Hopefully the Penn State offense will soon be joining you all in popping numerous Advils to help ease the pain that will be inflicted upon them by the almighty Trojan D.

Full game diary after the jump.

Make that a thin cardinal line protecting USC's backfield, which also happens to be hamstrung by injuries. While every team looses players during the season (Cal lost to Oregon State without their starting QB, Stanford beat USC without their's), can anybody in the nation match up with the Trojan's carnage?

From USC football's weekly press release:

Already this season, 11 starters or projected starters have missed games with injuries:  S-CB Josh Pinkard (6 games), C Matt Spanos (3 games), TB C.J. Gable (3 games), LB Brian Cushing (3 games), CB Shareece Wright (2 games), OG Chilo Rachal (2 games), C Kristofer O’Dowd (2 games), QB John David Booty (1 game), CB Cary Harris (1 game), WR Patrick Turner (1 game) and TB Chauncey Washington (1 game).

Also, a number of key backups have missed games due to injuries: CB Kevin Thomas (6 games), OG-C Nick Howell (6 games), TB Broderick Green (6 games), TE Jimmy Miller (5 games), LB Chris Galippo (3 games), TB Stafon Johnson (2 games), WR Travon Patterson (2 games), OT Butch Lewis (2 games), OT Charles Brown (1 game), QB Mark Sanchez (1 game), S Will Harris (1 game) and CB Vincent Joseph (1 game).  Pinkard, Gable, Thomas, Howell, Green, Galippo, Patterson have season-ending injuries.

The impact of these injuries has been enormous. The team could be one fractured finger or a healed foot away from a 6-0 record.

Looking ahead to Notre Dame, here's more from the Sports Information Department:

POSSIBLE:  TB Stafon Johnson (foot), OT Sam Baker (hamstring), S Kevin Ellison (nose), OT Charles Brown (ankle), LB Rey Maualuga (hip), OG Zack Heberer (shoulder), QB John David Booty (finger), LB Brian Cushing (ankle), OG Chilo Rachal (knee), CB Shareece Wright (hamstring), C Kristofer O’Dowd (kneecap), TE Jimmy Miller (back).

OUT:  TB C.J. Gable (abdomen), WR Travon Patterson (foot), LB Chris Galippo (back), S-CB Josh Pinkard (knee), OG-C Nick Howell (hernia), TB Broderick Green (foot), CB Kevin Thomas (shoulder), OT Martin Coleman (shoulder), DE Trey Henderson, WR Damian Williams (shoulder).

That ignores all the players who are just dinged up (see Jeff Byers, pictured above) and leaves out two recently announced injuries to Kyle Moore and Terrell Thomas (hamstring).

Here's what John David Booty's hand looked like after practice today. He didn't throw at all, but he's supposed to try tomorrow with a glove.

• I spent most of the day watching the defensive line during the positional drills, and later the unit drills, when they combine with (and go up against) the offensive line. The focus of today's d-line drills was on defeating cut blocks (where offensive blockers dive at a defender's legs in order to get them to the ground). The younger players seemed to struggle early on, but got better as the drill progressed. The next drills emphasized hand use techniques such as swim moves and slapping a blocker's hand away. I must say, I'm very impressed with the hand speed and power of the Trojan d-linemen. The 1-on-1 battles between the offensive and defensive linemen featured some great match-ups. Starting left guard Jeff Byers in going to be nasty this season. He displayed incredible technique and physically dominated starting DT Fili Moala twice. Averell Spicer showed that he is ready to contribute at NT this season as he beat starting C Matt Spanos on the same pass rushing drill. The best battle of the drill however, was DE Kyle Moore going against All-World OT Sam Baker. Moore has a very quick first step and gave Baker all he could handle. There is no doubt in my mind that Moore will be the starter on the right side this season, as highly touted freshman DE Everson Griffen continues to learn what big time college football is all about. The o-line looks very solid and has not skipped a beat with Charles Brown filling in at RT for projected starter Drew Radovich.
  

