SPORTS WEEKEND : Trojans Pursuing New Goal : Football: USC wants to prove it can score from close range after struggles against San Diego State.

Something strikes at the core of the way USC sees itself when the Trojans don’t score after having a first and goal at the three-yard line and are turned away on fourth down from the one.

“I mean, that’s USC football, running that ‘blast’ play we have,” quarterback Carson Palmer said.

“That’s kind of a confidence within us, a cockiness about us, that we’re going to run you over and we’re going to get the ball in the end zone.

“We didn’t last week, and that’s one of the few times that’s happened to us. We expect it not to happen again.”

San Diego State’s goal-line stand sent USC’s coaches searching for solutions after their “tank” offense--one of the team’s strengths last season--was stopped short.

This week as USC prepared for Oregon, tackle Matt Welch--6 feet 6 and 300 pounds--has replaced 245-pound Antoine Harris at tight end in goal-line situations.

At fullback, Charlie Landrigan has been practicing more after Brennan Ochs missed some key blocks against San Diego State.

And get ready for this possibility as the Trojans tinker: Faaesea Mailo at fullback.

Mailo is the 6-5, 330-pound offensive lineman who once ripped the seams of a USC sport coat as he was putting it on for a team picture, and the Trojans are hoping he can open a lane for a tailback too.

“Obviously, we’ve got to do something,” offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said. “We’re not just going to stand pat and let what happened happen again.”

USC’s trouble began when short-yardage back Petros Papadakis went down with a season-ending foot injury, and intensified with Malaefou MacKenzie out because of a hamstring injury.

Against San Diego State, backup tailbacks Sultan McCullough and Jabari Jackson were stuffed on the goal line as USC ran the same play on second, third and fourth down--and couldn’t score.

“Three times the same play,” Coach Paul Hackett said. “I mean, yeah, the logical thing is, do something different, you idiot.

“But I think there’s a sense of saying, ‘Hey, this was a very important part of our offense last year.’ Oregon stopped us once in short yardage and we got stopped by Cal. We got stopped twice all year.”

This week, look for 5-foot-8 starting tailback Chad Morton in the goal-line offense for the first time in three years.

Conventional wisdom says he’s too small, but Morton has the coaches’ confidence--especially because he doesn’t fumble, unlike Frank Strong.

Morton never complained about watching Papadakis score six short-yardage touchdowns last season, but he’s giddy about the opportunity.

“Oh, I loved it,” Morton said after practicing with the goal-line unit for the first time. “It’s a lot different from being out on the field just in a regular formation, because it’s more intense, and you know you’ve just got to get the ball and run downhill. There’s no time for moves or any of that stuff.”

At maybe 185 pounds, he isn’t the classic pound-it-up-the-middle back.

“The coaches say I’ve got to ‘swell up,’ ” Morton said with a laugh. “It depends. You can get a little guy who can take it up in there and be just as effective as a big guy who’s a little bit slower.”

Jackson is in his corner.

“If he’s willing and able, which he is, we’ll give him the opportunity to slam it up in there,” Jackson said. “He has great quickness and he’s tough and he’s built low to the ground--maybe somebody won’t find him back there, and he’ll jump in the end zone.

“The main thing is, we’ve got to come off the ball up front, and the lead back has got to be a dominant force and push people out of the way so the halfback has a chance.”

Hackett and Jackson say they’re going to be stubborn and keep pounding on USC’s bread-and-butter play.

And Oregon will have to try to guess whether the Trojans will change it up or not.

“I guarantee you, I think our kids understand the importance of what it’s all about when you get down there,” Jackson said. “We’ll be foaming at the mouth to get the opportunity to show that we know how to get it done.”