USC NOTEBOOK: CARROLL TO PASS ON THE RUSH.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

Although USC blitzed its way to a second-half comeback over Stanford, Trojans coach Pete Carroll isn't ready to commit to extra pressure for upcoming games.

Carroll said his defensive backs performed admirably and he was confident blitzing would not need to become a major facet of the defense.

``We held Stanford to 180 yards passing,'' Carroll said. ``There's nothing wrong with that. I liked what our corners did.''

--Surgery City: Cornerback Ronald Nunn will have a polyp removed from his sinuses today and tight end Nick Vanderboom will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Nunn has experienced bloody noses for several weeks and the polyp is believed to be a byproduct from last season, when he fractured his eye socket against Washington. Vanderboom said he will be out two to three weeks. He underwent surgery on the same knee in high school.

Defensive end Jeff Schweiger had an MRI taken Monday on his knee that showed no ligament damage. Schweiger was limping and sore after a low block in the Stanford game but said he might practice this week.

Linebacker Matt Grootegoed missed practice with a headache, and LenDale White (ankle) and Lee Webb (sore foot) also sat out. Quarterback Matt Leinart also took the day off.

Defensive end Manuel Wright said his stomach did not bother him against Stanford but his sore back caused problems.

Tight end Dominique Byrd (knee) went through a full practice and is on schedule to be available for the Cal game next week, which will kick off at 12:30 p.m. and be televised by ABC.

--Surprise visit: Former defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who plays for the Minnesota Vikings, attended practice.

``He could be out here playing,'' Carroll joked, since Udeze turned pro a year early.

--Dept. of corrections: Leinart was credited with an interception on Monday after Stanford conferred with Pacific-10 Conference supervisor of officials Verle Sorgen.

A 24-yard pass to Steve Smith that was dropped and then caught by Stanford's Mike Silva originally was ruled a fumble. But Sorgen said the game officials ruled ``the receiver did not have possession and the ball did not touch the ground.''

If the ball touched the ground, it would be an incomplete pass, Sorgen said.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com