Give Miller Moss His Key to the City

Column: USC can reach the playoff thanks to a tough quarterback who never stops swinging

USC quarterback Miller Moss celebrates after receiver Ja'Kobi Lane scored a touchdown against Wisconsin
USC QB Miller Moss celebrates after receiver Ja’Kobi Lane scored a TD against WIS at the Coliseum on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Bill Plaschke (LA Times)  —  The USC fans were booing. The big guys weren’t tackling. The skill guys weren’t catching. The coach’s failures were hovering.

As USC took the field at the start of the second half at an angry Coliseum Saturday afternoon, the Trojans trailed Wisconsin by double digits amid the suffocating scent of here we go again.

USC quarterback Miller Moss gets a pass off under pressure from Wisconsin's defense at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Enter their tousle-haired, eye-blacked breath of fresh air.

Enter the antithesis of a modern-day college quarterback, a three-year backup who didn’t transfer, didn’t walk out, didn’t sell out.

Enter Miller Moss, who loved USC even when USC didn’t love him back, who now spreads that love around the field with a certain resilience that sends a distinct message.

He’s got this job and he’s not giving it up. He’s got this team and he’s not letting them quit.

When his interception and fumble led to that 21-10 halftime deficit Saturday, he did what any great USC quarterback does.

He fought on. And on. And on.

Two second-half touchdown passes on pinpoint strikes. One second-half touchdown on a spinning scramble that turned him upside down. One ensuing trip to the medical tent to have his head examined, for which he had a perfect explanation.

“You go flying, you see some things,” he said.

As the Trojans flew through the second half, the one thing everybody saw was Miller Moss strengthening his grip as this team’s leader with a force that squeezed the life out of Wisconsin in the Trojans’ 38-21 victory.

“One thing we said in that room and always have — show me a tough team and I’ll show you a tough quarterback,” said coach Lincoln Riley.

USC coach Lincoln Riley talks with his offensive linemen during the Trojans' win over Wisconsin at the Coliseum Saturday

Lincoln Riley talks with his OLs during the Trojans’ win over WIS at the Coliseum. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

A week after getting pushed around late in a heartbreaking loss at Michigan, the Trojans looked like a tough team because Moss looked like a tough quarterback.

He’s no Caleb Williams, but nobody around here is talking about Caleb Williams. He’s no Heisman favorite, but nobody around here is talking about individual awards.

This new Trojan era needs smashmouth victories. The new Trojan culture requires comeback credibility. These new Trojans need a quarterback who can take advantage of a reborn defense and manage their embattled coach’s game plan well enough to give them a chance in the 12-team playoff.

And, believe it, this 3-1 team is good enough to qualify for the playoffs. The Trojans should probably be able to get there with two losses. Penn State in two weeks seems to be the only powerhouse standing in their way, and Moss is a perfect fit for this journey.

Humble, teachable, likeable, connected with Riley and, of course, as daringly bonkers as his seven-yard touchdown run on fourth and one that clinched the win with 8:22 remaining.

In it, chugging on instinct and not playbook, Moss juked one defender and spun through another one before landing in the end zone on his head.

After which, nobody was more dizzy than his teammates.

USC quarterback Miller Moss scores on a fourth-and-one play against Wisconsin in the fourth quarter

Miller Moss scores on a tricky fourth-and-one play against WIS in the 4th quarter at the Coliseum Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Said running back Woody Marks: “I knew he had it in him, but not like that — that was crazy.”

Added linebacker Mason Cobb, who finished the game with a 55-yard pick-six: “I’ve never seen that. That little jump in the end zone, that was crazy.”

Moss was asked about the play and just shrugged. He talked about it as if he was walking across a campus quad, not traversing a bridge over doubt.

”I felt like they were crashing pretty hard,” he said, referring to rushing linemen. “I felt the guy crash, thought I could get one, was able to get a little bit more.”

Riley acknowledged that Moss didn’t exactly follow the script, but noted it was a smart deviation.

“It was not 100% designed that way,” Riley said. “Miller saw it and was aggressive and made a great play.”

It essentially completed an afternoon in which Moss completed 30 of 45 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. For the season he’s completed 65% of his passes for eight touchdowns and two interceptions despite being constantly harassed because of the struggles of an evolving offensive line.

While he was only sacked once Saturday, and while his protection was noticeably improved, his final touchdown pass came in the face of an overbearing blitz that couldn’t stop him from finding Duce Robinson for an eight-yard score.

Said Ja’Kobi Lane (8), who caught 105 yards worth of passes for two touchdowns: “He’s a dawg. And he played like it.”

