down the road, when I'm an old guy walking out here for the last time, you might look back and see what you did. But I'm too immersed in what's going on now. And it wouldn't matter anyway. Why would I want to do that? I don't even see the reason for it. I'm in the midst of the battle right now.

USC efficient, not spectacular, in scrimmage

By Gary Klein Los Angeles Times

Nothing spectacularly great. Nothing spectacularly bad.

USC's final training camp scrimmage at the Coliseum was a mostly staid affair, which suited Trojans players and coaches just fine.

"I thought, all in all, this was a terrific day for us," Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday after the starters outlasted the reserves, 28-7.

The preternaturally positive Carroll and his hyper-efficiency-conscious offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian, had reason to feel satisfied. The Trojans completed their "mock-game" with a performance that lacked sizzle but also was nearly devoid of glaring mistakes.

With the season opener at Virginia just over a week away, both coaches noted that quarterbacks Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain did not commit a turnover and that no one got hurt in the 78-play controlled scrimmage.

The Trojans still need to clean up penalties (eight were called against the starters) and eliminate fumbles by tight ends (two), but they appear to have solved many of the problems that plagued them in their first two scrimmages.

"Now we're into game prep, so it's going to be kind of cool to turn our focus to that," said Carroll, whose team will practice today and then conclude training camp Saturday.

It appears more and more likely that the Trojans will begin preparations for Virginia with starting quarterback Mark Sanchez in the fold.

Two weeks after dislocating his left kneecap, Sanchez went through pregame one-on-one and seven-on-seven drills, and then watched Corp and Mustain compete for what now looks to be a backup role. He is expected to take part in a full practice Monday.

Nevertheless, Corp and Mustain knew that Sarkisian was focusing on game-management skills and both had their moments directing the first-team offense. Perhaps more important, neither quarterback had a pass intercepted or fumbled a snap.

Corp, who took all of the first-team snaps in practice Wednesday, started Thursday. The redshirt freshman completed eight of 10 passes for 85 yards and led a scoring drive behind an offensive line that showed improved protection from the last scrimmage.

Asked if he thought he had earned a start if Sanchez could not play in the opener, or the No. 2 spot if Sanchez returns, Corp said, "I really don't know. I'm not going to say anything until the coaches give me that nod."

Mustain looked particularly sharp on several rollout passes and acknowledged that he was playing with a sense of urgency. The sophomore transfer from Arkansas completed 10 of 14 for 92 yards and led two touchdown drives, including one that ended with a short scoring pass to fullback Adam Goodman.

"It wasn't outstanding one way or the other, but I'll take that," Mustain said of his performance.

USC's starting defense was without tackle Fili Moala (back) and cornerbacks Cary Harris (shoulder) and Shareece Wright (groin). Defensive coordinator Nick Holt also limited linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing.

But the unit still intercepted two passes, including one that was tipped by defensive end Kyle Moore and then caught in the end zone for a touchdown by defensive end Everson Griffen.

After the scrimmage, Carroll said the mock-game approach had once again benefited a team that is expected to challenge for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The Trojans had spent Wednesday night in a hotel near LAX, going through the same schedule of meetings they follow before every home game. Their arrival at the stadium on Thursday, their entry into it and their warmup before the scrimmage also were timed to mimic the game-day experience.

"All the guys that see this for the first time, it's somewhat of an eye-opening experience at how serious we are about this preparation process," Carroll said. "All of that worked out great."

USC's Garrett Green puts in a complete showing

By David Wharton Los Angeles Times

The first throw was perfect, lofted down the sideline for a big gain. Then came a short completion and, two plays later, a scramble across midfield.

At a moment when all eyes were focused on the quarterback equation at USC, one guy came out and quickly showcased his skills.

Was it Mitch Mustain? Aaron Corp?

No, the reserve who announced his presence with authority to start Thursday's scrimmage at the Coliseum was fourth-stringer Garrett Green.

The same Garrett Green who, in his first two seasons with the Trojans, has thrown all of one pass in a game. The same Garrett Green who has bounced around at safety and receiver.

"I just want to get on the field," the junior said. "Regardless of what's going on, I want to play."

The only official completion of his career was a big one. In the 2008 Rose Bowl, Green caught a lateral from quarterback John David Booty, turned and heaved a 34-yard touchdown pass.

