SF Chronicle: USC D-linemen no delight for Cal

Tedford: 'They're quick, physical, big and very tenacious'
Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Though much of the attention on top-ranked USC goes to Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and the Trojans' offense, Cal coach Jeff Tedford is taking the larger view. "Their defensive line is awesome," Tedford said. Going into the year, the Trojans were without two All-Americans on the D-line: tackle-end Shaun Cody and tackle Mike Patterson. The Trojans have filled the voids. "They haven't lost anything," Tedford said. Defensive end Frostee Rucker leads the line with 48 tackles, second on the team, and 51/2 sacks. Nose tackle Sedrick Ellis (35 tackles and 31/2 sacks) and defensive end Lawrence Jackson (33 tackles and a team-leading six sacks) also are among the defensive leaders. "They're by far the best defensive line we've faced," Tedford said. "They're quick, physical, big and very tenacious." Tedford will be looking to Cal's offensive line for improvement over Saturday's 27-20 overtime loss at Oregon, in which the line had some lapses in pass protection. It isn't only the defensive line that has Tedford wary of the Trojans. "They don't have any chinks in their armor," he said. "They're solid from top to bottom."
Ayoob drill: Tedford said there won't be any changes in the way he handles quarterback Joe Ayoob this week. "We'll do the same thing we work on every week, making sure he understands the game plan and is going into the game with confidence."
Ayoob is coming off a 10-for-26, 88-yard passing performance in Eugene. He was intercepted three times and sacked three times. He lost a third-quarter fumble that set up the Ducks' final touchdown in regulation. Tedford said he wasn't about to put the Bears' poor showing on Ayoob, saying receivers dropped some balls and the line had some breakdowns. "Everybody needs to do their job," Tedford said. "You can't put it all on one person. We need to do a better job as a whole." "That's the good thing about football," senior center Marvin Philip said. "You have another day, another opportunity to get better."
Tale of turnovers: The Bears have a minus-3 turnover margin, giving up 20 turnovers (eight fumble recoveries and 12 interceptions) and collecting 17 (five fumble recoveries and 12 interceptions). Tedford said a minus figure is unacceptable, especially against USC. "You have to play your best and not turn the football over," he said.
Injury updates: For a change, the Bears came out of a game without any major injuries. Linebacker Anthony Felder was limited against the Ducks with a muscle strain. He also is nursing a tender rib.
The series: USC comes into Saturday's game on a 31-game winning streak. The Trojans' last loss came against the Bears, a 34-31 triple-overtime decision at Memorial Stadium in 2003. Last year, the Bears lost to USC 23-17 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Cal lost 30-28 to the Trojans in Los Angeles in 2002, Tedford's first year with the Bears.
Briefly: Saturday's game is a sellout with a crowd of 72,981 expected. It is Cal's last home game of the season. ... For the first time since the 2003 season, the Bears are not ranked in the Top 25.
Not so efficient
Cal's Joe Ayoob is ranked ninth in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency.