USC football limps into Washington wanting to ‘find that identity’
As injuries mount, the Trojans need to dig deep and rely on their depth against the Huskies on Saturday
USC (-2, 4-4, 2-4 Big Ten) at WASHINGTON (4-4, 2-3)
4:30 p.m. PT Saturday, Husky Stadium, Seattle, Wash., TV/radio: Big Ten Network/710 AM
Notable injuries
USC: OUT: CB Marcelles Williams (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaylin Smith (undisclosed), S Kamari Ramsey (undisclosed), CB Jacobe Covington (undisclosed), CB Greedy Vance Jr. (undisclosed), DT Nate Clifton (undisclosed)
Washington: OUT: EDGE Zach Durfee (turf toe); QUESTIONABLE: S Cameron Broussard (undisclosed), LT Maximus McCree (dislocated thumb)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — At the beginning of this season, as Miller Moss explained with smeared eye black after another heartbreaker in Maryland, USC’s program made a proclamation.
They’d commit to each other no matter what. No matter the circumstance. No matter the result.
That was easier when confetti rained in Vegas a week in, before a string of cross-country trips to new Big Ten stadiums that only brought pain. And still, as hope dwindled with that loss to Maryland in late September, the Trojans quarterback stood with toes down on USC’s Howard Jones Practice Field and reiterated the doctrine he’s preached for weeks.
“You face difficult times, you really got two choices, and they’re both painful,” Moss said, then. “You either go back to work, and kinda navigate that pain of what it takes to get yourself back up, or you quit. And that’s painful, too.”
Pain persists. Seven of USC’s defensive starters are either out for the season or banged up with injury, as the Trojans fly north to Seattle this weekend. Left guard Emmanuel Pregnon hobbled his way through starting snaps last Friday against Rutgers. Defensive tackle Gavin Meyer remains active through a banged-up elbow and a banged-up knee and a taped-up hand.
But this program, in a blowout last week over Rutgers, got itself back up. A host of youngsters on the defense continued to seize increased snaps. Pregnon dominated. Meyer led USC’s defense in quarterback pressures from the interior.
“I was here two years ago – obviously, we had an attitude about us,” veteran receiver Kyle Ford said last Friday night, referring to USC’s 11-3 season in 2022. “And I think that, we got a young group. And we’re starting to find that, and find that identity.”
These Trojans have found it too late, maybe, for the loftiest of expectations. But two key rivalry games remain on the schedule in UCLA and Notre Dame, and how USC continues to cultivate that identity will completely shape momentum heading into a prove-it 2025 slate.
The first chance at a run comes in familiar territory against Washington, a program that looks entirely different from the Kalen DeBoer-led attack that decimated USC last season but still boasts plenty of talent under new head coach Jedd Fisch. Here’s what to watch this weekend in Montlake:
Another tough Big Ten unit
Washington marks the third opponent USC’s faced this season, along with Penn State and Minnesota, currently ranked in the top-10 in the FBS in total defense, with another soon to come in Notre Dame. It’s tested Moss after his breakout in last year’s Holiday Bowl, as the quarterback said a couple years ago he’s seen a “ton of loose drop zone,” limiting USC’s ability to throw deep.
After dicing Rutgers’ defense to pieces last Friday, he’ll have a tougher task against Washington, which currently boasts the top-ranked pass defense in the country. Its three top corners by snaps – Thaddeus Dixon, Ephesians Prysock and Jordan Shaw – have combined for a collective sub-50% catch rate. But Moss, who’s still young by virtue of sheer game experience in collegiate football, was adamant Tuesday he’s starting to better understand how to attack defenses geared against big plays.
“I think each week, I’m seeing things that I wasn’t necessarily seeing before,” Moss said Tuesday.
Can Makai Lemon continue his ascent?
Blink, and all of a sudden, sophomore receiver Lemon has emerged as USC’s top pass-catcher, a physical route runner who’s established himself as much more than a gadget piece in Riley’s system.
Nobody in USC’s program is surprised.
“I think that’s just who he is as a player,” Moss said Tuesday, “and who he’s going to continue to be.”
Lemon has increased his yardage total for four straight weeks, culminating in a 256 all-purpose-yard performance against Rutgers in which he took over kickoffs for the struggling Zachariah Branch. USC needs more yards-after-catch playmaking from Lemon against a tough Huskies secondary.
