Trojans' wide receivers haven't been catching the wave

USC quarterback Matt Barkley has started to play like a veteran.

The Trojans' offensive line remains solid as expected and the rushing attack appears to be clicking with a reconfigured 1-2 tailback punch.

So as sixth-ranked USC prepares for Saturday's game at No. 25 Notre Dame, only one position group on offense appears to be lagging:

The receivers.

"We need to play a lot better," redshirt freshman Brice Butler said. "We haven't been making plays the whole season."

Butler might be a tad overcritical, but there is no denying the lack of production.

While junior Damian Williams has a team-leading 24 catches, no other wide receiver has caught as many passes as fullback Stanley Havili, tailback Joe McKnight or tight end Anthony McCoy.

David Ausberry has eight receptions, Butler five and Travon Patterson one.

"Nobody has really taken over," Coach Pete Carroll said. "We've just kind of spread the ball throughout the other guys besides Damian."

Some coaches and players say the situation stems from the absence of returning starter Ronald Johnson, who was sidelined the first five games because of a broken collarbone.

Others cite conservative play-calling designed to protect a freshman quarterback from taking too many risks that could result in mistakes.

The bottom line: USC has refrained from relying heavily upon its receivers.

"We just haven't pushed the ball outside much," Carroll said. "We haven't asked a lot of them."

That could change Saturday when the Trojans face a Notre Dame defense that has given up 263.6 yards passing per game. The Fighting Irish rank 110th among the 120 major college teams.

Will USC's receiving corps be up to the task if called upon?

That appeared to be a nonissue when players reported for training camp in August.

Patrick Turner had moved on to the NFL and Vidal Hazelton transferred to Cincinnati, but the group still featured Williams and the speedy Johnson, who combined for 91 receptions and 17 touchdowns in 2008.

But during the Trojans' final preseason scrimmage, two defensive backs sandwiched Johnson after a catch. The junior was in a sling for several weeks and returned to practice in a limited role only last week.

Johnson, who averaged a team-best 17.3 yards a catch last season, has been cleared for contact this week and is expected to play against the Irish.