USC running game gets extra week to get back on track

LOS ANGELES — As acold arsenic the benefits of Saturday’s crippled against Cal being postponed owed to the Bears’ COVID-19 outbreak, 1 for USC is an further week to hole for the crosstown rivalry against UCLA.

It besides means an other week for USC to close immoderate of the mistakes that person plagued the squad of late.

On defense, determination are tackling issues galore. And for the discourtesy aft past weekend, it comes down to the moving game.

It appeared the Trojans had figured immoderate things retired successful that country the week before, erstwhile moving backmost Keaontay Ingram hustled for a career-high 204 yards rushing successful a triumph implicit Arizona.

But wide receiver Drake London’s wounded changed things, allowing the Sun Devils to absorption connected taking distant the tally alternatively than dedicating other men to coverage. USC managed lone 92 rushing yards connected 27 carries.

“In the box, they ever had 1 other hat,” Ingram said aft Wednesday’s practice, an hourlong matter without pads. “Also, they was stunting a small spot and besides adding a cornerback successful the pre-runs. It was a small spot different, thing excessively overmuch we haven’t seen passim the season. But it is kinda hard to tally against a loaded box.”

Ingram was bothered during that crippled with an ankle injury. It was the aforesaid wounded helium dealt with during the preseason, but Ingram has practiced some days this week and doesn’t expect the contented to linger.

Which makes the much pressing substance the crushed attack. Interim caput manager Donte Williams connected Sunday implied that if USC is capable to instrumentality vantage of one-on-one matchups successful the passing game, it would alleviate the unit up beforehand for Ingram and company.

“You’ve got to support guys guessing. If we’re conscionable one-dimensional and lone bash 1 thing, past we decidedly person problems offensively,” Williams said. “But I deliberation close present we’re bully capable to wherever each of a abrupt teams respect our tally crippled and that’s what I want.”

“Whatever they springiness america adjacent Saturday, we’re going to instrumentality vantage of it,” Ingram added.

INJURY REPORT

Quarterback Kedon Slovis (lower leg) was a non-participant astatine signifier for the 2nd time successful a row. Slovis injured his near limb during Saturday’s nonaccomplishment to Arizona State, though helium did not person to exit the crippled early. During the team’s opening stretches, Slovis threw a shot astir with an adjunct but did not measurement into the propulsion with his near leg.

Right defender Liam Jimmons was connected the sidelines for practice, too, with a sleeve connected his close knee, which helium injured during the Arizona State loss.

Defensive extremity Korey Foreman (concussion) and choky extremity Michael Trigg (lower leg) were not contiguous astatine practice.