Will the kids be all right?
A whopping nine underclassmen played more than 10 snaps against Rutgers. Both by necessity – as a whopping 92 snaps were available, and aforementioned injuries continue to mount – and by design, with Riley and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn trying to evaluate what they have heading into 2025.
Expect more looks for edge rushers Kameryn Fountain and Sam Greene, after each buoyed a struggling pass rush with sacks against Rutgers. Riley, too, had praise for sophomores Zion Branch and Christian Pierce for their play at safety in the absence of standout safety Kamari Ramsey, who’s been seen emerging from practice this week toting a yellow no-contact jersey. And with Clifton questionable and Meyer bruised, look for another steady diet of snaps for sophomores Devan Thompkins and Elijah Hughes on the interior.
Matchup to watch: Huskies cornerback Thaddeus Dixon vs. USC’s Makai Lemon. Or Ja’Kobi Lane. Or Duce Robinson. Or whichever receiver Lincoln Riley decides to trot out on the outside. Dixon has been one of the best corners in the nation in 2024, allowing just 11 catches on 31 targets this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Washington’s secondary doesn’t force a ton of turnovers; they simply blanket, and it will be a point to watch if any of USC’s sophomore gauntlet can separate consistently in one-on-one situations.
USC wins if: They can keep dangerous ASU transfer RB Jonah Coleman to less than 100 yards on the ground … if tackles Mason Murphy and Elijah Paige can keep edge rushers Voi Tunuufi and Alphonzo Tuputala to a handful of pressures and give quarterback Miller Moss time through his progressions … if, conversely, young edge rushers like Kam Fountain, Sam Greene and Braylan Shelby can win a couple of one-on-one battles against struggling Washington tackles.
Prediction: Washington 27, USC 24. This is a tough road environment for USC, particularly for a host of young defenders. So it may just be too much to expect the Trojans to get their first road win of the season today.
ocregister.com
___________
TrojanDailyBlog members — We always encourage you to add factual information, insight, divergent opinions, or new topics to the TDB that don’t necessarily pertain to any particular moderator post or member comment.
“I don’t handle losing very well. It hasn’t happened very much in my career. That part of it is unacceptable,” Riley said in his postgame press conference.
he seems to go out of his way to make sure they lose.
Somebody please tell Loser Riley to quit saying one play.
“We’ve been a good enough team to win every game,” Riley said. “We’ve consistently been in these games that come down to one play, and we just have not done a good enough job of making those plays.”
How is it possible everyone sees it except LR.
https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/lists/usc-football-fans-lose-patience-lincoln-riley-trojans-loss/
Hell, even Helton could see this train wreck.
If I hear another “fan” say Riley isn’t an Air Raid cultist, I’m gonna scream. You don’t have such lopsided pass / run ratios, especially against the top or close to top pass defense in all of CFB.
And we get an extra hour to ruminate over yet another blown lead and loss.
Well….don’t worry about which bowl……ND is going to kill us and the toilet bowl will get turned down by our narcissist head coach.
You are assuming we get an invite and are bowl eligible
Not sure I agree with getting blown out by ND. The team has played hard in every game and has had a chance to win..the bowl game should be left up to the players..but the only team I feel good about beating is Nebraska…UCLA is playing well and so is ND so the team may not be bowl eligible.
29-10 pass attempts to run in the first half, 2 picks, down 20-7. Now he wants to run the ball. Even my wife, who knows nothing about football, I told her Wash. has the 3rd best pass defense in the country what do you do? She says without a beat, better have a good run game! My wife can game plan better than SLR!
Please, please change the QB. Moss is not the future. In every loss, he has thrown an untimely interception that leads to lost momentum or a pick six. Defenses do not respect his running ability because he can’t move. In today’s football, the QB has to have the ability to put pressure on the defense with his legs.
Not disagreeing with you Trojandn, but the WRs were not getting open space separating themselves from the DBs & safeties. And it seems too many times this has occurred all season.
We should have had the big receivers out there, more Lane and Ford types. Since the smaller speedy guys weren’t getting open, should’ve gone big to see if we could out muscle them since so many passes were tightly contested.
Really all the efforts lost because Riley had to pass on second down at the three. Moss, who had been off all game missed being intercepted by a flea’s toenail. Still the defense have us one more chance, but our crack addict pass happy coach must pass and the ballet dancer line allows the rush to show us why Miller Moss should take his degree and leave. He will never see a down of professional football.
