Trojans' quarterbacks have moments in scrimmage
When Mitch Mustain's first pass went straight to cornerback Shareece Wright for a 23-yard touchdown return at the Coliseum on Saturday night, it looked like USC's offense would struggle for a second straight scrimmage.
And initially it did, as USC's other quarterback, freshman Aaron Corp, also threw an interception. But each settled down and offered some better moments as the offense rebounded a bit from its shoddy opening performance.
Mustain completed six of 12 passes for 118 yards and showed glimpses of his Arkansas days, especially with a 40-yard completion to tight end Jimmy Miller.
Corp was steady, completing 12 of 16 passes, including seven straight.
"We're getting farther along,"
USC coach Pete Carroll said. "The first-team offense ended up better against the No. 1 defense. That's as good as Miller looked. We have some ways to go. We're not ready yet. We need to have a big third week."
Mustain said he did not overreact to his interception on the first play.
"That was just a bad play on my part,"
he said. "I got anxious. After that I was OK. I felt faster (than in the first scrimmage)."
The running game also made a small resurgence as Stafon Johnson gained 58 yards in five carries, including a 47-yard run. Johnson barely played in the opening scrimmage. The offensive line remained a question mark, as Corp and Mustain were sacked too many times and there were a handful of false starts.
"I thought the pressure of the front seven, the linebackers running around really hurt (the offense),"
Carroll said.
Sanchez improves: Carroll hinted quarterback Mark Sanchez might be able to return for the Virginia game after watching him throw Saturday.
"Mark threw the ball well,"
Carroll said. "He just has a little swelling to get out of his knee."
Green waits: Freshman tailback Broderick Green wondered before training camp about his role on the team. He and freshman Marc Tyler redshirted last year and are less experienced than the other four tailbacks.
"I've been trying to get adjusted because a lot of guys have already established themselves,"
Green said.
One way he established himself was by weighing 230 pounds, which is about 20 pounds less than when he arrived a year ago.
"I couldn't work out (before I got here),"
Green said. "I had to take online classes and concentrate on academics. There was no time to do anything else."
Ultimately, it didn't matter that he was overweight because he broke his foot in training camp and missed most of the season. But he is trying to force his way into the rotation during this camp.
So far, he is not being used as just a power back, but is getting playing time like a regular back.
"I'm just trying to get back into the mix and see where I fit in,"
he said.
There are several other backs, notably juniors Allen Bradford and C.J. Gable, who are also trying to define their roles before the season. Junior Stafon Johnson and sophomore Joe McKnight appear to be the top two backs right now.