This summer, he expected to stick at receiver, a plan that flew out the window when starter Mark Sanchez injured his knee and the team needed another live arm in training camp.

"It took him a day to jump right back out there," Coach Pete Carroll said. "He's a great competitor."

The official depth chart doesn't even list Green at quarterback, but fans who have watched USC scrimmages might ask: Why not?

In three appearances, he has completed 20 of 35 passes for 263 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. On Thursday, while Mustain and Corp played against reserves, Green faced the starting defense.

"Garrett actually played really well," Corp said. "Made some plays with his feet."

Moving around the pocket to buy time. Scrambling downfield. At one point, he completed a pass while falling backward.

"It's been fun slinging the ball around," he said. "Just trying to make plays."

His scrappy performances will probably land him right back at receiver when Sanchez returns. But his versatility -- he's also on special teams -- could be handy during conference play when travel squads are limited in size.

"Down the road, he's going to be a big factor for us," Carroll said. "He can do so many things."

Kids are all right

Offensive line coach Pat Ruel watched his reserves battle the first-string defense expecting to see missed blocks and blown assignments.

"I really didn't see many," Ruel said.

The second unit, stocked with freshmen such as Matt Kalil and Khaled Holmes, surrendered only one sack and led a touchdown drive early in the scrimmage.

"The young guys held their own," Ruel said. "That's a look at our future."

Quick kicks

Tailback C.J. Gable did not participate but said he feels surprisingly good after straining his hip and ankle in practice this week. Cornerback Cary Harris, who injured his shoulder last week, expects to return to practice today. ... Carroll said defensive linemen AverellSpicer and Christian Tupou have played well enough to split time at nose tackle. ... USC fans saw the Coliseum's new $2-million, high-definition video board for the first time, but the screen was not hooked up to high-definition cameras. Stadium officials said the picture will look sharper when the season begins.

Need for speed

Erik McKinney WeAreSC.com

Last season, the Trojans’ biggest offensive weakness was the lack of production and big plays from the wide receiver position. In fact, the top four Trojan wide receivers combined for just 46% of the team receptions and 47% of the team receiving yards, by far the lowest numbers in the conference.

And while the departure of receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, combined with the emergence of tight end Fred Davis and tailback Joe McKnight, put a dent in those numbers, they don’t explain the tremendous drop from the 2006 season, when the top-four receivers totaled 68% of the team receptions and 74% of the receiving yards.

Drops played a large role in the receivers’ inability to register more receptions, but perhaps the more glaring weakness was their ineffectiveness in stretching the field and generating a downfield passing game. This season, the drops will be an issue that must be addressed by the entire receiving corps, but when it comes to developing a deep game and piling up yards-per-reception, all eyes will be on speedsters Travon Patterson and Ronald Johnson.

A two-sport star in high school, Patterson ran for the Long Beach Poly track team, posting personal bests of 10.44 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.41 seconds in the 200 meters. This past spring, he sprinted for the USC track team, running the leadoff leg for the 400-meter-relay team at the at the Pac-10 meet.

This fall, Patterson should finally be able to showcase that track speed on the gridiron. A redshirt sophomore, he spent his first season as a Trojan stuck behind a deep group of receivers and his second on the sidelines due to a foot injury.

Patterson is now entering his third season at USC and is putting together a fantastic fall camp after a great off-season. The Trojan offense has had a difficult time moving the ball against this defense, especially without quarterback Mark Sanchez, but Patterson has been a bright spot. He’s consistently made his presence felt during scrimmages and stepped up yet again this past Saturday, hauling in a touchdown catch.

“I just come out here to play,” Patterson said. “I’m trying to do whatever I have to do to get the offense going. We’re trying to execute well as an offense right now, so we can take it into the season.”

While Patterson and Johnson are certainly intriguing with their speed, perhaps the most exciting thing about them is that neither has yet touched his potential. Patterson has just four catches in two years and Johnson tallied seven as a true-freshman last season. Those are numbers that each receiver could better in just one game this season.

Johnson in particular seems more at ease with the offense heading into his second season.

“At first, it was hard getting the playbook down,” he said. “But now it’s pretty easy. I feel very comfortable now.”

Though both players should excel in attacking the seams of the opposing defense and getting on the receiving end of deep play-action passes, their maturation as complete receivers has been evident.

