Reunited with USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who recruited him to Ohio State, Shaw had to wait deep into the season before making an impact in their win against Arizona
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — After Bryson Shaw had jumped the route, after he had completed the interception, after he had returned the ball into Arizona territory, the transfer safety jogged off to the USC sidelines.
There, a mob of teammates was waiting to crowd around him and hit his helmet in celebration.
“He deserved that game he just played in,” defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu said of the response from Shaw’s teammates. “He’s been working hard, getting extra work in. I always see that, working with (strength coach Bennie Wylie) and stuff. He deserved it, he earned it.”
Shaw transferred to USC in the late spring after his sophomore season at Ohio State. He finished third on the Buckeyes in tackles with 59 while adding three deflections, an interception and a fumble recovery while starting 12 games in 2021.
At USC, it was a chance for him to reunite with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who recruited Shaw to Ohio State but left for Oklahoma before the two could truly work together.
“Just coming out of high school, I felt like him and I connected really well,” Shaw (27) said. “Very intense guy, and I think I’m pretty intense myself. Instant bond right off the bat.”
But his late addition to the USC roster, and at safety, a position of rare depth for the Trojans’ defense, meant that Shaw had to bide his time before getting the chance to play for USC.
Combined with injuries in training camp, Shaw had to wait deep into the season for a real opportunity. But he kept working in practice and in the weight room, earning the respect of his teammates.
“I’m always positive, never look too negative. Never too down on myself, never too high on myself, kind of just a straight line,” Shaw said. “Just keep working, keep coming to work every day, keep fighting and swinging and let it all play out. I’m truly blessed to be out here.”
But a series of injuries forced USC to get creative with its scheme in the 45-38 victory over the Wildcats. Grinch installed some one-linebacker, dime packages with Shaw coming in as the additional defensive back.
After four tackles in USC’s first seven games, Shaw recorded seven tackles (one for a loss) last weekend. In addition to the interception, he had a pass breakup and earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“Just a guy doing his job,” Grinch said. “Proud of him, and that’s a good thing for us. We need more players stepping up.”
TUIPULOTU ADDS NEW ROLE
Tuipulotu has agreed to play any role asked of him on the defensive line at USC, moving from his natural end position to tackle when the Trojans’ depth issues have required.
On Saturday against Arizona, he added a new job to his resume: Linebacker.
With USC’s linebackers corps depleted by injury, Tuipulotu moved back a level for a few plays against the Wildcats. Largely, he just blitzed from the position, but it was a change for the junior, who has never played linebacker before.
“It’s cool just playing different stuff and blitzing,” Tuipulotu said. “It was pretty easy just because I already know the gaps I’m supposed to be in. Being a person in the defense, You gotta know everybody’s job. I gotta know everybody’s job on D-line so I know what gaps they have so I’m reacting off of that.”
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“Cold November rain appears headed right at South Bend Saturday and could certainly be a factor as Notre Dame welcomes No. 5 CLEM (No. 4 in CFP rankings) to town. Cold November rain, unpleasantly steady winds, and gusts over 40 miles per hour are expected…”
I’ve always wondered why that 15-14 loss to CAL in 2018 irked me so much. Here’s why, at least in part, as explained by Adam Bradford (WeAreSC): “This will be Cal’s first trip to the Coliseum since 2018. (The 2020 game between the two programs was canceled due to the Pandemic.) The Bears won that game 15-14, despite having under 100 passing yards and just 207 yards of total offense. The loss snapped a 14-game winning streak for USC against Cal dating back to 2004. In addition, it marked Cal’s first win at the Coliseum since 2000, ending an eight-game… Read more »
That game for me personified Helton’s awful coaching. We lost that game because of Toa L. He was just plain awful. His hike of JT’s head cost us the game. I remember watching some delayed stunts that the Cal D was running and he NEVER figured it out. I thought he was going to get JT killed. Never made it as a pro, and tried his hand at coaching (for Helton, of course) and I think is now living in Hawaii and out of football.
And to top it off…Long Beach Poly CB Iman Marshall (aka “Grabby”; ACL hobbled and waived by the Ravens in July) drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ridiculously taunting the CAL bench, giving the woeful, punchless Bears a final new set of downs which sealed our pitiful 15-14 loss in the Coliseum. Typical Helton football, after which The Cat undoubtedly told us all he’d need to look at the tape.
You hate to remember these moments. But it happens to even the most disciplined programs where players just lose it at a given moment on the field. The big difference is, whether that player gets chewed out going to the sideline or he gets a “we’re so sorry pat on the back” or even, that’s OK Warrior!
Typical of the NCAA, we are becoming irrelevant so let’s screw the student-athlete. Line up the lawyers, get an injunction, then sue them out of existence.
