Linebackers could make USC's D something special

                    

	Linebackers Rey Maualuga (58) and Brian Cushing celebrate Maualuga's second-quarter interception of Willie Tuitama. AP
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Thomas Williams were gathered around the post-game stat book like a group of teenagers around a Playboy.

"Let me see that," said Cushing as Rivers held the stapled stack of papers with both hands.

"Hold on," Rivers said. "I'm not done."

The quartet of USC linebackers was gazing over the final defensive statistics following USC's 20-3 win over Arizona, comparing each other's numbers and complaining that they should have gotten more. More tackles, more sacks, more recognition.

"That's it?" said Rivers after discovering he had only three tackles. "I know I had more than that. Who's keeping our stats? That's why we're not getting the credit we deserve."

While they may be feeling a bit short-changed, if the USC defenders continue to play like they did against the Wildcats, it's just a matter of time before they're stealing headlines from their once star-studded offense. Against Arizona, the Trojans' defense allowed only 154 total yards and shut out the Wildcats through three quarters before allowing a late field goal. It was the best defensive performance the team has had since 2004, when the Trojans prided themselves on a suffocating defense en route to winning the national championship.

"I love that we're playing defense like this," said USC coach Pete Carroll. "Three straight weeks we've been playing like crazy and we're really going to be able to count on these guys in this team's success. We haven't been that way for awhile."

The unit has been touted as one of the deepest and fastest in USC's history and much of that hype is centered on its immensely talented group of linebackers. They are so deep that Carroll brought back the old "Elephant" position popularized by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s, when he puts four linebackers on the field and has one, usually Cushing, rush the quarterback from that standing "Elephant" position.

"There's been a lot of talk about this unit being special and doing something that no one has ever done," said linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. "I think they are all making a conscious effort to be the very best and I think they're proving they're the best in the country right now."

While the Trojans struggled to put points on the board, scoring only a field goal at the half and boasting only 10 points through the first 50 minutes, the defense took it upon itself to put the game away. A week after Arizona rushed for 263 yards, including 201 yards and two touchdowns by Chris Jennings, USC completely shut down the Wildcats' running game for minus-16 yards and pressured quarterback Willie Tuitama, sacking him five times and forcing one interception.

"We're dominant right now," said Rivers. "We're more experienced and everyone has a better grasp of what we're doing this year. No one wants to get outplayed and we're coached to be selfish and be stingy within the defense and make every play. We're in a zone right now, it seems like we're all hot out there."

The dominance the defense has shown so far this year is just the start of what could be a very special season said Maualuga, who had a revelation late in the game.

"Tonight I finally realized how fun this game can really be," he said. "It was the fourth quarter, they were driving to tie the game, and the Arizona fans were chanting and telling us that we suck and it finally hit me how much I love this game. I don't know what happened. I played the game, but I never loved it, but tonight it hit me how much I love it. I've never had that feeling before. Everything's finally coming together and we're only getting better."