Johnson showed last season that he understands that his speed can get him past the last defender, but now he’s also using that speed to force defenders off of him, creating space for himself underneath the coverage.

For Patterson, working crossing routes underneath defenders and using his speed to get side to side in a hurry has been his strength at USC. But he’s now developed the skills to take defenders one-on-one in an effort to beat them down the field. In fact, on his touchdown catch during last weekend’s scrimmage, Patterson did just that, saying afterward, “I was seeing a lot of space in front of me, and I thought, if I win this one-on-one battle, it’s a touchdown for me. Mitch (Mustain) saw the same thing and hit me.”

Another great asset that these receivers have at this point in their careers is the ability to go up against a phenomenal secondary every day in practice.

“They’ve been together now for three years,” Patterson said of the defensive backfield. “They know a lot and it’s very tough going out there against them, because they know the coverages and they know how to stop certain routes.”

“We see new things every day because of their experience,” Johnson said. “We have to prepare in meetings just to go against this defense and run our plays.”

Of course, the Trojan offense has more than a few talented receivers to throw at that defense. In addition to Johnson and Patterson, the Trojans have nine scholarship receivers, four with starting experience and all with the ability to earn playing time this season.

“We’re about 20 receivers deep,” Patterson said. “We’re just going out there to compete. We’re not worried about who’s starting or who’s getting the most playing time. We’re just going out there to contribute as a team.”

“It’s a blessing,” Johnson said of the talent at the position. “I never thought that I’d be out here playing football at USC and now that I’m here, I get to play with all these great guys, making me better.”

Of course, until the season starts, this group still must deal with the issues from last season, when they couldn’t be counted on to carry the team. Even in blowout victories, like the Rose Bowl against Illinois, the wide receivers were largely invisible. Of the 26 passes completed by USC in that game, only five were to receivers. Both Davis (seven) and McKnight (six) out-caught the entire unit.

This season, the receivers have become a bit of a Redeem Team themselves, claiming that last year cannot be duplicated and was simply an aberration.

“We’re definitely stepping up this year,” Johnson said of his fellow wideouts. “We know a lot more and we’re doing a lot better.”

With Sanchez at the helm this season, the receivers figure to be more involved in the offense. Provided he can return from a dislocated kneecap, and with what looks to be a solid running game already in place, the outcome of the season could again depend on how the Trojan receivers perform as a unit.

“Oh yeah,” Johnson said when asked if he was ready for the season to begin. “I can’t wait.

It’s tough to blame either receiver for getting antsy as fall camp crawls toward its conclusion. After all, both Patterson and Johnson are used to things moving at a higher rate of speed.

Virginia has its own questions at quarterback

By David Wharton Los Angeles Times

USC isn't the only team with questions at quarterback.

While the Trojans sort through various possibilities -- Will Mark Sanchez's knee recover in time for the opener? Who might replace him? -- their opponent has similar concerns.

Virginia expected to have established starter Jameel Sewell, who led the team to a 9-4 record and a New Year's Day bowl appearance last season. But Sewell was placed on academic suspension in January and did not enroll for the spring semester.

Two weeks into training camp, the Cavaliers are remaining mum on his replacement.

Sophomore Peter Lalich served as Sewell's backup last season and played in eight games, but he ran into trouble over the summer, charged with underage drinking.

Scott Deke appeared in only one game in 2007 and did not attempt a pass.

Sophomore Marc Verica has yet to see game action.

Lalich is considered the favorite in this three-man race, but Coach Al Groh told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he doesn't want to make "an inappropriately quick decision."

It seems like Groh has a taste for mystery. In 2001, his first season at Virginia, he made no official announcement before sending Matt Schaub onto the field against Wisconsin in the opener.

That didn't turn out well. Schaub, who now starts for the Houston Texans, threw two interceptions in the first quarter that were converted into 10 points. Wisconsin won, 26-17.

USC suits Damian Williams after frustration at Arkansas

David Wharton Los Angeles Times

The smile on Damian Williams' face tells you that enough time has passed.

Time to ease bad memories.

A freshman season gone wrong at Arkansas. The decision to leave. The fans who called him a traitor and a momma's boy.

"It's tough when you hear people say things about you," he said. "Not the most flattering things."

There is a traditional Shaker song about the gift of coming down where you ought to be. Standing on the practice field at USC -- some 1,500 miles from controversy -- Williams can smile because he feels that way.

The sophomore wide receiver is relieved to be past the upheaval of switching schools and having to sit out a year. Through the first weeks of training camp, he has displayed smarts and quickness.

"He's got a savvy about him, like he's a real veteran player," Coach Pete Carroll said. "He understands the game beautifully."

And he returns to the field just when the USC receiving corps needs a spark, a jump-start, something.

While the spotlight has focused on a young offensive line and the quarterback mix -- including another Arkansas transfer, Mitch Mustain -- the receivers must rebound from a 2007 season in which they took a back seat to tight end Fred Davis, accounting for fewer than half of all receptions.

Fans are waiting for the next Mike Williams, the next Dwayne Jarrett or Steve Smith.

"You've had guys like that," Damian Williams said. "You're going to have high expectations."

The pressure doesn't seem to bother him. It might not feel so bad compared to the rocky path that brought him here.

------

Much has been written about what happened at Arkansas, a football season turned soap opera.

"Nobody really knew the whole story," Williams said. "Anytime there is missing information, opinion turns into speculation and speculation turns into rumor."

He reduces the chaos to a simple chronology.

It started with Springdale High, down the road from the Arkansas campus, and an undefeated team in 2005. Mustain committed to the Razorbacks, but then changed his mind. Williams and tight end Ben Cleveland were headed for Florida. Then Arkansas hired their high school coach, Gus Malzahn, to be offensive coordinator and install Springdale's spread offense.

"When coach went there, it was a big deciding factor," Williams recalled.

The Springdale stars followed Malzahn to Fayetteville. By the second game of the 2006 season, Mustain was a starter and Williams was on his way to becoming the team's second-leading receiver.

However, behind the scenes all was not well.

USC was partly to blame. After the Trojans swamped Arkansas, 50-14, in the opener, Houston Nutt, then the Razorbacks' coach, took a second look at his talented running backs.

"My whole thing was, 'Let's get the football to Darren McFadden at least 30 times a game. Let's get it to Felix Jones 10 to 15 times,' " Nutt told the Tulsa World.

Forty-five rushing plays did not leave much room for a pass-oriented attack. Though Mustain went 8-0 as a starter, he gave way to Casey Dick late in the season and Williams saw fewer chances to catch the ball.

"It was nobody's fault," Williams said. "It just didn't work out the way we expected."

A group of Springdale parents, including the Mustain and Williams families, met with Frank Broyles, then the athletic director, to express their concerns and were publicly condemned for meddling. At the same time, a vocal contingent of Arkansas fans criticized Nutt for abandoning the spread even as he guided the team to a Jan. 1 bowl game.

Then an Arkansas fan filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Nutt's cellphone records, which showed that he had sent more than 1,000 text messages to local news anchor Donna Bragg. Nutt denied accusations of a romantic involvement. The records also included communications with a booster who had sent an angry e-mail to Mustain.

By that time, Malzahn had left to become an assistant at Tulsa and Williams had transferred to USC. Mustain, his friend since kindergarten, would soon follow.

"Both of those guys went through some very tough times," Malzahn said. "We just talked about the things that were happening and what was best for them."

------

Surf the web. Check the Arkansas fan sites about the time Williams asked for his release.

Let that momma's boy do some crying . . .

Great parents . . . teach your son to bail out on his brothers . . .

Who cares where this little traitor winds up?

Williams' father, David, recalled: "There were times when it hurt him deeply to see the same fans who had praised him three months earlier suddenly turn their backs on him."

A religious family, the Williamses prayed and looked for another school. When USC expressed interest, Damian liked its recent history of All-American receivers, guys in the NFL. He also watched the Trojans play Michigan in the 2007 Rose Bowl, a game that was tied, 3-3, at halftime.

"They didn't throw much and I was sitting there thinking, 'Maybe this isn't the place for me,' " he recalled.

The Trojans erupted for 29 points in the second half, quarterback John David Booty passing for four touchdowns. Williams said: "I knew, at that point, I needed to be there."

The change was not easy. Los Angeles represented culture shock -- "I'd never seen real traffic jams other than accidents" -- and the only person he knew on the team, tailback Emmanuel Moody, ended up transferring to Florida.