Absolutely correct.
Let’s not forget #21’s bone head penalty. Gave the huskies a first and goal, when they were going to settle for a FG.
So it would been 23-21 on the final drive and would have only needed a FG to win.
Lincoln is too weak. He can’t even bench player for making mistakes. Mason Murphy had. 7 fall starts (3 called) and was beat badly 6 times tonight. He one of the main reasons our offense sucks so bad. This coaching staff incapable of being tough. At this point. Dump LC and the offensive staff. The entire offense has digressed through the season.
The story of this season’s team continues. It can hardly do anything right the first half. It comes back in the 3rd quarter to take the lead. But then it won’t take control of the game and surrenders the lead during the 4th quarter and loses another game.
It’s not the team! It’s the HC! Everybody is doing their job (except Murphy) except SLR. He’s a moron.
Why did we not run the ball in the first half…….what the f— is wrong with this guy.
The game was an easy win……but no……pass pass pass.
Something is seriously wrong with this dude……like a doctor needs to be hired.
Once again USC managed to look like a world beater until they didn’t. Worst loss of the season to date and I say to date because Helton oops I mean Riley has a couple more chances to rub our nose in it.
Well Riley gets another loss. USC is just along for the ride.
We f’ed up again.
Mason Murphy got beat. The guy that tackled Moss had his arm around Moss’ throat.
He sucks. What a pathetic display they put on the field.
Leave it for Mason to allow a pressure. Why the fuck is he even in the game. They have no talent left. Kiffen and Sarkisian have proven to be much better coaches than Lincoln Riley. We are worse than Nebraska and will probably never compete for national championship. The woke school and program are too far gone. I’m completely done. USC will never get another penny for me. As an alumni I am completely embarrassed.
Oh well…….
ok….this is it
Isn’t it amazing how Miller Moss can suddenly be a total hero after what has been said about him today?
Miller is pedestrian at best and since we have a losing record, it’s time for a more dynamic QB ( Riley’s comfort zone) and focus on the run until Maieva gets his starter legs.
Murphy to the rescue.
Yep! Screw up and move up
The fact he even plays, shows us the coaching staff doesn’t give a shit.
Nice punt….for us
OK……can we move it in 1 minute 30
A miracle
Penalty saved our butt
Only if we score a TD
What is Riley’s excuse tonight? One play away?
Not only is LR over his head strategically and in recruiting, but his well qualified D assistants he just hired are not gonna hang around this clown show. These guys have been around or have HC’d big winning programs.
It’s absolutely uncanny how USC has managed to lose all these games in the 4th like this. Same old story over and over, even though LR finally committed to the run..
As I said, this team needs a shrink, as in “What the heck is really wrong, in what order, and how can it be fixed?”
Would be interesting if he committed to the run in the first half too.
The team does not need a shrink…..the head coach needs one.
One more first down and we’re done.
Another road loss.
No wait there’s still two minutes left for For Riley to prove he doesn’t have a brain
Trojans need this so bad, it’s scary.
We are in need of a near miracle at this point.
been awhile…
One wasted play on second down as if….
Looks like not able to close out again. Wonder what this game would be like if Riley were not an idiot in the first half and ran the ball
We will never know. He’s too stubborn to reflect and improve. He’s also very young.
It kills me when the announcers act like he is a genius for running in the second half.
OK…..we’ll see if they can move the ball……if they punt we should win
I hope you’re right.
Nuts.
Our RG #77 missed his block. WTF!!!!! I hate our OLine. Absolutely NO Talent.
Run it in!
Need to go for it!!!!
Wow. What a Trojan drive. I thought I was transported back to the ’70s. We be runnin’. We’re on the three, 3rd down.
Run to the outside.
4 down territory
Well Riley had to throw the ball instead of just running the ball…
Is Washington letting us scores?
No. Their offense is not that good and there’s still too much time on the clock for that.
Moss changes the call to a run.
Bench 21 no excuses so what if the guy had your face mask let the referee do the work.
Let’s see who lost their composure. #21 is a jackass! Cost minimum 4 points.
Can we see Maieva now ? My god we are a pathetic 4-4 what’s to lose.
Miss is the new Grinch for Riley. Although Riley just can’t control himself when it comes to passing. He will literally throw the game away
I’m sorry but this must change.