THE JUICE ON ... TOM MALONE TO PUNT OR PASS? LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT FORCE MALONE TO DECLARE EARLY FOR NFL.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - USC punter Tom Malone loves playing with one of the best offenses in the nation, but if quarterback Matt Leinart returns next season, Malone probably will turn pro early and declare for April's NFL draft.

In an example of punter's logic, Malone knows if Leinart comes back, his opportunities for punting probably will be fewer than average. In that case, the NFL could beckon for the junior who graduates next semester.

``If (Leinart) comes back, I won't do anything punting-wise next year,'' Malone said. ``If he leaves, it means I would punt more.''

Malone said he will make an official decision after next week's Orange Bowl, but his career average (44.6 yards) already equals the Pacific-10 Conference all-time mark set by UCLA's Kirk Wilson in the 1950s.

``Right now, I don't know what there will be to think about or my draft status,'' Malone said. ``Coach (Pete) Carroll and I have had a little discussion about it but no decisions have been made yet. We're not going to talk about it until after the game.''

Even though Malone ranked 10th nationally in punting (43.8 yards), he was disappointed with his season, because he averaged 49 yards per kick last year. He still was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation's top punter, but thought before the season he could win the award.

``That's kind of one of the things I'm thinking about,'' Malone said. ``I didn't have the greatest year as far as my goals. It didn't go as well as it could have.''

But special teams assistant Dennis Slutak said Malone's season wasn't worse than 2003, even if his yards decreased.

``He's improved as a more polished punter, kicking the ball inside the 20-yard line,'' Slutak said. ``He had a good year, especially when you consider there was an adjustment with the new snapper and our coverage was different.''

Slutak said he isn't sure if Malone should turn pro.

``The biggest disadvantage is the scouts don't watch juniors,'' Slutak said. ``I don't know if it's common for juniors to leave early. Everybody wants him to stay here. He's asking the right people like Coach Carroll to gauge that situation.'

A better question is what USC will do if Malone leaves. He is the only punter on scholarship and the Trojans don't really have a backup, with senior kicker Ryan Killeen listed behind Malone on the depth chart.

No punters have committed to USC either, mainly because the Trojans haven't offered scholarships to any. But that doesn't mean USC isn't thinking about life after Malone.

``The backup plan ... I've talked to a lot of punters all year in case it happens,'' Slutak said. ``It's all based upon if he decides to go. There's some good ones out there. There's a lot of great kickers out there.''

Slutak also said there is a chance USC could take a punter who committed to another school, if Malone's scholarship becomes available.

``If they knew they had an opportunity to come to USC, we could sway their decision.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

8 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1) Tom Malone's punting average dropped more than five yards from last season, partly because the junior got so few opportunities.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

(2) JUSTIN WYATT

(3) LOFA TATUPU

(4) MATT GROOTEGOED

(5) SHAUN CODY

(6) MIKE PATTERSON

(7) JASON LEACH

(8) USC's Mike Patterson (99) strips Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the ball to help preserve USC's narrow victory.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) THREE TO WATCH: PASSING GAME (see text)

(2) THREE TO WATCH: RUNNING GAME (see text)

(3) PERFORMANCES TO REMEMBER

(4) DID YOU KNOW?