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USC places focus on finishing strong

Coach Pete Carroll says Stafon Johnson looks to be in early-season form again.

Dan Greenspan

Media Credit: Michael Sugarman | Daily Trojan Scarcity | Oregon's first turnover Saturday wasn't a result of USC's effort, but rather a Duck player hitting it out of his teammate's hand.

The swagger is gone.

The attitude that USC carried through a 35-game home win streak, 34-game overall win streak, five consecutive BCS bowl appearances and two national championships has been stripped away, permanently erased by the 24-17 loss to Oregon that crippled its title aspirations.

In its place, the Trojans are left simply trying to pick up the pieces and close strong in their final four games.

"We just got to go back to work," cornerback Terrell Thomas said. "We just got to keep fighting."

The usually lighthearted Monday practice was instead quiet and subdued, reflective of the fall for a team that was a near-unanimous selection to win the Pac-10.

"They understand we have four big football games left," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.

"All we can do is take care of what we can take care of, and that's coming out every week and trying to win the game. That's all we can control right now," running back Hershel Dennis said.

Dennis, a sixth-year senior, said Saturday's game left a deep impression.

"It was a hard loss. Man, it was probably one of the hardest since I've been here. It might have been the only loss that really hurt me, and a lot of guys feel the same way," he said. "We're just ready to come back off of it and respond with a better attitude and just come out and go on a run. Take it a game at a time, and try to finish the season 10-2."

To do so, USC needs to eliminate the penalties (74.5 yards per game) and turnovers (six fumbles lost, 14 passes intercepted) that have been constant throughout the season.

The Ducks converted three turnovers into 14 points Saturday, while the Trojans lost a 65-yard Joe McKnight touchdown run to a holding call.

"They just seem to come at a bad time, when you get them in the red zone or get them on a big play. We're close, which is what's frustrating," Sarkisian said.

"Sometimes that's the way the ball rolls - some things you can do about it and some things you can't," Dennis said.

One possible change is putting quarterback John David Booty back in the starting lineup.

The senior worked with the first team offense Monday, his most extensive effort since breaking a finger on his throwing hand against Stanford.

"His finger looks better, he feels better," coach Pete Carroll said. "We'll take it one day at a time, see how he makes it through the week. We can't totally commit because we don't know [how he will respond]. It's a long week. We'll keep Mark [Sanchez] sharp in the meantime."

Sanchez, a redshirt sophomore from Mission Viejo, Calif., started the last three games, throwing for 642 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions. But Booty threw with the velocity that had been missing since the injury - something that Sarkisian noted.

"I thought he looked a lot better today. The ball came out of his hand like we're used to seeing it," he said.

"If John feels 100 percent this week, he'll play this week," Carroll said. When asked if that meant Booty would start, Carroll said yes.

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Offensive tackle Sam Baker is doubtful against Oregon State after re-aggravating his pulled left hamstring.

"It's going to be a long shot for him to make it," Carroll said.

Guard Chilo Rachal missed practice because of illness.

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Running back Stafon Johnson, who has been dealing with a sprained foot for more than a month, took significant reps with the first team.

"He looked the best he's looked [since the injury], which is great news," Carroll said.

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BCS analyst Jerry Palm projects USC to play in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large selection.

"We're not worried about that. We're trying to finish this out," Thomas said.

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Carroll played coy when asked if he would attend Bruce Springsteen's concerts at the Los Angeles Sports Arena this week.

"Right now, I'm balling [and] coaching. But I hear he's over there," he said.

Carroll told the Los Angeles Times last week that Springsteen's song "Growin' Up" inspired him during his stint with the New England Patriots.

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