USC-Oregon State: Last Minute Adjustments

In case you haven’t heard, USC benched their All-American center for Saturday. This week, Jeff Byers moved over from left guard to replace All-American candidate Kris O’Dowd at center. Butch Lewis will fill in at Byers’ left guard spot.

Essentially, it is the same offensive line that started the season against San Jose State when O’Dowd was out with another kneecap dislocation.

According to O’Dowd, he tried to come back too soon from his injury and hasn’t been a hundred percent since his start at Ohio State.

USC will also be without their do-it-all fullback, Stanley Havili. His shoulder was banged up against Notre Dame last week.

Sophomore D. J. Shoemate, a former defensive back who switched to fullback this year, will replace Havili.

Other players who were banged up last week and are questionable for Saturday include wide receiver David Ausberry and cornerback Josh Pinkard. Both sat out practices earlier this week.

Ronald Johnson returned from a broken collarbone last week but appeared rusty. Johnson and quarterback Matt Barkley just weren’t in sync. Whether that situation improves this week will pretty much depend on how healthy Johnson feels.

The Trojans will definitely need red-shirt freshman Brice Butler to step up.

Speaking of quarterbacks, head coach Pete Carroll called Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield a "first-round draft pick."

Prediction

Considering the fact that USC got banged up at Notre Dame last week while Mike Riley and his Oregon State Beavers had a bye week to get healthy and game plan for USC, I expect the Trojans to have a rough time winning this one.  

On defense, especially if Pinkard isn’t in there, defending against the Rogers Brothers and Canfield will be a major task.  I believe Pete Carroll is very much aware of that. I don’t remember Carroll ever calling for help before.

Posted on the USC Trojans Blog, USCRipsIt.com: 

Coach Carroll is calling for your help.

On third downs and other key plays when the Trojans are on defense during Saturday's game at the Coliseum, Carroll is requesting that the home crowd ratchet up the volume to disrupt the opponents.

"How loud and crazy can you get?" Carroll said. "The noise helps our defense and affects the other team's ability to communicate, so bring it tomorrow."

As for the Trojan offense, if Oregon State gets ahead early, USC will have a hard time catching up.  With their injuries and replacements, I’m not sure how much they will be able to bring tomorrow.

Oregon State 24, USC 17.