In an unexpected twist, USC’s defense is no longer the problem
Through five up-and-down games in 2024, USC’s defense has widely outperformed its offense in a massive role reversal for a Lincoln Riley-led program
USC HC Lincoln Riley watches against MICH in the first half in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — If they were to walk into the land of the Great Lakes and beat Minnesota on Saturday night, PJ Fleck made clear, USC would have to do so on the ground.
Such was life in the Big Ten, and it became apparent shortly into the first half that these Golden Gophers would concede no inch over the top to USC and Lincoln Riley. They threw depth in the secondary, and brought pressure to quarterback Miller Moss in the rare chances a deep shot did materialize, and relegated a dynamic USC offense to a variety of dinks and dunks and a longest pass play of 18 yards.
This, still, was fine. This was the type of ballgame, really, why USC had made wholesale changes to its defensive staff. This was the type of ballgame, really, why USC’s starting offensive linemen had put on collective 40 pounds in the offseason. This was the type of ballgame, really, why USC had gone out and grabbed veteran back Woody Marks in the portal. And behind a stout defense and the holes opened up by that line for Marks, they were running Minnesota into the ground by the fourth quarter.
Then they stopped.
“You could just tell, they were running the ball,” Fleck said postgame, “but they still wanted to throw the ball.”
With 10 minutes to play, Marks sat at 20 carries for 134 yards, and USC faced a third-and-four at the Minnesota 35 up 17-10. A field goal would’ve tucked the game away. But Moss dropped back to pass, got hit off the edge, and the ball was intercepted.
On USC’s next drive, facing another third-and-four in USC territory, Moss dropped back to pass. Again. And an attempted deep slant to a well-covered Ja’Kobi Lane sailed long.
Marks didn’t touch the ball again for the rest of the game, and USC lost to Minnesota 24-17, and fell from No. 11 in the AP Poll to completely unranked on Sunday.
“Stuff was there offensively,” Moss said postgame. “I felt like we moved the ball up and down the field. Just, obviously, didn’t put the points up to reflect that.”
Amid a slew of at-times head-scratching game-management, a few slow starts, and an offensive line that’s struggled mightily in pass-protection, USC is facing a truly remarkable reality: for the first time in Riley’s tenure as a head coach, his defensive unit has been markedly better than his offense.
Through five games and two frustrating losses that have marred a once-optimistic campaign, USC’s defense ranks 28th in the nation in points-per-game allowed and 35th in yards-per-game, coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s unit showing a consistent ability to make late-down plays and second-half adjustments.
USC’s offense, by contrast, ranks 58th in points-per-game and 36th in yardage. Even further: USC’s defense is surrendering just 9.6 points a game, on average, when USC’s offense or special-teams unit isn’t immediately coming off a three-and-out or a turnover.
It’s both a compliment and a challenge of Riley, his commitment to defense paying massive dividends but his game-calling at times putting USC in costly positions. Poor clock management cost USC scoring chances at the end of first halves in eventual wins over LSU and Wisconsin.
A sudden late-game pivot away from running the ball has hurt in eventual losses to both Michigan and Minnesota. And a lengthy list of personnel questions now faces Riley’s offense, heading into a make-or-break home matchup against fourth-ranked Penn State.
For one: can Moss and Riley find a way to generate more explosive pass-plays? The redshirt-junior quarterback has affirmed he wants to be “an extension” of Riley on the field, offering both a certain floor and ceiling to USC’s offense. Moss is an expert at taking what defenses afford him, but hasn’t found the time or the structure behind struggling pass protection to create downfield looks and hasn’t shown the nothing-into-something magic of Caleb Williams, finishing just 1-of-8 for 17 yards and an interception when under pressure Saturday.
For two: can Riley get more out of Zachariah Branch? The sophomore burner has put up decent numbers so far, particularly finding some traction as a receiver with 8 catches for 98 yards against Michigan, but has looked lost at times the past couple weeks. After a muffed punt against Wisconsin, Branch dropped a key third-down pass on USC’s first drive and finished with just three catches for 10 yards against Minnesota.
