DEMANDING TRIAL FOR 'THE FIRM' WASHINGTON STATE DEFENSIVE LINE WILL BE TESTED BY USC'S OFFENSE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Washington State's defensive linemen felt they needed something catchy to identify themselves, so they came up with ``The Firm.''

However, Isaac Brown, Jeremey Williams, Faafetai Tupai and D.D. Acholonu need only one word to describe themselves - dominant.

Washington State's defense has held opponents to 68.1 rushing yards a game. If the No. 6 Cougars (7-1, 4-0 Pacific-10 Conference) manage to knock off third-ranked USC (7-1, 3-1) Saturday at the Coliseum, it will probably be because it found a way to slow down a prolific Trojans offense, which has averaged 42.3 points in its past four games.

``The Firm'' is ready to present its case.

``We just wanted a name to show what we have,'' Tupai said. ``We represent a firm. We wanted something different than 'The Untouchables.' We know that USC has the 'Wild Bunch.'

``Hopefully, we'll get the breaks and really challenge them. USC always gets the best of the best. Hopefully, we'll come in with no flaws and play the best game we've ever played.''

That certainly wasn't the case last week, when Washington State rallied to win 36-30 against Oregon State. Cougars quarterback Matt Kegel threw five interceptions and fumbled twice but the Washington State defense didn't break in the second half.

A similar performance this week might result in a blowout. But with a defense that has posted one shutout and allows just 16.9 points a game, Washington State is always in games. Its only blemish was a 29-26 overtime loss at Notre Dame.

``Every week is different,'' Cougars defensive back Jeremy Bohannan said. ``We just know that we can't give up a lot of turnovers. We have to create turnovers. We have to come out and play our style of football.''

That style is a swarming, blitzing, in-your-face defense. The defense is an extension of Washington State coach Bill Doba, who was defensive coordinator under Mike Price before taking over as head coach this season.

The Cougars have 18 interceptions, 31 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and 55 tackles for loss.

``They're really aggressive, they definitely pressure more than anyone we've seen and take more chances,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``They're very effective. They're very disruptive. They keep the scores down.

``The whole team, you can feel they've been around each other a long time. They have a lot of continuity. They have an old defense with a lot of things they can do.''

Robb Akey was promoted to defensive coordinator this season and didn't change much. With seniors on the line, sophomore linebacker Will Derting and three of four seniors in the secondary, change wasn't necessary.

Derting has been a force at outside linebacker, with 52 tackles and a team-best 7 1/2 sacks. Defensive backs Erik Coleman and Virgil Williams each have four interceptions.

``These are the same kids we've been doing it with before,'' Akey said. ``I didn't want to teach a bunch of new dogs old tricks. We just polished up what we've been doing.''

The Cougars have won 10 of their past 11 Pac-10 road games.

USC linebacker Melvin Simmons knows how much Washington State has improved because he played there in 1999 and 2000, when the Cougars won a combined seven games.

But the Cougars flourished under the leadership of former quarterback Jason Gesser and the steady play of the defense. Simmons said he has a lot of respect for Doba and his friends that are still there.

``When I got there, we had a lot of difficulties,'' Simmons said. ``We had a lot of premier players that everyone expected to do well but a couple got kicked out of school and a couple got hurt. We became a team that fought through adversity.

``We became a losing team. We were 3-9 my freshman year and my second year we were 4-7 but we lost three overtime games. We had a good defense but we just couldn't get the job done. Now, the talent they have there, they were the young guys I started with. They're veterans now.''

Last year, Washington State beat USC 30-27 in overtime at Pullman. The loss did wonders for USC, which won its next eight games and closed out the season with an impressive victory over Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

Washington State has won three of the past five meetings and will need another stout performance from the defense to win its third consecutive game in the series.

Jill Painter [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

USC vs. Washington State

Saturday, 4 p.m.

TV/Radio: Ch. 7; 1540-AM

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Defensive end Isaac Brown (9) is a member of Washington State's defensive line nicknamed ``The Firm,'' which has helped hold Cougars opponents to 68.1 rushing yards a game.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press