It is this admiration from teammates that has elevated Moss from an anonymous benchwarmer to the most important person on this team. There are many reasons the Trojans were thankful that he was cleared in that medical tent after crashing into the end zone. This team that once couldn’t use him now can’t win without him.

USC quarterback Miller Moss gets his pass off before Wisconsin defensive lineman Curt Neal reaches him Saturday

Miller Moss gets his pass off before WIS DL Curt Neal hits him Saturday at the Coliseum. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

“You see him get smacked, get up back and throw touchdowns,” said Cobb. “Man, we’re a team that’s going to keep swinging. That’s our identity, for real.”

That’s both their identity and Miller Moss’ identity, the career minor leaguer now taking the biggest of hacks.

Somewhat lost in the offensive outburst was the fact that the defense pitched a shutout in the second half, showing again that this D’Anton Lynn thing is really working out. That, and this Miller Moss intensity is contagious.

On Wisconsin? Non Wisconsin.

“They really embody what we want to be about,” said Moss of the Trojans’ defense.

He’ll never say that about himself. He should have said that about himself.

latimes.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.

 

 

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parcelman007
Noble Genius
parcelman007
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September 30, 2024 10:38 am

I had previously said that SC’s receivers weren’t getting open and Miller Moss had to thread the needle on every pass. But Mark Kulkin made a statement that makes sense. He said that the O-Line is giving Moss so little time that he is having to throw it before the receivers finish their routes.They have to fix that O-Line.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
Online
September 30, 2024 10:24 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I hope our O-Line gets better by then….

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 30, 2024 10:40 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Hey LA, I know you have to get up early on a Saturday, but could you get to the game on time and fired up? The team will need it. It’s going to feel early for the Trojans and late afternoon for Lions. Advantage Penn St.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 30, 2024 12:16 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It’s a small advantage for Penn St. I have been to several 12:30 games at the Coliseum and the crowd comes late and is half asleep for the 1st half. Travel across time zones is a factor. Travel east to west is better than west to east. USC should win cause their advantages are greater, coaching, home field, quarterback but they can’t afford a slow start. The only excuse for losing is that USC is not as good in one or more critical factors.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 30, 2024 1:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

For sure but the crowd can help.

Trojanfanatic
Noble Genius
Trojanfanatic
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September 30, 2024 1:45 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

It’s true about the Wisconsin game. I looked around the Coliseum at the end of the first quarter and the stadium looked half full. By halftime it was better, but still many missing butts in seats. The whole row in front of me was empty and I’m on the 40yl. We gotta do better.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 30, 2024 1:50 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Cal 2004 was only big early game that crowd was night like
surprised that game and PennSt wasn’t evening game

Rock2112
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Rock2112
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September 29, 2024 8:49 pm

Just took a look at the Bruins’ schedule, and I gotta say, based upon what we know so far, there is a very good chance our Trojans will be meeting a 1-9 Bruins squad in the Rose Bowl later this year. It is only due to the late comeback at Hawaii that they will not be ofer-10. I think their last game against Fresno State is their best chance to get another win, but by then they may have so many opt-outs and transfers, I am not sure they’ll even be able to field a team!!! (Can you feel my… Read more »

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 9:54 pm
Reply to  Rock2112

If gutties stay somewhat healthy they could beat Iowa. Herks, especially their old washed up coach, hate to travel and really hate late west coast games. Gutties have a chance if that happens. Hopefully, next season, SC get the Herks early in September (hot) and a 8 pm kick. They will wilt like they did in 2003 Orange Bowl.

Rock2112
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Rock2112
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September 30, 2024 12:43 pm
Reply to  USC1988

To that end, they’d be well served to rest all their starters against Penn State! Not going to get a win and otherwise might need a few stretchers, unfortunately.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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September 30, 2024 5:48 am
Reply to  Rock2112

Couldn’t happen to better team and I am so glad that there is a chance of the bruins ending the season at 1-10!

PN4SC
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PN4SC
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September 29, 2024 5:48 pm

I get a kick out of Plaschke giving these glowing assessments of Miller Moss, who just a month ago he was declaring him a ” game manager”. He also said at the time that Ethan
Garbers was a Heisman candidate.
Now he is calling USC a playoff contender. I guess he hasn’t watched the play of our sub par O Line. Every time he writes a column, he exposes his ignorance. No wonder he writes for the failing L.A Times

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 29, 2024 6:04 pm
Reply to  PN4SC

Plaschke is typical trash media, kick em when they are down and jump on the band wagon when up. No true judge of talent. With Penn St and ND at home and the rest very winnable, playoffs are a real possibility. Speaking of O Line, why not use the O Line combo they used in the 2nd half at Ann Arbor. Worked a whole lot better than the first half and yesterday. It would be nice if Moss didn’t have to KEEP proving how tough he is. One more head blow and he’s out for a few weeks.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 6:48 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