For three: in the question that’s persisted for weeks, can anything at all be done about USC’s pass protection? Riley defended the offensive-line group as playing a “really good game up front” against Minnesota, and USC surrendered just five pressures in an encouraging sign, particularly as right guard Alani Noa played his best game of the season. But USC’s tackles Elijah Paige and Mason Murphy still got beat at costly times, and will face a tall task against Penn State.
There’s no easy answer, to any. And USC’s offense, for the moment, is treading water.
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USC/PSU Predictions (247Sports) Chris Hummer (Penn State -4.5) — Welcome to the Big Ten, USC. The Trojans are coming off a road loss to Minnesota and now get a bounce back opportunity against a 5-0 Penn State squad. This is the best team the Trojans have seen this season, and it’s a difficult matchup for a Trojan defense that’s shown improvement but still ranks 98th nationally in success rate, per College Football Insiders. The Nittany Lions are a dynamic rushing attack and a suffocating defensive unit. It could be a long day for USC, especially if it turns the ball over. … Penn State 27,… Read more »
This has the feel of a major beat down on the Trojans by PS. The Nitnany Lions out rank USC in most all Offense and Defense categories except passing %. PS left for LA today so travel won’t be a factor for them, east to west has little effect anyway. PS has the best defense and offense the Trojans will have faced so far.
Of course, the players may rise up with fire and keep it close. If so, we can count on Riley to blow the game in the 4th.
Sooner or later, Lincoln Riley’s not gonna be outcoached. Why shouldn’t Riley turn the corner this weekend?
USC fans have never had any respect for James Franklin, so why should we assume he’ll show up and coach a good game against USC on Saturday?
Who has the most pressure this weekend to win this game, Franklin or Riley? The loser of this game will face an intense backlash, something LR has gotten used to.
If it Looks Like A Duck…. Riley can’t manage a close game in the 4th and the noose is just begun to tighten on him. He has been exposed as a good OC/QB coach but not qualified to be a HC, or at least a HC that calls the plays.
Riley needs to open up his playbook and throw the “kitchen sink” at the Penn St. defense right from the start and damn the torpedoes. Even if we don’t score right away, give Franklin and his staff something to think about knowing he has to cover the whole field and can’t just concentrate his defense going after Moss in the pocket. Give Miller some QB keepers to mess with their minds and if the O-line can open holes for marks that gain 5+ yards a run, keep doing it until they are able to stop it. If we start off… Read more »
I hope you’re right. I just don’t see why PSU or any team from here on in to just decide to play deep in the defensive secondary(not allowing anything over the top) and just running right at SC, controlling the clock and keeping SC’s offense on the sidelines and pressuring Moss big time because they know his O-Line can’t protect him. But I hope you’re right.
But look at what Lincoln Riley did. He had both MICH and MINN in the palm of his hand. USC was in charge of both games late and LR called plays that were contrary to a better game plan and USC lost its momentum, advantage, and eventually both games. Sure, MINN and MICH showed everyone how to beat USC. Remain patient and wait for USC to cave in the 4th Q because we can’t run the ball when it matters (or choose not to) and we can’t defend against the run. USC needs to capitalize on any and all PSU… Read more »
I won’t reply because I don’t know much about PSU but I hope you are right.Being on the hot seat might be a good thing for LR. It might bring out some of his good qualities. Competition always brings out the best in people…..”compete” says Pete Carroll
Stewart Mandel’s Mailbag (The Athletic) Q — Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley both left big jobs for bigger ones (supposedly bigger). Who do you think lasts the longest and/or finds the most success? Mandel — The jury is still out on Kelly. I don’t like LSU’s chances of reaching the Playoff, or even coming close, this season, as its 96th-ranked defense still has to face Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M and, yes, Vanderbilt, all of whom are capable of putting up a bunch of points. And that will lead to much angst on the Bayou. But this was always viewed as a… Read more »
Keep track of Lynn … do not let him go anywhere no matter what is happening this and next year. Perfect replacement. No more big shot fraud OCs. Unless buy a massive amount of talent like Texas.
LR turned out to be a more likable Goatboy Kiffy and Suck.
