Offense improves, but turnovers still a problem
August 16th, 2008, 10:41 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Michael Lev, staff writer
USC’s inconsistent offense took baby steps in the right direction during the team’s second scrimmage Saturday night but hasn’t reached full maturity yet.
The running game improved from the first scrimmage Tuesday, and the offense as a whole moved the ball better, registering three touchdowns compared to Tuesday’s one.
But the touchdowns came after four turnovers on the first six possessions – including Shareece Wright’s 23-yard interception return for a touchdown on Mitch Mustain’s first pass of the evening.
Aaron Corp — who’s competing with Mustain to possibly start the Aug. 30 opener at Virginia if injured first-teamer Mark Sanchez can’t return in time from a knee injury – also threw an interception on a ball that was tipped at the line.
“We’re getting farther along. The ‘ones’ held up better vs. the No. 1 defense for sure,” USC coach Pete Carroll said.
“We still have a ways to go. We’ve got two weeks, and we need them.”
Mustain, Corp and emergency third-string quarterback Garrett Green each directed a touchdown drive.
Tailback Stafon Johnson finished Corp’s with a 4-yard run – four plays after rushing for 46 yards on a pitch play to the left for the longest gain of the night. Johnson finished with 58 yards on five carries.
Mustain rallied from his shaky start to throw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Travon Patterson. Carroll said Mustain made an incorrect read on the interception, which the quarterback called “just a bad play on my part.”
Mustain finished 6 of 12 for 118 yards. Corp went 12 of 16 for 64 yards. Green was 6 of 10 for 63 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
