“I was like, ‘Oh, here we go’” the USC running back said.
Knotted at 21 in the second quarter of a breakneck game with Washington, Jones lined up to the direct left of quarterback Caleb Williams, sweeping to the left to block as the jack-of-all-trades Zachariah Branch took a pitch. It was nothing more than a decoy, though; Branch quickly reversed course, tossed the pitch back to Williams, and a delayed flea-flicker call caught the Huskies by such surprise that Jones simply found himself standing with nobody to block as Williams threw to a wide-open Tahj Washington for a touchdown.
Lincoln Riley leads his Trojans into Eugene, Oregon, for a Pac-12 showdown Saturday against the No. 6 Ducks. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
“It’s Lincoln Riley, you know what I’m saying,” Jones said after practice Wednesday. “I got full faith in our head coach at any point in time.”
Lost in the jumble of events and discourse from USC’s 54-42 loss to Washington last Saturday – the rip-off-the-Band-Aid firing of defensive coordinator Alex Grinch the next day, the promotion of not one but two interim defensive coordinators, comments from linebacker Mason Cobb about choosing to not watch film back of the game going viral – was that Riley was perhaps at his finest he’d been all season against Washington as a play-caller.
He sent a never-ending onslaught of USC skill players, everyone from Lake McRee to Kyron Hudson, out for quick-hit looks; perfectly juggled Jones and seldom-used backups Darwin Barlow and Raleek Brown with starting RB MarShawn Lloyd out; and drew up one of the greatest flea flickers you’ll ever see.
This USC team, heading into a last-shot conference effort Saturday against No. 6 Oregon in Eugene, has more questions this week than at any point this season. Inside linebackers coach Brian Odom and defensive line coach Shaun Nua have had all of a few days as USC’s co-defensive coordinators. The status of a couple key defensive players, and Lloyd, is unclear. So Riley and the weapons at his disposal are the only constants here, the only dependent variables USC brings into this volatile matchup at Autzen Stadium.
Simply put, Riley needs to reach into his bag like he did against Washington – or even further – to give USC (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) a shot against a stout defense and Ducks attack that’ll in all likelihood put up 40-plus points.
“They’re going to bring new wrinkles into each game that you have to be prepare for,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said of the Trojans this week, “and they’re one of the harder opponents to prepare for.”
When USC has the ball
Oregon’s secondary has been stout all season – the Ducks (8-1, 5-1) will surrender some short-to-medium looks, but have been largely solid at keeping plays in front of them. USC’s Tahj Washington has been successful all year in sneaking behind defenses; he’s on the verge of a 1,000-yard season, which would be a remarkable accomplishment for a senior wideout who’s improved every season as a Trojan.
USC’s offensive line, meanwhile, will have its hands full with Ducks lineman Brandon Dorlus, who racks up pressures and hurries. Williams, too, will need to make quicker or more conservative decisions at times if the pocket collapses, as he’s struggled all season with strip-sacks and lost key fumbles in back-to-back games.
“That’s gotta be better,” Riley said Thursday.
When Oregon has the ball
The decision to elevate Nua and Odom, Riley said Thursday, came down to a couple factors: recognizing there was little time left to prepare, sharing the coordinator’s burden would help alleviate overwhelming responsibilities, and looking at the combination of their experience and ability to work together.
“Just felt like, for what we needed in terms of unifying the group, bringing the guys together, really let this being a point where we can really rally and close the season strong, just felt like they were the best fit,” Riley said.
Odom will likely take the play-calling duties with Nua on the field, and the inside linebackers coach has the defense’s trust, Cobb said Tuesday. The question: whether they’ll add changes to a scheme that has simply collapsed against the run too often this season.
“We’re trying to keep as much same as as we can, trying to be more efficient with it, play with a lot of energy and have a lot of fun while we’re out here,” Odom said Tuesday.
USC (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) at No. 6 Oregon (8-1, 5-1)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore.; TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/790 AM
_______
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Building a program is about balance. SC is a QB, and WR factory we don’t need to recruit those players they come to SC automatically. Also you don’t need the best at those positions either. Offensive and Defensive lineman should be the main focus. Beyond that is Edge, ILB, CB’s, and RB’s. This is college football and and receiving is still big but running the ball to set up the pass is still the best way to run an offense. Pass first in college to me means you have too much offense and that’s obvious with LR. This program needs… Read more »
We are definitely not going to have as athletic a QB next year which means if you don’t fill those holes on the offensive line that that we lost with Vorhees and the other guy last year it’s gonna be ugly!!!