Actually Lynn is one of my biggest worries right now. His stock is high, at least for now. Was listening last week to the sports talk station that broadcasts UCLA football and during a listener call in period, I was blown away on how many callers felt Lynn was the next HC and pay him handsomely ( paraphrasing). Like 10 calls, 8 mentioned Lynn. Ugh
A fair response from Mandel. I, for one lost my cool after the Minnesota game, seeing somewhat the same script as almost every game this season, discussed here almost hourly. Less than a couple of months ago, I was also singing the praises of Riley and his defensive hires, finally squaring his shoulders to the Grinch debacle and the negative national attention we got for 2 years. Yes, may have done some irreparable recruiting damage. That’s history. We mostly all concur we aren’t giving up, AW giving us a positive prediction of a Penn St upset. I’ll take it. I’ll… Read more »
Lincoln Riley has proven to be not much of a quick study since his move to USC from OU. He’s late to the game with his necessary changes and stubbornly holds onto subpar facets of his game that continue to hold USC back. Getting upset with reporters after losses doesn’t help when you have Trojan media honks like Colin Cowherd telling LR to “grow up.” And now Mandel’s on Riley’s case too. It’s a clear trend. It’s obvious that LR’s “fit” at USC isn’t what many Trojan fans had hoped for. L.A. just isn’t as accommodating to his deficiencies as… Read more »
LR is too easy on the refs. He said that they admitted to him that they had no extra evidence to overturn the call on the field. But the rule says you must have that clear extra evidence to overturn the call on the field. They are admitting that they broke the rules. Also, he said that the officials admitted to him that the ball came loose and SC recovered but they didn’t know when it came loose. If they didn’t know when it came loose, then how do they know that it crossed the goal line? That overturned call… Read more »
He was in their faces the whole game … what can you do now about that shit call.
Get used to it the old B1G is going to bend over the newbies. Revenge for brutalizing them in all those Rose Bowls. They aren’t smart enough to have SC be Ohio St like, two big time powers in the league.
Eric Gentry could possibly redshirt Erik McKinney (WeAreSC.com) — Riley — “I think it’s always a possibility, right? You look across the country right now. I mean, you never know. No final decision’s been made. We’re going to keep evaluating how he’s feeling and how he’s progressing. He’s back with us, doing everything right now but the full practice. But he’s already able to ramp up some of the physical activity. So, ongoing, but this day and age I don’t know that you can say for sure one way or another.” Riley said calling Gentry out “indefinitely” is probably the… Read more »
This much is true. Lincoln Riley must have been a phenomenal baby. He wanted to pass before he can run. He has a dog (o-line coach) to blame everything on. When he gets tired he forgets fundamentals. Just a baby in coaching shoes.
Disappointing Lincoln Riley compared to Clay Helton after USC drops tight game at Minnesota Derek Peterson (Saturday Down South) — Lincoln Riley built some goodwill with USC’s 3-1 start to the season. He watched it evaporate into the Minneapolis night on Saturday when Max Brosmer punched in a quarterback keeper on fourth-and-inches to hand the Trojans a 24-17 loss. The Trojans were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter. After consecutive weeks with suffocating second-half performances, USC was flat in the final frame. Riley was torched on social media and, perhaps worse, some have begun comparing the start of his USC tenure… Read more »
The fact of the matter of starting a new direction for this football program as the new HC here, LR has not succeeded as he claimed he would. This season is his 3rd one and he has yet to develop a complete team. When his offense worked, his defense failed. And as his defense is starting to work, his offense is failing. He is responsible personally for both situations. He kept a DC who couldn’t prepare and position a defense that worked. And his playcalling his prevented the two losses and has a O-line coach that isn’t developing players. And… Read more »
More big changes continue coming for college sports.
Judge Wilkins approves NCAA-House agreement, final details to be revealed in April. Back NIL pay, $2.8 billion for players back to 2017 (sorry Reggie!), former players in line for settlement will have a chance to review/object, new revenue sharing between schools and players starting July 1, full roster scholarships.
Look for the Project Rudy coming to college football. A 70 team super conference, eliminate all Group of 5 and FCS games, expanded playoffs, consolidate media rights under one agreement.
Poor Reggie! Maybe he can come up with some licensing money somehow for “The Bush Push”. He probably thinks that’s his property. What do you think Reggie? Put your thinking cap on and monetize the thing!
Watching from a TV screen, I’ve never heard a sound on the tube quite like the strangely-pitched screaming in agony Notre Dame fans as they watched Dwayne Jarrett sprint down the sideline towards the USC EZ after hauling in Leinart’s audible perfect throw. It’s always worth watching again, and again.
Those years were special for my kids too. Pete Carrol always had a summer youth football camp that went on daily for an entire week. The kids ( few hundred ) would actually work with several of the assistant coaches by position for a couple of hours, then feed them, then Coach Pete would give them a daily pep talk. I mean we’re talking about Elementary, Jr high and high school kids. One day they got to practice at the Coliseum and visit the locker room. Summer of 2003 camp is stuck in my mind. Although some assistants didn’t participate,… Read more »
Pete Carroll unexpectedly arrived like a hurricane moving through the entire Trojan football program, top to bottom.
He covered every base with a smile on his face, unlimited time for the fans, and great game plans in his head. Plus, the guy was a fantastic motivator who could also recruit like nobody’s business. Ed O always gave a lot of credit to Pete when describing their recruiting approaches and tactics. They were basically relentless.
We were blessed to have Pete. I wish things had ended better for him in Seattle. What a career!
Being there was surreal …. ND fans were wound up 4x more than usual trying to stop SC’s big win streak. I have never been to a game when the crowd stood up every play … every play, you never sat. When Zibby returned the punt for a TD, it truly felt like a freight train ran through your head. And Reggie, oh Reggie playing like his hair was on fire. ND couldn’t stop him but stupid Kiffy wanted to throw fades into a 25 mph wind most the game. Then the final drive. The 3rd down sack in which… Read more »
Frankly LR has put himself in a no win corner due to his continual playcalling issues and naivety on the condition of the O-line play. If he wins Saturday, why did he get outcoached last week’s game. If he loses Saturday why isn’t the team making progress during the season? No matter how the Penn St. game ends up, his reputation has suffered to where the fanbase now has doubts in his ability to develop the program in a timely manner, if at all?
SC has talent but not the kind of talent you need to win NC’s. USC has 8 five stars and 41 four stars on it’s roster. Georgia has 19 five stars and 46 four stars on its roster.Enough said?
It’s simple. When we fail to reel in a desperately needed 4 or 5-star lineman, we attempt to mute the criticism with a quick commit of a 4-star WR or RB, instead of just getting done what needs to be done – consistently. Then we quietly slip a 3-star lineman in where a bold move was needed.
I love college football….say all you want about USC having issues…… Penn St has wrinkled the bed and decided to fly to LA on Thursday. They will be just relaxing on Friday. The reasoning is that the airport at Penn St is too small to accommodate a large jet so they have to travel to Harrisburg to catch a plane. LOL….never came up before! Somehow I think this would have never come up if these dudes did not have a great chance at being undefeated. All they have to do is beat Ohio State on Nov 2 at home. Bet… Read more »
So far Lincoln Riley has been outcoached this season by both Sherrone Moore and P.J. Fleck, both considered average CFB coaches from where they stand now.
Hopefully he’s not going to go down in flames to James Franklin as well.
USC’s OL is so bad it simply can’t protect our QB and LR has no confidence in our running attack when it matters. He prefers throwing the ball and refuses to commit to the run to control the clock and get first downs with the game on the line. LR is over-rated as a play-caller, but it’s his favorite thing to do and obviously he doesn’t like advice. He also has questionable game and clock management skills which have been well-publicized and acknowledged. You have seen the results. Sooner or later, LR has to do something drastic to change the… Read more »
The more I see of LR…..the more I think my initial feeling was correct. Oregon got a dude that needed to learn a bit but was fundamentally a good coach, we got the flavor of the month that does not have a clue.
I was hoping he would show progression this year…..he has….in the wrong direction.
Dan Lanning is 27-5 (17-3 in conference) at ORE and undefeated this year. Lincoln Riley is 22-10 (14-7 in conference) at USC and has already lost twice. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see who is doing much better and is the superior coach now. #2 OHIO ST is only favored by 3.5 at ORE. Imagine how much the Buckeyes would be favored to beat USC in the Coliseum. I’d take Lanning any day of the week over Riley and his laughable pressers. That’s why Riley has to beat PSU this Saturday. He’s run out of bad material for… Read more »
So many USC fans think it’s just Knight’s checkbook…..no……it does help but…….Lanning is talented. I was hoping Riley would be a great hire……well…..not happening. Let’s hope he pulls a win this week and we can talk positively.
Who in their right mind would have guessed the reason USC has lost 2 games so far? Not the defense, not the OL, not QB play, but the play call/game management of Lincoln Riley!
Maybe Jen Cohen can line up a great OC job for LR in the NFL and make his life miserable if he doesn’t take it. Rams or Chargers would be nice for his wife and kids. They wouldn’t have to give up the mansion in PV. Can’t believe I’m saying that.
There is subtle rumor that LR is high on the Jones list of candidates as HC should McCarthy be out in Dallas. Kind of a natural fit for “MuleShoe” reaching the pinnacle of Texas Football.
If you work for Jerry, you have to do what he says, which cancels out a lot of strong coaches who don’t tolerate being meddled with 24/7.
But since Jerry likes all the publicity and looks to do all the talking, coaches like LR who don’t honestly mix that well with the media and fans might like Jerry the Lightning Rod leading the way all the time.
The old Big 10 teams whining about their 1 trip out west lol … try crisscrossing every other week across country to these Big 10 dumps. Washington just got back from freaking Rutgers 2 weeks ago and now on the road again to that crap hole Herkville for a 11am start. All this to get F ed over by Big10 refs.
Welcome to the BIG…… LOL…….we have held open our best hotel for you USC fans……and the super 8 has a free breakfast. Even got some of that there avocado you west coast people put on your toast…yuk! Seriously, most of the BIG cities are relatively nice places to live and go to school. As for the travel…….the day I heard about the deal I screamed….not without CAL, Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Oregon. Frankly, the travel will hurt us over the long term. Personally, Oregon is visiting Purdue in a week or two and I bet tickets will be easy to… Read more »
By coming on Thursday they will have negated the 3 time zones. I read where it takes 1 day per zone west to east and 2/3 day east to west. The west coast teams should consider travelling 1 day per zone, Thursday for CT, Wednesday for ET.
Frankly, if it has not been considered, it needs to be……but there we go again……thinking. It will cost some cash but we play maybe 3 at a distance games per year…..it will not break the bank.
For one of the main revenue sports…..might consider basketball also.
The others don’t pay the bills.
SC still needs higher quality and experienced players on the O-Line and D-Line.They may also need a new O-Line coach. They say “well, we’re only 2 plays away from being 5-0”. Even if they were 5-0, I would say that this is not a play-off team.
College Football Playoff stock watch: Texas A&M rising, USC falling after chaotic Week 6 Austin Mock (The Athletic) Stock down: USC I want to preface this by saying that I fully expect USC to upset Penn State on Saturday after I put the Trojans in the stock down category. But for the second time this season, USC blew a fourth-quarter lead in game it should have won. First it was Michigan, now it was Minnesota. As high as I was on the Trojans earlier this year — their Playoff odds climbed to as high as 69 percent before the Michigan trip… Read more »
Left tackles (and right OTs too) have never seemed so important as they do today at USC.
Sure, we’ve all known forever that they are a big deal for any team and a QB’s best friend.
But when you see Miller Moss getting rag-dolled or quickly dumping off throws two seconds after the snap so often, it really accentuates the need to have good people at the tackle spots if you are to expect any real success for your favorite team.
Internet blurb — “With USC’s OL, Carson Palmer would struggle.”
A winner like CPC would have the other side visit practice just to scare the heck out of them…….LR hides the weakness and pretends his press conference is going to make it all better.
As much pounding Miller is experiencing, it’s getting to where you wonder when that next hit will take him out of the game? At the press conference after the Minnesota game, you saw a spent Miller Moss. Penn St. will be coming after him as it’s now everyone’s game plan to get Moss on the ground before or immediately after he releases the ball.
Mike Vrabel (AP Coach of the Year in ’21-22) was fired by the Tennessee Titans in early January 2024.
Cleveland hired him as a coaching and personnel consultant last March.
I think the Jets should take a chance on him as their next HC. But I sure wouldn’t want to be the coach of disruptive, ego-driven, over-the-hill Aaron Rodgers.
I see Alabama had their version of Bear Alexander “take the shirt” and will be transferring.
I would love to see a team made up of all the prima donnas that say to their coaches and teammates, “If I ain’t playing, I’m moving on!” SMH…these morons will do really well in life after their careers end /sarc/.
What are the odds USC gets involved here? Alabama defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis (a former top-100 player and the sixth-ranked DT in the 2022 class, from Columbia, MS) has decided to redshirt for the 2024 season and will enter the NCAA transfer portal. The junior said that decreased playing time was the primary factor in his decision. Ian Casselberry (Yahoo Sports) — Oatis, listed at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, appeared in five games for the Crimson Tide this season, accumulating one tackle and one pass deflected. In his three seasons at Alabama, he has 57 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, three tackles for loss… Read more »
Ya, I personally think the odds are zero USC would go after Jehiem Oatis.
I was just wondering if anyone else thought the Trojans would take a shot here because of our problems in the trenches which simply haven’t been addressed sufficiently.
I agree DDS. Once you feed a child candy (money) they will want more and will pout and disrupt if not given what they want.) Recruit the HS kids mostly-mainly and develop them. Few if any program has succeeded going too heavy in the Portal.
Entz will find you those type guys … if LR is invited to find a NFL job and Lynn has already moved on. Keep this guy. Hopefully Lynn has been told to hold tight. Imagine Lynn as HC!
Welcome to Atlanta, Chris! The college football HOF is cool, but a one -time visit will prove to be enough, IMHO. At least I felt that way when I was at a function there a few years ago.
Whatever happened to Roll Tide, Roll? Paul Finebaum Unleashes Scathing Critique of New Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer Analyst goes scorched earth on first-year Crimson Tide HC Michael Gallagher (Athlon Sports) — Alabama was upset by unranked Vanderbilt on Saturday in a game the Commodores never trailed in, and now there are more questions than answers about the Crimson Tide and Kalen DeBoer. Finebaum — “Well, we saw a new head coach in Alabama named Kalen DeBoer, who, after all the praise he got here last week, showed that the Nick Saban era is over, because Nick Saban would have… Read more »
These upper-crust coaches get paid so much money these days, I have a hard time feeling grief for any of them. Winning cures everything. Losing brings brutality from fans and media alike.
There is no question DeBoer is a very good coach, his record proves it. What happened to Alabama may be that perhaps all those good old boys don’t realize that Vandy ain’t that bad this year.
D coordinators are hip to Riley’s schemes, and without a gamebreaker QB, he is merely an avg OC. His refusal to utilize the run or feature a heavy pass to RB plan is killing USC. It is time to try a dual QB game plan, need to do something to catch defenses off balance.
What is USC’s biggest weakness? Pass blocking. LR stops running the ball late in the game when he has a one score lead. What kind of offensive genius does that.
Colin Cowherd’s response to Lincoln Riley’s bad presser after USC’s loss to MINN
“USC is not ready for the Big Ten. They were pushed around by both Michigan and Minnesota. The Golden Gophers played with more intensity, more urgency, more passion, and they were more physical. They ran for 193 yds and USC’s bad tackling from years past has re-emerged.
“They just don’t have enough high-end elite players. No depth on the offensive or defensive lines. Now Lincoln Riley is getting impatient and the walls are closing in.
As far as LR’s objecting to reporter questions — “Grow up.”
These kids are going to have to wake up to the idea that for many of these Midwest programs, USC represents the west coast power that has historically beaten their teams and conference in the glamorous Rose Bowl, and for them, a game against USC is nearly a Rose Bowl game. It’ll take a while for this to wear off, but USC is going to get every B1G team’s best effort. So every Saturday, their opponent is going to be jacked up, their fans will be jacked up, and sleep-walking through first halves will not cut it.
But thanks to the destruction of the Trojan football character by people like Max Nikias, Lynn Swann and Helton, LR came into a program that had lost its soul as a flagship powerhouse and it now will take years and patience to rebuild Trojan football back to where it belongs. Even with all the resources available here to attract the athletes & coaches needed, “as long as you have the right plan & it’s support system to do it”.
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) on questions Lincoln Riley should be asking himself Kartje — After two losses in three weeks — first, to a flawed Michigan team and now to a middling Minnesota squad — there are a lot of fair questions being asked about the Trojans coach, who’s now lost seven of his last 12 at USC. But the biggest concern I have with Lincoln Riley is that it’s not clear he’s asking any of those same questions of himself. Even the untrained eye, to use Riley’s own parlance, could see he was outmaneuvered by Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck on… Read more »
The pattern is set. If USC has a one score lead with less than 10 minutes in the game, LR will abandon the run even if it is working. He will give the opponent time on the clock to win it in the last minute. He did in Ann Arbor and Minneapolis, the Tulane Meltdown might even qualify. He has an OL that can run block well enough, a good mix of Marks and Joiner will be enough. He is not able to manage the game and call the offense at the same time.
In another week, the team will travel to Maryland with a probable 3 & 3 record and this will be the most important game for LR this season. If he goes 3 & 4, the sky will fall on the 100 million dollar man and any momentum the program has garnered will be in danger of disappearing. I wouldn’t want to be in LR’s shoes then.
This loss to MINN was a total disaster … and not just because it happened.
It was also all abouthow it happened. It very closely mirrored USC’s heartbreaking collapse to MICH. How the team reacts on Saturday will tell us all what this group, as well as the entire coaching staff, is really made of.
As far as LR goes — Colin Cowherd says “the walls are closing in.”
That’s always a very ominous description of a person’s position. Sends chills down many a spine.
They still need better players on that D-Line.The players seem to be playing hard but what can you do when your players are undersized and inexperienced? The O-line needs people too. They have 2 offensive linemen who are playing up to par. Bench Zach Branch or , at least, make him compete for his playing time.
AW both you and Fleck have it right. Our run game was literally as good as I’ve seen it, and LR, as in past games, has an impulse control problem, by simply not managing the game and acquiescing to his instincts to throw when we are in the enviable position of controlling the clock, the ball, and eventually the stacked D front they will have to roll into to stop the gashing. The D in my opinion is good enough to win most games. We just gotta get them off the field by limiting change of possession so often. Unlike… Read more »
Kickoff time announced for USC football’s road game against Maryland Chris Trevino (USCFootball.com) — 3-2 USC and the Big Ten announced on Monday that the Oct. 19th road matchup with 3-2 Maryland will kickoff at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET). It will be televised on FS1. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Already have my tickets for this game! Can’t believe Maryland scheduled USC as their homecoming opponent. This should be USC’s first BIG win on the road ✌️
Ya, if USC loses to MARYD, the wheels are officially off. I doubt it will happen, but with our terrible OL protection, I think the word is out about how to beat USC. MICH and MINN showed the way.
Can USC start putting game plans together to reverse this latest slide downhill by the Trojans?
Since I predicted here that USC would somehow beat PSU (-5.5) on Saturday, I have confidence that the season is not lost. We could still get into the POs. Though that’s a very tall order as things stand now, but you have to start somewhere.
I see a last year desperate Washington type effort … better but not enough as bad habits are hard to break. That game ended 50 something to 40 something. Iin stall ball, clock rarely stops, Big 10 … 27-21 or something like that.
Whatever it is LR simply doesn’t have it. Hopefully, a big shot has whispered into Lynn’s ear ‘Don’t go anywhere, hang tight’
I’m not sure if you are suggesting that D’Anton Lynn take over, but if you are, I can think of worse ideas — unless LR completely turns around the Trojans and gets into the POs. He would then deserve the benefit of the doubt, which he obviously hasn’t earned lately with his big-time game mistakes and horrible, laughable pressers.
But the truth is, because of money, and it’s only year three for LR at USC, we’re stuck with him and his massive contract.
So let’s beat PSU. It could easily happen. UCLA proved that in their losing effort last Saturday.
