DEPTH IS A GROWING STRENGTH AT USC TROJANS RELYING FAR LESS ON WALK-ONS.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

It wasn't too long ago that USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron couldn't run some practice drills because there weren't enough players.

During one particularly memorable freshman-only practice, he stood empty-handed at Howard Jones Field while the other position coaches worked out their players.

``Three years ago, we had one freshman defensive lineman and no offensive linemen,'' Orgeron said.

And sometimes it didn't get much better during spring practice.

``We had guys who would go every play and we'd use a couple walk-ons after that,'' Orgeron said.

Junior defensive tackle Shaun Cody remembers the woeful depth situation during his freshman year.

``Those were rough times,'' Cody said. ``We'd have four guys on the defensive line the whole practice. It's was tough. We'd pull guys off the scout team.''

Those pathetic days are becoming more and more a distant memory during USC's current training camp. While no one knows how successful the Trojans will be this season, their depth is better than at any other time during the Paul Hackett-Pete Carroll era.

In the past two years, Carroll's highly regarded recruiting classes stocked the team at virtually every position.

The defensive end position is a microcosm of the deep pool of players available to coaches. Starters Omar Nazel and Kenechi Udeze are backed up by Colorado State transfer Frostee Rucker and junior Van Brown, the younger brother of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown. After that, Carroll can choose from highly regarded freshman Chris Barrett, Lawrence Jackson and Alex Morrow.

A similar situation exists at tailback. Sophomore Hershel Dennis is being pushed by three freshmen (Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Chauncey Washington) and Carroll intends to use all of them.

Just two years ago, the Trojans were forced to start converted fullback Sunny Byrd at tailback because of injuries.

``It's tremendous,'' offensive coordinator Norm Chow said of the newfound depth. ``Pete's done a terrific job. At this level, you're always thinking about depth. We're still not there. Maybe in one or more years we will be.''

Even at cornerback, there's a difference. USC has four defensive backs who've started college games plus junior-college transfer Will Poole, who started a season at Boston College.

``There's a lot of corners and a lot of safeties,'' cornerback Marcell Allmond said. ``Now on the scout team, we're not getting walk-ons, or someone maybe not as athletic. It's a bunch of recruits taking snaps. The walk-ons do a great job but don't have a lot athleticism.''

In other words, Cody said, ``The level of competition on the practice field is much better.''

There's also less urgency to stick someone into a game before they are ready. When defensive tackle Bernard Riley tore knee ligaments two years ago, the only option was to play freshman Mike Patterson.

Patterson performed better than anticipated, but the fact he had to be rushed into service demonstrated a weakness within the program.

``We needed Mike Patterson to play, we couldn't redshirt him,'' Orgeron said. ``We weren't developing anybody. If there was an injury, you had to play someone who wasn't ready.

``The big difference now is with the lines. We've got guys that will play here for a while. The quality is better. We've raised the bar in our quality of athleticism.''

The improved talent pool was evident during Tuesday's scrimmage.

USC was without starting offensive linemen Jacob Rogers and Lenny Vandermade along with key reserve Eric Torres because of injuries, but the coaches simply plugged newcomers Sam Baker, Drew Radovich and John Drake into their spots.

Unlike in past years, when a scrimmage would tend to fizzle at the end, Tuesday's remained intense with freshman wide receiver Steve Smith (Taft High of Woodland Hills) catching two touchdown passes on the final two series.

``I don't think in past years we could expect to have guys come out and play at that level,'' Carroll said. ``The better the athlete, the more they make things look right even if they don't know everything. A lot of that is natural athleticism.''

With more players, practices don't become burnout sessions.

``It gets hard when you're thin at certain positions, guys get tired,'' quarterback Matt Leinart said. ``That doesn't happen anymore. There's so many running backs and tons of receivers.''

Orgeron, who also is recruiting coordinator, said last year's recruiting class, ranked No. 1 in the nation by some services, will do more than just bolster the current roster. It should also pay dividends with next year's recruiting class.

``It only attracts better players,'' he said.

Already, USC has received far more interest from players outside California than in previous years, forcing the Trojans to be more selective in offering scholarships.

``It doesn't force us to take chances (on players),'' Orgeron said.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron appreciates USC's improved depth after being forced to fill drills with walk-ons three years ago.

(2) Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

Two years of strong recruiting by coach Pete Carroll has left this USC team deep at every position.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer