DEFENSE IS THE BEST OFFENSE.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Given the catatonia that has afflicted the USC offense since the first weekend in September, it was assumed if the Trojans hoped to revive their fortunes, they would have to rely heavily on the defense.

No one could have guessed, however, the point would be taken literally.

USC's offense shamelessly robbed from the defensive squad Saturday, finding game-breaking talent that has been so conspicuous in its absence on the offensive side.

``I'll take 'em all if they let me have 'em,'' offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said, not entirely in jest.

In USC's 45-21 rout of Stanford at the Coliseum, Chad Morton moved from safety to tailback and broke off 109 yards in seven carries - including a 69-yard burst around right end on USC's seventh offensive play of the day (longest run of the year for this team, by a bunch).

Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon stopped by the offensive huddle a few times, too, as he is wont to do. On one occasion, he took a handoff, reversed his field and sprinted into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown.

``I think they energized them a lot,'' Stanford linebacker Jon Haskins said of the two defensive imports. ``You look at film, and they (the Trojans) are a pretty average offense throughout the year, with the exception of R. Jay (Soward). Then those guys come in and bang!''

The detonations were so spectacular that USC doesn't plan on letting one of them go back. Morton, who came out of the game in the second half with a tight hamstring, will remain at tailback, the coaches said.

``Chad was just standing over there on the sideline the last couple of games,'' said Jackson, referring to Morton's reduced playing time in the wake of a back injury against Notre Dame and the subsequent strong play of safeties Rashard Cook and David Gibson. ``A guy with that kind of speed shouldn't be standing over there on the sideline. I said, `Come over here with me. I can find something for you to do.'

``And I don't plan on letting him go back.''

McCutcheon, too, welcomed an opportunity to revitalize an offense that was shut out last week at Washington and limited to one touchdown a month ago at Arizona State. His touchdown was his first from the offensive side in his three seasons at USC.

``It feels really good that they feel good about me, and that I can come over there and help them,'' said McCutcheon, the former star tailback and wide receiver at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente.

Morton, the younger brother of ex-USC and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Johnnie Morton, said he didn't play a down of defense at South Torrance High, instead refining those tailback skills that were so much in evidence Saturday on runs of 69, 19 and 11 yards.

However, Johnnie told him his diminutive size - 5-8, 180 pounds - was better suited for defense in the Pac-10. USC's coaches, in fact, openly express concern about whether Morton can handle for an extended period the pounding a tailback takes in their offense.

For this game, though, it was a perfect fit - and desperately needed.

``Chad has the ability to get from zero to full speed in two or three steps,'' said coach John Robinson. ``We needed a key to loosen us up a little bit. That (69-yard run) started the key turning.''

Morton, who said he was a bit worn out from all the running he did from the tailback position last week in practice, decided he'd nonetheless jump into this opportunity with everything he could muster.

``Right before the thing,'' he said, ``I asked (running backs coach) Charles White for some Heisman Trophy-winning tips. He told me to just run and attack them, too. I have to use that style. With my size, if I'm hesitating, I'm going to get pounded.''

Morton paused, then continued: ``The big thing now, I'm known for being hurt all the time. I really don't like that. I don't want to be known as the kind of player that can't be depended on.''

Not much danger of that now. Down the stretch, it's clear USC will depend heavily on its defense - or at least the conversion projects it can find among its defenders.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Stanford's Damon Dunn makes a catch in front of Antuan Simmons (6) and Rashard Cook.

Hans Gutknecht /Daily News