Can Michigan Throw on USC?

Lincoln Riley claims he isn’t too bothered that Michigan has switched quarterbacks. Why did Sherrone Moore divulge his plans?

USC coach Lincoln Riley said his team has to be "ready for everybody" on Michigan.

Always close-to-the-vest Lincoln Riley said USC has to be “ready for everybody”  Michigan has. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)

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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Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
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September 19, 2024 10:18 am

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 »

parcelman007
Noble Genius
parcelman007
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September 19, 2024 2:58 am

Out of the 20 recruits from 2025 only 4 are coming from California

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
Online
September 19, 2024 7:45 am
Reply to  parcelman007

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.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 18, 2024 10:23 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

RialtoTrojan
Noble Genius
RialtoTrojan
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September 18, 2024 3:24 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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 »

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 18, 2024 3:43 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

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.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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September 19, 2024 6:22 am
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Good observations, RT.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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September 19, 2024 11:03 am
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

UCLA could ditch the Big 10 and save money and might actually own the new Pac-12 if they went back.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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September 19, 2024 1:58 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

illinoisusc
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illinoisusc
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September 18, 2024 4:19 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Well…….when the 73 million BIG check gets cashed at UCLA…..I suspect things will improve.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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September 19, 2024 10:18 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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September 19, 2024 10:35 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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

parcelman007
Noble Genius
parcelman007
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September 19, 2024 10:47 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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September 19, 2024 6:25 am
Reply to  illinoisusc

Hold on there, IL. It isn’t $73 million after ucla pays their alimony to Berzerkeley!
😂 Suck it, bruins.

illinoisusc
Major Genius
illinoisusc
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September 19, 2024 8:43 am
Reply to  ATL D.D.S.

A wedding made in heaven.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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September 19, 2024 11:55 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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 »