USC’s 2022 special teams have been nothing to write home about so far, and Lincoln Riley has been questioned for not having a dedicated single special team coach on his staff, and not just an analyst (Ryan Dougherty for USC). Riley — “I don’t believe in a singular special teams coordinator. Not with the current limits on staff. “I’ve just never believed in one coach who’s doing something for two periods of practice a day, and what’s he doing the rest of the time? Versus, let’s have guys that are coaching guys all the time, everywhere…There’s plenty of success stories… Read more »
I agree with LR. The very successful high school team I work with here in ATL (Go Marist War Eagles!) uses the Riley method for coaching special teams–different senior assistant coaches oversee a different aspect of special teams. Special Team Coordinators tend to be overrated, anyway. Plus, the head coach makes the critical game time decisions anyway–go for two, stupid onside kicks when you don’t need them, punt blocks, etc.
Lane Kiffin Says Auburn Should Hire Deion Sanders. Sanders has a 23-5 record (8-0 this season) as HC at JAX ST. Cameron Flynn (Athlon Sports) — “In the days following Auburn’s decision to fire Bryan Harsin, rumors have circulated on who will be the next HFC for the Tigers. “Speaking in a press conference Wednesday, OLE MISS HC Lane Kiffin was asked about JAX ST’s Deion Sanders as a possibility for the AUB job. Kiffin — “I think he’d do great. I think that’s a great name, and they should hire him. Great recruiter. Great name.” “Kiffin continued by… Read more »
Keely Eure
@keelyismyname
Lincoln Riley says that USC will be “active” once again in the NCAA Transfer Portal during the offseason. He clarified, however, that they probably won’t be as active as they were last year.
That’s good news. I trust LR and staff to evaluate and develop high school players, but it’s clear we need some immediate talent upgrades in spots that will most likely not be filled by a freshman.
How could SC be as active as they were before this season, I ask rhetorically. LR only changed almost the entire 2-deep roster from 2021 and then some!
It’ll be interesting to see if someexcellent players enter the Portal because they want to play for LR now that they’ve seen what he’s capable of at USC after only eight games.
This should be a major factor affecting USC football once the season ends. The Trojans are in an excellent spot. Already a good team, we still need considerable front-line talent as well as depth.
LR had to heavily recruit the Portal for this season for whatever it could provide. You look at who he brought in and then wonder what shape this Trojan team would be today without them. It would be “night & day” difference IMO. This team is competitive, thank our lucky stars, and it’s success will help feed into the minds of this all important 1st real real LR recruiting class that will hopefully put USC prepared to compete &succeed in the Big Ten. I am waiting to see if LR can keep himself from overloading the offensive side in favor… Read more »
You know, as a follow up, there is no rule that says you can’t have both a great offensive & defensive team “that helps each other” win games. In the Big Ten, they’re less competitive teams are a notch or two better and in front of sellout crowds. Give your defensive coaches players & depth they can work with and succeed on the field.
College football Saturday: The 7 best games to watch and stream No. 4 Clemson (8-0) at Notre Dame (5-3) After starting the season with two losses, Notre Dame has won five of its last six games with an improved running game that will be tested by Clemson. The Tigers’ defense has allowed 2.98 ypc and 87.9 yards per game and is ranked seventh nationally in tackles for loss. Audric Estime and Logan Diggs have carried a Fighting Irish rushing attack that is averaging more than 216 yards a game. Estime ran for two TDs last week at Syracuse. Clemson is favored by 4½ points. California… Read more »
Absolute game of the day is Tennessee/Georgia. Then Bama/LSU could be a barn burner. I rarely ever root for ND, but Saturday I will. A ND win would help USC as long as USC keeps winning.
“Just coming out of high school, I felt like him and I connected really well,” Shaw (27) said. “Very intense guy, and I think I’m pretty intense myself. Instant bond right off the bat.”
“I’m always positive, never look too negative. Never too down on myself, never too high on myself, kind of just a straight line,” Shaw said. “Just keep working, keep coming to work every day, keep fighting and swinging and let it all play out. I’m truly blessed to be out here.”
Notre Dame-Clemson: Wild weather expected
“Cold November rain appears headed right at South Bend Saturday and could certainly be a factor as Notre Dame welcomes No. 5 CLEM (No. 4 in CFP rankings) to town. Cold November rain, unpleasantly steady winds, and gusts over 40 miles per hour are expected…”
Yahoo Sports
I’ve always wondered why that 15-14 loss to CAL in 2018 irked me so much. Here’s why, at least in part, as explained by Adam Bradford (WeAreSC): “This will be Cal’s first trip to the Coliseum since 2018. (The 2020 game between the two programs was canceled due to the Pandemic.) The Bears won that game 15-14, despite having under 100 passing yards and just 207 yards of total offense. The loss snapped a 14-game winning streak for USC against Cal dating back to 2004. In addition, it marked Cal’s first win at the Coliseum since 2000, ending an eight-game… Read more »
That game for me personified Helton’s awful coaching. We lost that game because of Toa L. He was just plain awful. His hike of JT’s head cost us the game. I remember watching some delayed stunts that the Cal D was running and he NEVER figured it out. I thought he was going to get JT killed. Never made it as a pro, and tried his hand at coaching (for Helton, of course) and I think is now living in Hawaii and out of football.
