Lincoln Riley claims he isn’t too bothered that Michigan has switched quarterbacks. Why did Sherrone Moore divulge his plans?
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — Lincoln Riley is not the type of coach to divulge more information than is absolutely necessary. Especially when that information might offer an upcoming opponent even a sliver of a hint about USC’s plans or personnel. Specifics are regularly side-stepped. Injury inquiries are stiff-armed away.
Sherrone Moore, his coaching counterpart at Michigan, appeared to share similar feelings about protecting state secrets. That is, until this week, when Moore decided to share with the world, three games into his tenure at Michigan, that he was making a change at quarterback.
Moore made it official in a news conference Monday that Michigan would replace Davis Warren, a former walk-on who struggled through three starts, with Alex Orji, a running threat with limited experience as a passer. Why Moore decided to do so publicly, squandering the element of surprise with Riley and his defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, has yet to be explained.
That information was certainly welcomed with open arms by USC and its coaching staff. But Riley said he understood Moore’s rationale behind announcing the move, even if he wouldn’t speculate as to why he announced it five days ahead of Saturday’s big-time Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor.
“I can understand where they’re coming from on it,” Riley said. “There’s two trains of thought. They both have relevance. But I’m not going to sit here and guess why they did or why they made that choice. That’s their decision. We gotta be ready for everybody they have. Very multiple offense. Very good on the offensive line. Backs are good. Tight ends elite. Lot of really gifted coaches over there. So, a big challenge, regardless of who’s under center.”
Still, it’s incredibly valuable intel for a USC defense that spent its bye week preparing for Michigan with Warren as starter — and now has the rest of the week to alter those plans for a quarterback who didn’t have a single pass attempt last season.
Orji does have six passes this year. Three of which were completed for 15 yards and two touchdowns. But while Moore has assured that he’s improved as a passer, what Michigan’s offense will look like with him at the helm is a complete unknown.
His rushing ability was always going to be a part of Michigan’s game plan, but it’s not clear how much time the Trojans spent accounting for him last week. And Riley wasn’t about to share that information.
“I don’t think I would say, sorry,” Riley said.
He was even reluctant to say who USC would use to imitate Orji in practice.
“There’s an old quarterback from Muleshoe, Texas who’s going to come out of retirement,” Riley said, referring jokingly to himself. “So, we’re going to see if his legs still got it. We’ve got a couple of guys we’re trying to use a little bit. But [Orji] is a really good athlete.”
Whether he can pass the ball effectively downfield is another question entirely. However, Riley said USC was still planning to account for that part of Michigan’s offense.
“You don’t play quarterback at this level without being able to throw the ball some,” Riley said. To sit there and think if he plays the entire game that they’re going to run it 70 times and throw it one time or something like that, I don’t think that’s going to be the case. So you definitely have to account for it because he’s certainly a good enough thrower to make you pay.”
Last season, Michigan did run the ball 45 times or more in three games. Against Penn State, it ran the ball on 46 plays and passed just eight times.
A similar game plan could be in store Saturday. Though, Moore refused this week to sell his new quarterback’s arm short.
“I think they’ll find out real quick that he can throw the football,” Moore said. “People have their opinions on him, but he definitely can throw. He’ll make some big throws this game.”
Etc.
Linebackers Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry, both dealing with injuries during the bye week, were full-go at practice on Tuesday and should be ready to play against Michigan. … Cornerback Jaylin Smith is also expected to play after sitting out USC’s Week 2 win over Utah State. … Michigan is hopeful that it will have star tight end Colston Loveland available on Saturday after Loveland was hurt in its win over Arkansas State. “It was less serious than we thought,” Moore said.
latimes.com
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I think I mentioned I watch a Klatt podcast where he pointed out in the previous seasons the Michigan defense blitzed 26% in games. So far this season they have blitzed 49%, half the time. So Klatt’s prognosis that LR’s offense design will make you pay if you blitz and we have a QB in Moss who has the ability to see the whole field and find the open receiver or the swing out RB. If this happens, we might see Michigan cut down their blitzing unless their DC is too stubborn to admit it isn’t working? The bottom line… Read more »
Joel Klatt picks USC over Michigan “One team, USC, has an identity, and the other team, Michigan, does not. Right now Michigan is searching. They are replacing their quarterback and they’re also searching for the right combination on the defensive side of the ball. “Meanwhile, USC knows exactly who they are. All of a sudden they have a defensive structure that they very much believe in. They feel like they are physical and they tackle better in space. Their offense is fine with Miller Moss and they haven’t really even scratched the surface as far as running the ball effectively.… Read more »
Out of the 20 recruits from 2025 only 4 are coming from California
It sure seems that the local recruiting has changed since the inception of NIL. Not that it controls where all the players go, but I think it influences where several have gone, like TAMU and Oregon. So far this year LR has shown USC has national influence and it is really great to get kids out of other schools backyards, like they have done to USC for all the Helton years.
Quick Draw Miller
Ryan Kartje (LAT) — USC QB Miller Moss has one of the quickest triggers in college football through two games. Against Utah State, his average time to throw was just 2.02 seconds. That’s even faster than his Week 1 average of 2.35 seconds.
Only three quarterbacks in college football have been quicker through two weeks, and so far, the quick trigger from Moss has made life a lot easier for USC’s unproven offensive line. Whether that can continue this week, against Michigan’s vaunted front, is another question entirely.
latimes.com
2 seconds. The number one ranked WR for 2025 runs the 100m in 10.45 sec. That means he can get 2 yards down field before Moss throws it. That’s a lot of short passes.
Stewart Mandel’s Mail Bag (The Athletic) Q — Michigan went from preseason +10.5 vs. USC to now being a 5.5-point underdog. Do you recall a swing this drastic in recent memory or a game when Michigan was nearly a touchdown underdog at home? How do YOU assess this game? Mandel — Life comes at you pretty fast in college football. Less than three weeks ago, I would have picked Michigan to cruise in this game and for USC to be 1-2 coming out of it. Now, I have a hard time figuring out how the Wolverines can win, which, if they don’t, will drop… Read more »
Stewart Mandel might be on to something with his comment about UCLA going back to the PAC12. I made a similar comment on this blog 9/15. (Actually the mountain west wants them) I said it was a rumor I had just made up and that anyone who wants could spread it. But honestly if UCLA came back the L. A. Market for TV would be split a bit. They wouldn’t owe Cal anything and they might finish high enough to play in the Rose Bowl…oh wait they already do. Anyway the current feeling among sports writers and clowns from Rialto… Read more »
Big 10 should swap out UCLA and bring in Notre Dame. A lot to work out with Notre Dame and their NBC deal. Could happen in a year or two. Add UCLA and Gonzaga would turn the Pac into a basketball conference like the Big East.
Good observations, RT.
UCLA could ditch the Big 10 and save money and might actually own the new Pac-12 if they went back.
Do you really think that UCLA would even remotely consider completely bailing on the move to the B1G and handing over total football supremacy to USC in L.A., and the rest of the nation for that matter?
Doubt it but they’ll be putrid at football for years to come and no better than mid level team in basketball in the Big 10. Plus their athletic budget is bleeding cash so they need to do things to help themselves.
Well…….when the 73 million BIG check gets cashed at UCLA…..I suspect things will improve.
UCLA will ditch Foster, who was basically set up to fail on the tail of Chip Kelly who just split for an easier job as OC at OHIO ST. They have no choice but to get with the program and take their head coaching position much more seriously so they can successfully compete in the B1G.
Things can change very fast in CFB, especially these days. It was only late last season on Nov 18 that UCLA totally abused USC on the field.
I hope the Ruins have an awful season and we roll on them when we play in November as payback. Whatever happens to Foster is their problem.
Based on what I’ve seen so far and absent a complete transformation in Westwood going forward, UCLA has a shot at beating FRESNO ST in the Rose Bowl on Nov. 30. All the rest could/should easily be losses.
Fresno State isn’t bad so that could be a loss for them as well too. They’ll be fighting with Purdue for the cellar in the Big 10
I was pretty shocked to see ND humiliate the Boilermakers 66-7 in West Lafayette.
PUR heads to Corvallis this weekend to take on the totally browbeaten Beavers in a battle for redemption, if that’s possible.
ND ran for a 70 yard TD right at the end off the first half. It almost looked like Purdue decided to take that play off.
ND rushed for 362 yds (278 in the first half) and 6 TDs.
I can’t wait to watch USC take on the visiting Irish in the Coliseum on Nov. 30. Should be a red-letter day.
Hold on there, IL. It isn’t $73 million after ucla pays their alimony to Berzerkeley!
😂 Suck it, bruins.
A wedding made in heaven.
Another Wedding Made In Heaven
This really has been a phenomenal pairing. I did not think LR would change as much as he did. The big factor was he lost control of the star QB last year. Caleb tried to be a hero on every play, because the team was so much weaker than the previous season and because of a non-existent defense which forced Caleb and his offense to score every possession. LR created a player that no longer listened to his coach like he should have. I don’t know how LR found all these great defensive coaches or who was responsible, but this… Read more »
I’ve seen USC’s “hero ball” attack in 2023 referred to as Caleb’s “highjacking” of LR’s offense. That’s as good a description as any I’ve heard. For some reason, LR couldn’t (or simply chose not to) stand up to Caleb’s assertion of offensive control last season. Since Caleb was already making more $$ than any coach on USC’s staff, except LR, and since the USC D was non-existent, the 2023 USC team was devoid of decent chemistry, never came together, couldn’t run the ball when it mattered, lacked confidence as well as organization, size, and conditioning, and couldn’t beat good teams.… Read more »