• During the 11-on-11 team scrimmage segment, there wasn't really much separation at RB. Marc Tyler and Hershel Dennis didn't practice, and Broderick Green (along with WR Brandon Carswell) wasn't in full pads, which meant more carries for the 7 other backs. Redshirt freshman WR David Ausberry was the star of the day for the offense, showing off his big-play capability with an impressive touchdown grab in the back of the end zone. Ausberry's size is a definite mismatch for any opponent, and is making a strong case for extensive playing time this season. CB Jim Abbot had the hit of the day when he leveled sophomore RB Stafon Johnson, who had broken off a nice run on the play, with a crushing tackle that got Johnson off his feat and put him on his back.
  

• Joe McKnight had a sub-par workout today and, like Everson Griffen, is still getting introduced to the rigors of big time college football.

• Safety Will Harris did not participate in today's practice. Apparently he suffered a stinger in his neck after yesterday's vicious hit on Jamere Holland. The coaches held him out as precaution and he should be back for tomorrow's practices.

• Today Josh Pinkard took the majority of the first team reps at free safety alongside Kevin Ellison during the 11-on-11. When he wasn't with the first team at safety he was in at corner. Pinkard is playing very well and if he continues to play at such a high level there is no way the coaching staff will be able to keep him off the field.

• Linebacker of the day... Clay Matthews. Matthews had a great day in practice today. He was blowing by offensive linemen in the 11-on-11 team scrimmage, batting down passes, and chasing down ball carriers.

• Fielding punts today were the freshmen Joe McKnight, Brandon Carswell, and Ronald Johnson and senior Desmond Reed. The freshmen had difficulties holding on to the ball as Reed looked the most comfortable and consistent.
  

• Apparently Scott Wolf was incorrect in reporting that Pete Carroll would miss today's practice as he was there running the show as usual.

• Will Harris continues to impress. No one with the ball is safe when Will Harris is on the field. Today's victim was Jamere Holland who got blasted while attempting to catch a pass. Holland couldn't hold on to the ball and fell to the ground. Holland was on the ground for a few seconds trying to remember who he was, then he headed over to the trainers table.

• Yesterday I commented on how impressive the freshman linebackers looked and the two didn't disappoint today. Chris Galippo is legit. He's the real deal. When he's in at middle linebacker he takes over the defense. He's a very vocal leader, unlike our current starting middle linebacker who tends to lead by example. He always seems to be in the right spot making plays all over the field. Yesterday I mentioned that Luther Brown was limping around. I didn't see him practicing today and am unaware of his injury status. All I know is Brown better get out to practice or learn another linebacker position because I think we've found our #2 at middle linebacker.

• More dropped passes from the wideouts. Hazelton specifically needs to step up in practice, especially if he wants to hold on to that #2 receiver spot. Ausberry and Rojo have been pretty consistent catching balls and making plays.

• Gable got up limping a little after a tackle by Terrell Thomas. He seemed to be slightly favoring his right leg as he walked to the sideline. I was unable to catch the rest of practice, so I'm not sure whether or not he is okay.

• The best tailback through the first half of practice was again Stafon Johnson.

http://www.wearesc.com

• Moody got man-handled by Chris Galippo. After the play Moody got in Galippo's face attempting to tell the freshmen that it wasn't a tackling drill. Comments welcome.

• Hersh sat out practice with a large ice wrap on his left leg.

Two years ago Will Harris was the second rated high school safety prospect in the country and on his way to compete for playing time as a freshman for the top ranked University of Southern California Trojans. However, a series of knee and ankle injuries ended both his freshman and sophomore seasons before they ever really began… continue

• The offensive line didn't impress today, especially in the 11-on-11. The d-line got to the quarterback with ease. There were numerous sacks and a few pass break ups. Hopefully the o-line will show some improvement in the next coming weeks.

• Vidal Hazelton and Vincent Joseph got into a little scuffle today. During a receivers drill Joseph said something to Hazelton that got him pretty worked up. Hazelton called Joseph out and the two went head up on the next drill. After a good pop the two went at and continued to go at it even after Hazelton's helmet popped off. Coach Morton broke it up and called all the receivers and the corners in for quick chat. He told the players that he loved the fire and energy, but doesn't want to see anyone get hurt.

