Carroll, USC wary of an ambush
Every year an undefeated USC plays a road game it's expected to win comfortably, but nearly ruins the annual national championship aspirations.
Last year, Oregon State upset the Trojans 33-31 in Corvallis, Ore. Two years ago, Arizona State led late in the fourth quarter before No. 1-ranked USC defeated the Sun Devils 38-28.
And in 2004, the top-ranked Trojans squeaked past mediocre Stanford 31-28 thanks to a zig-zagging punt return by Reggie Bush.
Saturday's game against Washington fits the profile perfectly for another one of those nail-biters, but can the Huskies deliver?
If you listen to USC coach Pete Carroll, perhaps. He fell in love with Washington quarterback Jake Locker when he started watching film Sunday night, even comparing him to Vince Young, who dealt Carroll the toughest loss of his college career.
"He's an incredible player," Carroll said. "He's big and strong and runs like no one we've seen this year, or maybe any year. He does everything in their offense because he's so good at throwing or running.
"This is a very, very, very unique kid. He's not a normal freshman out there playing. He just doesn't look like he's physically strong and stout, he runs aggressively and tough, he's really a special talent."
The flip side of that: Carroll conceded later in the week Locker would take a physical pounding by being such an integral part of the offense.
But if Washington (2-2, 0-1) needed to worry only about Locker, the Huskies probably would feel fairly confident playing the No. 1-ranked Trojans (3-0, 1-0).
For the Huskies to actually give USC a game, someone else besides Locker will need to help out. Little inspiration came from the defense after UCLA scored 44 points in last week's victory over the Huskies.
Even cautious Washington coach Tyrone Willingham admitted Locker needs help.
"What we need and what we hope to get is some additional help and support obviously from our offensive line, which is what makes everything go," Willingham said. "We need to get help, not only from our running backs, but also from our wide receivers along with Jake. They really need to step up this week."
And what about that defense?
"We have done some good things, but we have given up too much obviously in the run," Willingham said. "That is a concern for us because if people exploit your run, it really makes you vulnerable to everything because you don't seem to have a handle on anything. Our focus will be to see if we can put a lid, kind of cap the running game for our opponents and then see if we can do and have some success in the passing defense."
USC ran for more than 300 yards against Nebraska and will try to have another big day on the ground today, but quarterback John David Booty's improved performance last week against Washington State means the passing game is also becoming a legitimate facet of the offense.
"I never had any doubts about myself," John David Booty said. "I know what I'm capable of. There was never a question I doubted myself. It's just football, that some games are better than others."
The game could also highlight a difference in philosophies. Willingham takes the opposite approach to Carroll when it comes to practicing. The Huskies practice in pads only once a week, while Carroll goes hard pretty much every day and tries to keep the intensity level the same at practices and games.
Carroll is a little more serious than usual. One thing that's bothered him is USC's poor turnover ratio. USC has committed 10 turnovers but forced just six.
"If I could fix it, I would," Carroll said.
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