Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Pass coverage a near-or-far deal
BY SCOTT WOLF, Staff Writer
When No. 21-ranked Nebraska plays USC on Saturday, the Cornhuskers need to decide whether to play the Trojans' receivers close or allow a big cushion.
Arkansas tried both defenses, and it seemed like the bend-but-don't-break version worked a little better in the first half than tight coverage in the third quarter.
Wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith caught a combined four passes for 48yards in the first half. But the pair caught six passes for 54yards in the third quarter. Neither played much in the fourth quarter when the outcome was already decided.
"They played two (deep) safeties in the first half and Dwayne and Steve couldn't do what they did last year," USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. "They were going to force us to run the ball and throw shorter in the first half. Once we got going, they had to change the coverage because they were behind."
USC coach Pete Carroll said he also ordered the offense to be less conservative in the second half.
"We were pretty simple in the first half, but that was just to get (quarterback John David) Booty's feet wet," Smith said.
Just another touchdown: Unlike most athletes, freshman tailback C.J. Gable of Sylmar does not see much need to celebrate when he scores a touchdown. Gable reacted matter-of-factly to his first career USC touchdown last week against Arkansas.
"It's just another one since high school. It's not that exciting," Gable said. "There's more to come. Why get excited?"
Giving as good as he got: Freshman tailback Stafon Johnson was also an accomplished safety at Dorsey High in Los Angeles. But he said he played the position for personal reasons.
"It was for all of the punishment I got on offense, it was more of a payback," Johnson said.
Enjoying an extra year: Fullback Ryan Powdrell led USC with 81 all-purpose yards (72 receiving, nine rushing) against Arkansas, but he almost was not even eligible this year. Two years ago, USC put Powdrell on the punt return team against Virginia Tech, then never played him again.
That coaching error cost him a year of eligibility but USC petitioned the NCAA and Powdrell was retroactively granted a redshirt year but forced to sit out the first two games last season.
"Every now and then I think about that," Powdrell said. "Who knows where I could be right now? I wouldn't be a fullback."
First impressions: Freshman tailbacks Emmanuel Moody and Allen Bradford said they learned a lot from their first college games.
Moody said hearing 76,000fans yelling at USC made an instant impact on him. "That was college football," he said. "That's when you know you made it."
Bradford said he learned what he can compete at the college level and knows what to work on. "I know I can take a hit," Bradford said. "I just need to run with attitude."
scott.wolf@dailynews.com
BY SCOTT WOLF, Staff Writer
When No. 21-ranked Nebraska plays USC on Saturday, the Cornhuskers need to decide whether to play the Trojans' receivers close or allow a big cushion.
Arkansas tried both defenses, and it seemed like the bend-but-don't-break version worked a little better in the first half than tight coverage in the third quarter.
Wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith caught a combined four passes for 48yards in the first half. But the pair caught six passes for 54yards in the third quarter. Neither played much in the fourth quarter when the outcome was already decided.
"They played two (deep) safeties in the first half and Dwayne and Steve couldn't do what they did last year," USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. "They were going to force us to run the ball and throw shorter in the first half. Once we got going, they had to change the coverage because they were behind."
USC coach Pete Carroll said he also ordered the offense to be less conservative in the second half.
"We were pretty simple in the first half, but that was just to get (quarterback John David) Booty's feet wet," Smith said.
Just another touchdown: Unlike most athletes, freshman tailback C.J. Gable of Sylmar does not see much need to celebrate when he scores a touchdown. Gable reacted matter-of-factly to his first career USC touchdown last week against Arkansas.
"It's just another one since high school. It's not that exciting," Gable said. "There's more to come. Why get excited?"
Giving as good as he got: Freshman tailback Stafon Johnson was also an accomplished safety at Dorsey High in Los Angeles. But he said he played the position for personal reasons.
"It was for all of the punishment I got on offense, it was more of a payback," Johnson said.
Enjoying an extra year: Fullback Ryan Powdrell led USC with 81 all-purpose yards (72 receiving, nine rushing) against Arkansas, but he almost was not even eligible this year. Two years ago, USC put Powdrell on the punt return team against Virginia Tech, then never played him again.
That coaching error cost him a year of eligibility but USC petitioned the NCAA and Powdrell was retroactively granted a redshirt year but forced to sit out the first two games last season.
"Every now and then I think about that," Powdrell said. "Who knows where I could be right now? I wouldn't be a fullback."
First impressions: Freshman tailbacks Emmanuel Moody and Allen Bradford said they learned a lot from their first college games.
Moody said hearing 76,000fans yelling at USC made an instant impact on him. "That was college football," he said. "That's when you know you made it."
Bradford said he learned what he can compete at the college level and knows what to work on. "I know I can take a hit," Bradford said. "I just need to run with attitude."
scott.wolf@dailynews.com