• McKnight was officially introduced to college football today. He's received a lot of praise the last two days, however today he received nothing but pain. McKnight was planted by Kevin Ellison and moments later he was lit up by Will Harris. I think those two hits stuck with him the rest of practice as he ran sideline-to-sideline trying to avoid defenders. Thomas Williams kindly informed him, "That shit don't work here! Not here!" This all comes a day after McKnight was sent flying to sidelines when Terrell Thomas gave him a one handed blow and politely told him, "I don't know who you think your fuckin' with!"
  

• Stafon Johnson was by far the best back today. He looked very shifty and powerful. However after one of his better plays of the afternoon Coach Carroll stopped the practice to call him out in front of the entire team. Apparently after Stafon trucked Vincent Joseph or Will Harris he tossed the ball at them. Carroll yelled, exclaiming that this is not the kind of football we play and that foolishness like that is what will negate good plays.

• Emmanuel Moody got bitched by Michael "Slim" Morgan. Of all the backs Moody looked the least impressive today.

• Marc Tyler, Broderick Green, and Brandon Carswell all participated in today's practice. Not wearing should pads, all three players sported the yellow jerseys. The three looked good, however Brandon Carswell was the most impressive snagging balls over defenders.

• I seem to be seeing more dropped passes by the receivers than usual, even from the sure-handed Patrick Turner and Travon Patterson.
  

• During a receiver drill Josh Pinkard lined up against Patrick Turner. After making the catch the long-armed Turner gave Pinkard a nice stiff arm and took the ball up the field. After the play Pinkard said "I just cant get to him," and he and Terrell Thomas went on to talk about how difficult it is to tackle PT.

• Luther Brown appeared to have injured his right leg. Toward the end of the practice he had his pads off and was limping around the field.

• Freshmen linebackers Chris Galippo and Malcolm Smith both looked impressive today in practice.

Harris originally tore knee ligaments last fall, but was expected to be 100% this fall.

Safety Harris out for season [LA Daily News]

Perez has long been mature for his age. He was forced to grow up quickly when, at 9 years old, his 23-year-old brother, Louis, was shot dead after falling in with the wrong crowd.

With the departure of Darnell Bing and Scott Ware, and the inexperience of Kevin Ellison and Will Harris, the New Jersey-native has a good chance to start at safety for the Trojans this season.

Without a safety net [San Bernadino Sun]

• DT Walker Ashley 4-star 6-4/283 (Eden Prairie, MN)
• OL Charles Brown 3-star 6-6/249 (Pomona, CA)
• LB Luthur Brown 4-star 6-3/227 (Lakewood, CA)
• ATH Michael Coleman 3-star 6-2/225 (San Bernardino, CA)
• LB Brian Cushing 4-star 6-4/216 (Oradell, NJ)
• LB Kevin Ellison 3-star 6-0/214 (Inglewood, CA)
• DB Cary Harris 4-star 6-1/180 (Sherman Oaks, CA)
• DB Will Harris 4-star 6-3/195 (Covina, CA)
• OL Thomas Herring 4-star 6-6/320 (Los Angeles, CA)
• OL Nick Howell 3-star 6-5/253 (Fresno, CA)
• DT Gabe Long* 5-star 6-4/280 (Fullerton, CA)
• LB Kaluka Maiava 4-star 5-11/212 (Wailuku, HI)
• LB Rey Maualuga 5-star 6-2/253 (Eureka, CA)
• DE Kyle Moore 4-star 6-6/247 (Warner Robins, GA)
• OL Kevin Myers* 4-star 6-6/360 (Compton, CA)
• QB Mark Sanchez 5-star 6-4/211 (Mission Viejo, CA)
• DE Averell Spicer 4-star 6-2/260 (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
• DB Kevin Thomas 4-star 6-0/166 (Oxnard, CA)
• WR Patrick Turner 5-star 6-5/210 (Nashville, TN)
• K Troy Van Blarcom* 3-star 6-3/200 (Orange, CA)

* Commited, Not Yet Signed