Stephen Carr, Ronald Jones gaining a push from USC's offensive line

LOS ANGELES >> Before Stephen Carr dashed for 52 yards along the north sideline of the Coliseum in USC’s win over Stanford, he ran through a vast hole.

Carr, the Trojans’ freshman running back, was untouched past the line of scrimmage.

The hole, on the left side of USC’s offensive line, might have been close to 10 yards, based on TV replays.

Why was it so gaping?

Start with left guard Chris Brown, who pushed the defensive tackle, Mike Tyler, to the right, shoving him several feet backward.

“When you see it from the sideline,” USC coach Clay Helton said, “I knew that was going to be a block that sprung it.”

At first, Toa Lobendahn was supposed to combo block Tyler, but Brown took care of it.

“He blew ‘em so far, I didn’t even help him,” Lobendahn said.

Instead, Lobendahn matched up with an outside linebacker. Tight end Josh Falo sealed off a defensive end. And Carr was off.

“That’d be the goal,” Brown said, “to do that every play.

As USC totaled 307 rushing yards against Stanford, it was often its offensive line that vaulted Carr, Ronald Jones and the rest of its running backs downfield.

The group, certainly the left side of the offensive line, has appeared to gel quickly.

Lobendahn, a fourth-year junior, is starting at left tackle for the first time since his freshman season in 2014, replacing Chad Wheeler. Brown, a fourth-year junior, is the full-time starter at left guard for the first time, replacing Damien Mama.

Helton, after assessing Brown’s block, called it “by far his best game since being a Trojan.”

For Lobendahn, he has returned from two consecutive season-ending knee injuries.

“We’ve had great communication so far up front,” right guard Viane Talamaivao said.

Along with right tackle Chuma Edoga, a junior, USC began this season with three new starters on the offensive line.

“It’s three new starters,” Talamaivao said, “but it’s guys who have been around each other for a long time.”

No disrespect

When Jones ran for his second touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Stanford, he appeared to make a “Horns down” sign.

Some Texas fans claimed it was an upside-down version of Hook ’em, the hand signal for the school.

The Longhorns, after all, were next on the Trojans’ schedule.

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“If that’s his preference, we’ll let him live with it,” Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson told reporters in Austin on Tuesday. “Message sent.”

Jones said he was not making a “Horns down” sign.

“This is Triple D,” Jones said of the gesture’s meaning. “It’s for dirty dirty Dallas.”

The junior running back hails from McKinney, Texas, which is north of Dallas.

“I would never try to diss my own state,” Jones said. “All I talk about is Whataburger.”

Injury hits

Several of USC’s starters were held out of practice on Tuesday following injuries sustained against Stanford.

Edoga, the right tackle, was sidelined with a sprained right wrist. It was heavily wrapped in ice.

Inside linebacker John Houston was limited with neck stiffness.

Outside linebacker Porter Gustin did not attend practice, as he rehabbed shoulder and toe injuries. Helton did comment on the severity of Gustin’s injuries other than noting he was “day to day.”

Records check

USC’s official records no longer include its loss to Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl after it was asked later in 2010 by Jim Wright, then NCAA director of statistics, to also vacate its participation in the game, Tim Tessalone, the school’s sports information director, clarified Tuesday.

When the penalties were first announced, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions report only instructed USC to vacate its victories while running back Reggie Bush was ineligible from December 2004 through 2005.

The NCAA’s official records have since vacated the Trojans’ Rose Bowl loss to Texas as well. Texas remains credited with a win.

Quick hit

USC’s game on Saturday against Texas is sold out, it was announced Tuesday, its first at the Coliseum since Stanford in 2013.