USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: ANOTHER ASSISTANT LEAVES FOR NFL'S BUCS.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC cornerbacks coach Greg Burns accepted a similar position Wednesday with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the second Trojans assistant to leave for the Buccaneers in a week.

Burns, who coached USC's secondary for four seasons, followed Trojans defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, who quit last weekend. Both were hired by Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who is one of USC coach Pete Carroll's closest friends.

One possibility Carroll is considering would move linebackers coach Rocky Seto to coach the secondary and elevate graduate-assistant Dave Watson to full-time to assist new defensive coordinator Nick Holt with the defensive line.

Carroll originally offered Franklin the defensive coordinator's position that went to Holt earlier this week. But Franklin turned the offer down to become the Buccaneers' defensive line coach.

At that point, Carroll turned to Holt, who was the head coach at Idaho the past two seasons but quit to become an assistant with the St, Louis Rams. Holt left the Rams before actually working with them, however, when Carroll offered him the defensive coordinator's position. Holt also will be the defensive line coach.

Carroll said he's giving up the defensive coordinator position because it was difficult to fill so many roles.

``We can be much more efficient,'' Carroll said. ``When I leave the (defensive staff) room, there will always be someone there to carry things out. Nick can share the load and he's deep into our system.''

--Local visitors: Oaks Christian of Westlake Village quarterback Jimmy Clausen and tailback Marc Tyler visited USC on Wednesday afternoon.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com