There was also the frustration of sitting out.

"That year was a little strange," David Williams said. "He learned a lot."

But when Mustain called to talk about the possibility of switching to USC, his childhood friend sounded happy. And when the quarterback came to visit, Williams had obviously adjusted to new surroundings.

"He knew everybody on campus, it seemed," Mustain said. "He's able to talk to anyone."

------

The numbers are not immediately impressive.

At 6 feet 1, 190 pounds, Williams does not possess the size of Mike Williams or even current receiver Patrick Turner. His speed is average. But Malzahn talks about his knack for fighting off defensive backs.

"You throw the ball and he'll find a way to come down with it," Malzahn said. "He's got tremendous instincts."

USC coaches say they have seen evidence of this quality, Williams following an impressive spring with an equally solid training camp.

During a recent afternoon practice, he caught a pass at the back of the end zone, was flattened by safety Taylor Mays and held onto the ball. During the team's most recent scrimmage, he grabbed several short passes over the middle.

Williams knows what to do from all three receiver positions. As Mustain said: "He's intelligent, which I think really helps him. He's able to see things and make things happen."

The coaches don't really care who emerges from a pack that includes Williams, Turner, Vidal Hazelton, Ronald Johnson, Travon Patterson and others. They just want someone to step up.

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said the team will make an effort to help the receivers this season, going back to them even if they drop balls, trying to build their confidence.

Williams clearly wants to be a go-to guy, but he also talks about how much his teammates have improved from last season. He doesn't want to sound boastful.

"I'm having fun," he said. "This is a great atmosphere out here."

For now, that's enough to keep him smiling.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez shows progress

By Gary Klein and David Wharton Los Angeles Times

It took 10 days before USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was able to show he could drop back with speed and make a variety of passes after dislocating his left kneecap.

The junior now has about a week to demonstrate he is fit enough to possibly start in the Aug. 30 opener at Virginia.

On Monday, under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Sanchez went through a battery of throws to a rehabilitation specialist. He also played catch with Coach Pete Carroll.

"If it were up to me, I'm playing," said Sanchez, who is scheduled to throw to receivers today.

Sanchez, however, added that there is still some swelling and also pain when he attempts to fully flex his left leg. He allowed that trainers would make the final decision about his readiness after monitoring his recovery through the week.

Sarkisian said he was impressed by Sanchez's progress.

"I liked his ability to drop with some urgency. I liked his ability to throw the ball with velocity. But obviously, he still has a ways to go. I'm glad we're not playing tomorrow."

Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp are vying to step in for Sanchez if he can't play against Virginia. But Sarkisian said his first choice would be Sanchez if he is sound by next Tuesday.

"If he's healthy, he gives us the best opportunity to go win," Sarkisian said.

Getting a line on o-line

With Jeff Byers and Alex Parsons returning to full-contact practice, coaches said they see improvement in the offensive line's performance.

Over the last week, mistakes and miscommunication along the front have translated into a disruptive pass rush, which has made it hard to evaluate Mustain and Corp. Still, Carroll said he hasn't asked his defensive line to let up.

"I'm not trying to make it so we can't make progress," Carroll said. "I'm trying to keep it hard on [the quarterbacks] and keep it realistic."

While Mustain and Corp have suffered through sacks and deflected passes, Sarkisian sees a bright side to their predicament. He watches how they react to pressure, a skill that could prove crucial if they must replace Sanchez.

"Some guys are going to get beat and some guys will come free," Sarkisian said. "[The quarterbacks] have to have the ability to throw the football away, run, make plays with their legs."

Monday, Mustain and Corp took turns in a variety of situations: the four-minute offense, backed up on their own one-yard line and overtime. Corp appeared to do well with the four-minute, both had success backed-up and both struggled in overtime, Sarkisian said.

McKnight takes it easy

Running back Joe McKnight participated in a few drills but did not participate in contact work because of a hyperextended right elbow and also bleeding caused when he aggravated finger injuries.

"Neither one of those things can really stop him from playing in the [opener], but we need to let it heal," Carroll said.

McKnight cannot afford to miss too much time, running backs coach Todd McNair said.

"He needs to get some work and get things down."

Quick kicks

Running back Marc Tyler did not practice because of a sore ankle, McNair said. . . . USC practices today at 4 p.m.