MM caught a knee to his head on TD run bad luck really … not saying Oline is great but MM flops a lot, needs to keep his feet more, we have seen there will be no
‘roughing or targeting’ calls for SC.
Two Big10 games, two obvious heads shots, no flags or even a review.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 6:50 pm
Reply to  PN4SC

Like Purdy at SanFran … these scribes think they have a chance at the semi hot qb 😘moms

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 30, 2024 7:56 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I had Darnold/Addison on one channel and Caleb on the other. All winners yesterday. NFL Trojans! Fight On! Of course just as GB is mounting a come back with less than 2 minutes they cut to the loser Charger game! The Chargers left SD, I give a rats behind about them!

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 5:23 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Amazing … imagine if he ever had ‘his recruits’ for 2-4 years

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 29, 2024 7:55 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Trojans beat both Wiscon teams this weekend, the pro team and the college team. Love it, especially since I’m a Vikes fan.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 30, 2024 12:03 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Kinda makes me wonder how Sanchez’s career might’ve gone had he a better coach and players around him. Jets have been a mess for forever it seems, always thinking they were “just a QB away” when in reality they were terrible at nearlybevery position.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 30, 2024 5:55 pm

Sanchez was short changed in 2008 by a doped out, lazy, unprepared, Suckisian. That was Pete’s most talented team and Sanchez wins the Heisman and a national title if Pete has a competent OC rather than the unserious Suck.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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October 1, 2024 9:45 am
Reply to  USC1988

Certainly a possibility. Sark was consumed by his personal demons back then.

illinoisusc
Noble Genius
illinoisusc
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September 29, 2024 11:19 am

Five of the top eleven are BIG……..getting somewhere. Penn St could move us up to top 5.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 29, 2024 5:08 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Week 5 Playoffs scenario with USC again as first out
First round bye: 1 Alabama(1)  2 Ohio St(2)  3 Miami(8)  4 Iowa St(16)
First round games:  
5 Texas(2)    v    12 Boise St(21)
6 Tennessee(4) v 11 Michigan(10)
7 Georgia(5)  v 10 Missouri(9)
8 Oregon(6)  v 9 Penn St(7)

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 11:30 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Like our chances at home vs PennSt. Their O is decent with quick back, good TE, and capable qb. Not sure their D is all that. Bowling Green only good O they faced went crazy on them.
Take care of business at Minny then get ready for a big one.

Hopefully it’s not CBS with ass hat condescending Danielson and Nessler. Those guys are boring as hell.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 29, 2024 11:39 am
Reply to  USC1988

Danielson and Nessler’s most common phrase, “could’ve called … on that play, could’ve called … on that play, could’ve called … on that play”!

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 11:45 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Yes … they suck too much crawling up Saban’s tail during their awful SEC broadcasts. More Linquist than Nessler. Danielson is just awful. The two together are boring as hell.

2manyyears
Genius Member
2manyyears
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September 29, 2024 4:52 pm
Reply to  USC1988

Excellent point 1988 but I can handle their mundane comments much better than that screaming idiot Gus Johnson.

Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
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September 29, 2024 12:04 pm
Reply to  USC1988

If this “continued” pattern of showing up
only in the 2nd half continues, you better rethink that opinion 1988.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 1:11 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Ehhh … slow start vs Whisky was expected though not that slow. Michigan was more early field position and being at Michigan with a 1st year qb. Team can now catch its breath … they have a better feel for Big 10 style. They burn clock and play the field position game. The qbs are not dangerous slingers like the old Pac. On D they rush 4 big boys and play a real deep zone. Holding is rarely called and if you play SC, opponents can launch and head hunt with no worry of a flag or even review. We… Read more »

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 29, 2024 1:24 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Tough road game loss hangover … Whisky week off to prep. Or
early LA start, no Santa Ana winds, team listed to Danielson/Nessler pregame and fell asleep. Or combo of all.

Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
Online
September 29, 2024 8:53 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Took the words right out of my
mouth Allen.

Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
Online
September 29, 2024 12:01 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I haven’t a clue why it takes a half of football for the team to get their heads in a game. But there’s a pattern here! This coaches & players speak about playing to “the standard” we’re hearing all the time? What is that? This was the 3rd game this season, and playing like they did in the 1st half? The boos at the half was well deserved only because the fans expected better and wasn’t going to let the team get away with such a poor showing. The final score should have been something like 56 to 20 if… Read more »