WR Patrick Turner, who dropped three catchable balls on Saturday and fumbled another one after a catch, stayed 15 minutes after practice Tuesday catching hard balls from an angle out of a machine, and he’s working on getting his arms above his head more quickly. Turner is feeling better from the pinched nerve in his shoulder, but Pete Carroll suggested that too much time in the “don’t-hit-me” yellow jersey may have affected his preparation for Nebraska: “Maybe we need to bang him around a little more to get him ready before he gets out there…Maybe not call on his quite as much in critical situations to let him get his feed on the ground and get comfortable and do the stuff he’s capable of.” Booty reassured reporters that he has played with Turner far too long for the quarterback to worry about his ability: “That’s not in the back of my mind at all.” Continue reading for more from Tuesday’s practice.

• Carroll thinks that the coaching staff may have expected too much too soon from freshman RB Joe McKnight, who fumbled twice in two games and fumbled after a play was blown dead in Tuesday’s practice: “Maybe we’ve been a little impatient putting so much on him.” According to Scott Wolf, Carroll remains committed to playing McKnight more each week: “He’s playing regardless and getting a lot of playing time.”
• Center Kris O’Dowd told Scott Wolf that the offense practiced the shotgun formation for the first time since he took over as center, but he has ”no idea if it’s part of the game plan.”
• With Stafon Johnson grabbing the primary tailback spot by the throat on Saturday and C.J. Gable not missing a beat, Chauncy Washington insists he’s still competing for the job: “It’s my last chance to play, but if they feel more comfortable with those guys there’s nothing I can do.” (Orange County Register)
• DT Fili Moala sustained a deep thigh bruise against Nebraska. As a result, the coaching staff moved nose tackle Sedrick Ellis to DT to prepare for the possibility that Moala can’t play on Saturday, in which case sophomore Averill Spicer would play along side Ellis at nose tackle.
• LB Brian Cushing, still healing a low ankle sprain, played in about a third of the plays Tuesday. If he continues to improve, Carroll said he would start against Washington State.
• K David Bueller, who is perfect on the season with extra points and his one field goal made, was 4 for 5 in Tuesday’s practice, making from 20, 37, 41, and 47, and hitting the post from 33.

USC’s Turner has work to do (LA Times)
Carroll: USC’s McKnight worked into mix too early (LA Daily News)
Booty: USC passing game still a threat (Orange County Register)
Tuesday Insider: Carrolls team up with RoJo (Rivals, $)
Pete Carroll’s Tuesday Press Conference Transcript (CSTV.com)
Audio: Pete Carroll’s Press Conference (AM 570)