tirebiter
03-27-2008, 08:46 PM
USC's healthy Gable making run for playing time
Spring football: The tailback is glad to be back after an injury forced him to redshirt last season.
By JANIS CARR
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES -- USC tailback C.J. Gable took off down the field with a defender hanging onto his shirt and didn't slow down until he reached his destination.
Nothing, not an abdominal injury or pesky defenders, is going to slow Gable this season. The sophomore is determined to regain his spot in the tailback rotation after having to redshirt last season.
Gable required surgery before the fourth game last season for a hernia that had bothered him since high school. Against Washington State, he noticed he couldn't lift his knees without significant pain.
"I couldn't run after one carry in that game," he said Thursday after his second spring practice. "I knew I was done."
Gable was forced to sit out 2007 and watch while others piled up the yardage at tailback, a spot he was expected to see significant playing time. Instead, he played in three games, gaining 143 yards on 13 carries before his season was cut short.
"I've been waiting a long time to come back," Gable said. "It's been hard sitting there and watching everybody play. So now, I'm just trying to get back into the groove."
Trojans coach Pete Carroll said he's noticed Gable's enthusiasm this week.
"He's totally back," Carroll said. "I think not having the wear and tear of the football season shows he's really competitive and physically ready. And mentally, too. He looks great out there. He's always been the most well-rounded player.
"You could tell right from the beginning. When he first got here, he would block, catch the ball well, he would run the routes well. He's probably the player who's best equipped for the things we're doing right now. That's a real positive thing."
QB UPDATE
Quarterback Mitch Mustain would like to have a decision made before the 15-day spring camp ends. Mark Sanchez said he isn't worrying about it.
Yet, if past springs are any indication, the Trojans will name their starting quarterback by the time they break camp.
"That's been our history here," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.
Sanchez entered the spring as the favorite, but he is in daily competition with Mustain and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp. The three again shared duties on the second day.
"It would be beneficial to be able to go into the summer knowing who it is," Mustain said. "Finding out in August would be kind of late. It would be a crunch for whoever it is."
Carroll, who has said he doesn't have a timetable in naming a starter, said all three are coming along great.
"The first few days are hard on them; there's a lot of installation going on," Carroll said. "We have to get a lot of stuff in there so we're prepared for all the situations that happen out there.
NOTES
The Trojans are expected to participate in a full scrimmage Sunday. … Linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted a pass during Thursday's practice, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Carroll. "He's a really instinctive kid. He looks like he's been making interceptions his whole life," Carroll said. Smith is the younger brother of former USC receiver Steve Smith.
Spring football: The tailback is glad to be back after an injury forced him to redshirt last season.
By JANIS CARR
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES -- USC tailback C.J. Gable took off down the field with a defender hanging onto his shirt and didn't slow down until he reached his destination.
Nothing, not an abdominal injury or pesky defenders, is going to slow Gable this season. The sophomore is determined to regain his spot in the tailback rotation after having to redshirt last season.
Gable required surgery before the fourth game last season for a hernia that had bothered him since high school. Against Washington State, he noticed he couldn't lift his knees without significant pain.
"I couldn't run after one carry in that game," he said Thursday after his second spring practice. "I knew I was done."
Gable was forced to sit out 2007 and watch while others piled up the yardage at tailback, a spot he was expected to see significant playing time. Instead, he played in three games, gaining 143 yards on 13 carries before his season was cut short.
"I've been waiting a long time to come back," Gable said. "It's been hard sitting there and watching everybody play. So now, I'm just trying to get back into the groove."
Trojans coach Pete Carroll said he's noticed Gable's enthusiasm this week.
"He's totally back," Carroll said. "I think not having the wear and tear of the football season shows he's really competitive and physically ready. And mentally, too. He looks great out there. He's always been the most well-rounded player.
"You could tell right from the beginning. When he first got here, he would block, catch the ball well, he would run the routes well. He's probably the player who's best equipped for the things we're doing right now. That's a real positive thing."
QB UPDATE
Quarterback Mitch Mustain would like to have a decision made before the 15-day spring camp ends. Mark Sanchez said he isn't worrying about it.
Yet, if past springs are any indication, the Trojans will name their starting quarterback by the time they break camp.
"That's been our history here," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.
Sanchez entered the spring as the favorite, but he is in daily competition with Mustain and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp. The three again shared duties on the second day.
"It would be beneficial to be able to go into the summer knowing who it is," Mustain said. "Finding out in August would be kind of late. It would be a crunch for whoever it is."
Carroll, who has said he doesn't have a timetable in naming a starter, said all three are coming along great.
"The first few days are hard on them; there's a lot of installation going on," Carroll said. "We have to get a lot of stuff in there so we're prepared for all the situations that happen out there.
NOTES
The Trojans are expected to participate in a full scrimmage Sunday. … Linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted a pass during Thursday's practice, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Carroll. "He's a really instinctive kid. He looks like he's been making interceptions his whole life," Carroll said. Smith is the younger brother of former USC receiver Steve Smith.