CFB: USC quarterback Barkley says he will improve, for sure
By Scott M. Reid
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES — A heavy workload and two weeks in a sometimes unforgiving spotlight have neither strained USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley’s arm nor shaken his confidence.
Barkley said he expects to rebound in Saturday afternoon’s high-profile scrimmage at the Coliseum from a disappointing performance in a Monday night scrimmage.
Trojans coach Pete Carroll said Barkley will take all the snaps with the first-team offense as USC works to make sure Barkley is ready to start in the season opener with San Jose State on Sept. 5 if injured sophomore Aaron Corp isn’t available.
“I’d really like to see Barkley do well as kind of a culmll the first-team reps since Corp’s injury, Barkley has impressed both coaches and teammates with his poise and command of the offense. But he struggled Monday night in the Coliseum.
“I’m ready to bounce back from that,” Barkley said Friday. “I just have to settle down. I was looking down field too much.”
So far the heavy workload has not taken a toll on Barkley.
“My arm is fine,” he said. “I’m actually kind of surprised how fr snaps) that we can,” Carroll said. “Fill him up as much as we can. He’s never wavered. He’s had no arm fatigue, no body fatigue. We’re just going to force feed (the offense) down his throat. We’re going to make it hard on him too.”
Corp status
Carroll is hopeful Corp will return to full practice Tuesday.
The staff was encouraged by Corp’s performance Friday morning on a treadmill test. Corp participated in some throwing drills Friday afternoon.
“It’s a big deal for him,” Carroll said of the Tuesday target for Corp. “I’d like to get him practicing him at full speed Tuesday.”
If he can’t, Carroll said, “it would be really difficult” for Corp to regain the starter’s job for the San Jose State game.
Wright hurts
Junior cornerback Shareece Wright, who has been hampered by shoulder and academic issues, suffered another setback Friday.
Wright, who opened the 2008 season as a starter before suffering season-ending knee injury, missed practice because of fluid buildup on his right knee. The knee will be drained today.
Wright said he expects to return to practice early next week.