Kansas kid sat out again yesterday even with them down to 4th team frosh. He is like that Bama qb, can really run, probably a better passer too.
The defense had its moments, both good and bad. The offense almost got Caleb killed letting him get sacked to often. Caleb held the ball to long on occasion. DBs were in la la land for a great deal of the game. Linebacker play was decent. Bear led all USC tacklers. How could Bullock be an all american? The defense was pourous on pass defense against the short and long game. The Oregon run game was held to what would be a relatively normal amount of yards. The players fought hard. I loved when the pass to Rice was knocked… Read more »
Whatever crap bowl we get invited to……Williams should sit out……not only for his own benefit…….we need to find a QB for next year and decide if we have someone before transfer time. As for Riley……since we are probably stuck with him for a year or two let’s hope that at least the quality of his recruits improves on both sides of the line. That was the issue with Helton, not only was he a coaching moron but he drained the talent level down to Wa St level. If our DL is not addressed we may be having some games that… Read more »
Didn’t see the game last night as I was asleep. SC has played so many games at night as of late and, with the time change, it’s crazy for those of us in other time zones to watch a game that starts at 7:30pm Pacific Time. When I was a student at USC in the 1970s, night games were a rarity; now they are the standard due mostly to the media pushing “PAC-12 After Dark”. I missed another loss and am beginning to think Lincoln Riley is not the answer long term. I’ll give him another year as I think… Read more »
You cannot build a defense in 1 year. It’s gonna take two if not three years to get our program relevant again with recruits.
UCLA somehow did it.
Riley’s only got 2 years under his belt here. I think Chipper’s got 5 at UCLA , obviously a better DC and more seasoning with Chipper recruiting, and that’s why this next hire at DC is extremely is crucial for LR moving forward.
At least some of the young guys got some prime time … Duce is learning, Lemon is a football player, Pierce made a hit
Best UCLA salvage 8-4 at least
Here’s some salvage for you. Oops!
Bullock [#7] was awful and Max Williams [#4] was a close second to awful.
True. I expected Max to look bad. He usually does.
But Bullock played like his feet were stuck in deep mud. I didn’t really know what a totally weak player he could be. Lost in space.
Obviously I did not expect to beat Oregon and to be brutally honest with the strength of UCLA’s defense. I’m not very hi on winning that one either. I don’t understand how in year 2 under LR we have regressed. How is it that Oregon St, Arizona who we already beat and UCLA are better than we are and you beat them last year. That’s coaching and personnel, and it basically tells me 2 things one is that LR is not that great and that he was part of tradition and recruiting that was already in place at OU. 2nd… Read more »
If LRiley can build up both sides of the LOS, like on his Oklahoma Sooners– USC will be fine.
Yes there were some incredibly dumb moments, but over all the defense was better than expected.
Can’t agree. Some of those defensive plays were outright embarrassing. Obviously the two early long TDs, but also leaving a guy so wide open in the end zone that he could have read a book while waiting for the ball. NOBODY looks that bad. We may not have given up as many points as I expected, but we gave up plays that were so bad that I couldn’t have imagined even this D would do that.
Game ended closer than a lot of people thought. One more game and then take this defense a part LR!
BEAT UCLA ! ……Night All …..Fight On !!!!!
Good fight by USC! Outmanned and outcoached, but well-fought. ✌
Have we beat a ranked team this season?
Counting ourselves, yes.
Good one!
WTF!!! Why would you go for 2 when you need another score??? That is just Stupid!!
Good night
Caleb remains the best USC QB I have ever seen. What a stud. Congrats on a Herculean effort young man!
Great to see Brenden Rice playing so well!
Another Holding at the worst possible time. Amazing.
Thank you ducks for stopping yourself
I think the USC/UCLA game should be a pretty good matchup. They are a lot more our speed. USC will probably even be favored after watching UCLA collapse today.
We need to win to keep bragging rights over Chip and the Victory Bell.
Absolutely! Save the season. Lose that one at home in Caleb’s last show there, and, oh, brother!
Its as if our defense wants to get out of the way
Boy even the refs think our defense is disconcerting
If we could get a pick or a fumble………
In one game it’s going to be Mr Williams……your suite is ready……if I can do anything for you during your stay my entire staff is available to you.
