USC coach Carroll on the lookout for agents
USC football practices are regarded as more open to the public than just about any big-time college program in the country, but Trojans coach Pete Carroll changed the admission requirements this week to crack down on agents.
Visitors must stop at the gate and go past football employees before entering practice because Carroll does not want agents or their "runners" watching or talking to players.
"I just don't think it's the right place for them to be doing their work," Carroll said. "I respect they have a job to do. It's just not going on at the practice field. They have their time outside of practice."
There was a line outside the gate to Howard Jones Field before practice this week because it took longer to gain admission under the new process.
Carroll supported a rule passed by the NFL players association last year that banned agents from speaking to underclassmen. The association issued complaints against eight agents for violating the rule.
Quarterback debate
For the second straight practice, the quarterbacks struggled, especially against in blitz drills.
"The fact they reverted back is natural," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "As our installation grows, you sometimes make mistakes you made early. I just felt like in general that we made some mistakes."
Sarkisian said the quarterback race did not change in four practices, which means Mark Sanchez remains the frontrunner.
"They are playing pretty well," Sarkisian said. "None are great and none are eliminated from the race."
Sophomore Mitch Mustain completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Ronald Johnson, but even Mustain criticized his pass. Johnson was so far behind the defense, he stood and waited for the ball like a punt returner before catching it.
"That was an ugly throw," Mustain said. "I felt we made some Day 1 mistakes. That was frustrating. I couldn't get on target with my throws."
McKnight moves around
Sophomore tailback Joe McKnight made some big plays in practice and is lining up at wide receiver on some plays. It's how he was originally envisioned last year, but he did not know the offense well enough to play two spots.
"He's so much more comfortable. He can run routes from outside. This is the furthest we've taken a running back running plays like a wide receiver," Carroll said. "We're putting him at wider receiver but from the running back position."
Snapping woes
USC continued to struggle Sunday without snapper Will Collins, who is graduating. Collins handled snaps on the punt and field-goal teams.
"We're still working on snappers. It's an open competition," Carroll said. "We've not even a C-minus right now."
Injury report
Linebacker Rey Maualuga pulled his hamstring but it was not considered serious.
Source: www.dailynews.com