And to top it off…Long Beach Poly CB Iman Marshall (aka “Grabby”; ACL hobbled and waived by the Ravens in July) drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ridiculously taunting the CAL bench, giving the woeful, punchless Bears a final new set of downs which sealed our pitiful 15-14 loss in the Coliseum. Typical Helton football, after which The Cat undoubtedly told us all he’d need to look at the tape.
You hate to remember these moments. But it happens to even the most disciplined programs where players just lose it at a given moment on the field. The big difference is, whether that player gets chewed out going to the sideline or he gets a “we’re so sorry pat on the back” or even, that’s OK Warrior!
The fabled ncaa has thrown a wrench into the works for the portal. Read this:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/coaches-compliance-personnel-confounded-by-ncaa-ruling-complicating-transfers-between-semesters/
Typical of the NCAA, we are becoming irrelevant so let’s screw the student-athlete. Line up the lawyers, get an injunction, then sue them out of existence.
Oh, hell yeah! The turds at the ncaa can all rot with Paul Dee’s humid, dissolving, stinking corpse in that Miami graveyard. 😡
USC’s 2022 special teams have been nothing to write home about so far, and Lincoln Riley has been questioned for not having a dedicated single special team coach on his staff, and not just an analyst (Ryan Dougherty for USC). Riley — “I don’t believe in a singular special teams coordinator. Not with the current limits on staff. “I’ve just never believed in one coach who’s doing something for two periods of practice a day, and what’s he doing the rest of the time? Versus, let’s have guys that are coaching guys all the time, everywhere…There’s plenty of success stories… Read more »
I agree with LR. The very successful high school team I work with here in ATL (Go Marist War Eagles!) uses the Riley method for coaching special teams–different senior assistant coaches oversee a different aspect of special teams. Special Team Coordinators tend to be overrated, anyway. Plus, the head coach makes the critical game time decisions anyway–go for two, stupid onside kicks when you don’t need them, punt blocks, etc.
https://twitter.com/uscfb/status/1587837581625991168
Lane Kiffin Says Auburn Should Hire Deion Sanders. Sanders has a 23-5 record (8-0 this season) as HC at JAX ST. Cameron Flynn (Athlon Sports) — “In the days following Auburn’s decision to fire Bryan Harsin, rumors have circulated on who will be the next HFC for the Tigers. “Speaking in a press conference Wednesday, OLE MISS HC Lane Kiffin was asked about JAX ST’s Deion Sanders as a possibility for the AUB job. Kiffin — “I think he’d do great. I think that’s a great name, and they should hire him. Great recruiter. Great name.” “Kiffin continued by… Read more »
Keely Eure
@keelyismyname
Lincoln Riley says that USC will be “active” once again in the NCAA Transfer Portal during the offseason. He clarified, however, that they probably won’t be as active as they were last year.
That’s good news. I trust LR and staff to evaluate and develop high school players, but it’s clear we need some immediate talent upgrades in spots that will most likely not be filled by a freshman.
How could SC be as active as they were before this season, I ask rhetorically. LR only changed almost the entire 2-deep roster from 2021 and then some!
It’ll be interesting to see if some excellent players enter the Portal because they want to play for LR now that they’ve seen what he’s capable of at USC after only eight games.
This should be a major factor affecting USC football once the season ends. The Trojans are in an excellent spot. Already a good team, we still need considerable front-line talent as well as depth.
LR had to heavily recruit the Portal for this season for whatever it could provide. You look at who he brought in and then wonder what shape this Trojan team would be today without them. It would be “night & day” difference IMO. This team is competitive, thank our lucky stars, and it’s success will help feed into the minds of this all important 1st real real LR recruiting class that will hopefully put USC prepared to compete &succeed in the Big Ten. I am waiting to see if LR can keep himself from overloading the offensive side in favor… Read more »
You know, as a follow up, there is no rule that says you can’t have both a great offensive & defensive team “that helps each other” win games. In the Big Ten, they’re less competitive teams are a notch or two better and in front of sellout crowds. Give your defensive coaches players & depth they can work with and succeed on the field.
no, Riley said SC will be “active”, not “as active” not withstanding that your question is rhetorical.
College football Saturday: The 7 best games to watch and stream No. 4 Clemson (8-0) at Notre Dame (5-3) After starting the season with two losses, Notre Dame has won five of its last six games with an improved running game that will be tested by Clemson. The Tigers’ defense has allowed 2.98 ypc and 87.9 yards per game and is ranked seventh nationally in tackles for loss. Audric Estime and Logan Diggs have carried a Fighting Irish rushing attack that is averaging more than 216 yards a game. Estime ran for two TDs last week at Syracuse. Clemson is favored by 4½ points. California… Read more »
Absolute game of the day is Tennessee/Georgia. Then Bama/LSU could be a barn burner. I rarely ever root for ND, but Saturday I will. A ND win would help USC as long as USC keeps winning.
Shaw should be in for every play in every game until he falls off or gets hurt. He fixes part of what is missing on defense.