Look at the bright side, Alonso Tuputala might be in the portal next season.
Dose of Reality <<<<< Next weekend we will see something that we will grow to miss It is probably Caleb’s last game in a USC uniform . So CHERISH next week my fellow USC fans !
“Probably”? Caleb would have to be the dumbest guy alive to forego the NFL (and risk serious injury as well) for this team and coaching. That’ll never happen.
I am figuring about 3 minutes after that game is over many USC fans start to miss him allready !
I already do. Gonna be a big drop-off in 2024. Behind even a decent O-line, he could have been only the second player to ever win two Heismans.
Agree !
His football IQ is not ready for the NFL. He is incapable of getting rid of the ball in under 3 seconds.
That’s what good coaching is for.
He still does totally impossible stuff, and outplayed Bo Nix, who has the much better team, tonight.
Tho I an NOT a NY Giants fan (but because of where I live I am stuck watching their games ) and all the Giants Offensive line seems to be good for is putting Giants QB’s on the IR List ….So I HOPE Caleb does not end up on the Giants <<<<< Just Saying .
The last series he actually looked really good. Making quick decisions and going through his progressions. I wish he could have played the entire night that way.
USC just doesn’t have players with football smarts. They’re making pee wee football mistake. Unfortunately Riley should have seen this coming… We did.
Very true! LR needs to get brutally honest with himself. Not sure if he’s capable of it.
Seriously that’s my biggest concern out of all of this. He just doesn’t have the chops to see things in reality.
LR’s never been a big flat failure before. Hard to say how that will affect a person. JMHO.
Yeah but he wanted to win now and waste another couple years rebuilding the program right.
LR should put in the 2nd string QB and give him some game experience.
His confidence might be destroyed forever. But I get your drift.
The talent discrepancy is very apparent in this game.
Size and speed
The O-line is so bad that they can’t even run between the tackles for 1 yard.
For those wondering whjy we don’t run more
Nobody is expecting big changes in a week, especially when the interim DC’s don’t have DC experience, but simple coverages are out of the question? Account for the fields quarters? Communication too much? Cover 1,2,3,4, press, nickel, 2 high. This is high school basics. If there’s not a sweeping after ucla or bowl, I will cancel season tickets. It’s bullshit.
Offensive genius……bull—-
Lately, delays of games and last-second time-outs have been his strong suits.
He learned well from Helton
💯!!!
Game’s over.
It’s up to Dan Lanning if he wants to score 21 more points to end the game.
He should embarrass Lincoln and rub it in. That asshat needs to feel pain for not firing Grinch after the Tulane game.
I have our game against UCLA will be a late night game next week.
Faster guys vs slower guys. Unfortunately, we are the slower group
The speed we have is not being used.
We don’t have much speed thanks to Helton
Other teams have figured out how to neuter Zach.
Zach needs to run north/south instead of racing to the sideline. Raleek had the same problem.
Where do we have speed we are not using?
The NFL Team I follow kicks off in 8 hours .
That’s the game
Which is worse? The Notre Dame game, or this one?
Both but this one is in conference so it hurts us more. Least we might be able to beat UCLA.
Really bad
This coaching staff is just bad
I think several of the players are too
The air has been sucked out of the USC sideline.
Even the towel wavers don’t know what to do.
Could have sworn I saw a couple switched to the Oregon sideline.
I can’t believe Bucky Irving is back in the game. From the look of his ankle injury and the pain he was experiencing, he looked like he was out for sure. These Ducks are tough.
Nobody will pass up padding their stats against USC’s D.
Lets see ………………. Maybe Kansas vs 8-4 USC in the freakin Alamo Bowl .
If we don’t start concentrating on the plays more, this game will get ugly soon.,
The body language of the defense shows they’ve quit.
Yep! But mostly resigned to the fact.
So this game is in the can. Who wants to predict the ruin game?
It should be the barnburner of futility. Maybe we get relegated back to the Pac-12 Network.
Not even sure they want us.
Both teams throw up all over themselves. Like a bunch of retards trying to hump a doorknob. Nobody ends up winning. Both teams gets Ls
I can hear Dandy Don Meredith starting to sing “Turn out the lights …”
Hopefully, recruits come away with the idea that with them on the future USC team, and far better coaching than what we currently have, we can return to power. We can, right?
Fortunately there are not any USC recruits at the game tonight.
Ugh!
Caleb loses this ball on the ground