LR, due to huge contract, will be around awhile obviously. But if he did grab the Browns job or something like that … Lynn (or Entz) as HC wouldn’t be a bad thing. Lynn would be sick actually.
It’s both a compliment and a challenge of Riley, his commitment to defense paying massive dividends but his game-calling at times putting USC in costly positions. Poor clock management cost USC scoring chances at the end of first halves in eventual wins over LSU and Wisconsin
USC/PSU Predictions (247Sports) Chris Hummer (Penn State -4.5) — Welcome to the Big Ten, USC. The Trojans are coming off a road loss to Minnesota and now get a bounce back opportunity against a 5-0 Penn State squad. This is the best team the Trojans have seen this season, and it’s a difficult matchup for a Trojan defense that’s shown improvement but still ranks 98th nationally in success rate, per College Football Insiders. The Nittany Lions are a dynamic rushing attack and a suffocating defensive unit. It could be a long day for USC, especially if it turns the ball over. … Penn State 27,… Read more »
This has the feel of a major beat down on the Trojans by PS. The Nitnany Lions out rank USC in most all Offense and Defense categories except passing %. PS left for LA today so travel won’t be a factor for them, east to west has little effect anyway. PS has the best defense and offense the Trojans will have faced so far.
Of course, the players may rise up with fire and keep it close. If so, we can count on Riley to blow the game in the 4th.
Sooner or later, Lincoln Riley’s not gonna be outcoached. Why shouldn’t Riley turn the corner this weekend?
USC fans have never had any respect for James Franklin, so why should we assume he’ll show up and coach a good game against USC on Saturday?
Who has the most pressure this weekend to win this game, Franklin or
Riley? The loser of this game will face an intense backlash, something LR has gotten used to.
If it Looks Like A Duck…. Riley can’t manage a close game in the 4th and the noose is just begun to tighten on him. He has been exposed as a good OC/QB coach but not qualified to be a HC, or at least a HC that calls the plays.
Riley needs to open up his playbook and throw the “kitchen sink” at the Penn St. defense right from the start and damn the torpedoes. Even if we don’t score right away, give Franklin and his staff something to think about knowing he has to cover the whole field and can’t just concentrate his defense going after Moss in the pocket. Give Miller some QB keepers to mess with their minds and if the O-line can open holes for marks that gain 5+ yards a run, keep doing it until they are able to stop it. If we start off… Read more »
I hope you’re right. I just don’t see why PSU or any team from here on in to just decide to play deep in the defensive secondary(not allowing anything over the top) and just running right at SC, controlling the clock and keeping SC’s offense on the sidelines and pressuring Moss big time because they know his O-Line can’t protect him. But I hope you’re right.
But look at what Lincoln Riley did. He had both MICH and MINN in the palm of his hand. USC was in charge of both games late and LR called plays that were contrary to a better game plan and USC lost its momentum, advantage, and eventually both games. Sure, MINN and MICH showed everyone how to beat USC. Remain patient and wait for USC to cave in the 4th Q because we can’t run the ball when it matters (or choose not to) and we can’t defend against the run. USC needs to capitalize on any and all PSU… Read more »
I won’t reply because I don’t know much about PSU but I hope you are right.Being on the hot seat might be a good thing for LR. It might bring out some of his good qualities. Competition always brings out the best in people…..”compete” says Pete Carroll
Hoping they put Monheim where he can most benefit the team, at LT.
See Washington last year … this will be a lower scoring repeat of that must win home game for SC. Guys will try hard but simply don’t have enough.
Stewart Mandel’s Mailbag (The Athletic) Q — Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley both left big jobs for bigger ones (supposedly bigger). Who do you think lasts the longest and/or finds the most success? Mandel — The jury is still out on Kelly. I don’t like LSU’s chances of reaching the Playoff, or even coming close, this season, as its 96th-ranked defense still has to face Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M and, yes, Vanderbilt, all of whom are capable of putting up a bunch of points. And that will lead to much angst on the Bayou. But this was always viewed as a… Read more »
Keep track of Lynn … do not let him go anywhere no matter what is happening this and next year. Perfect replacement. No more big shot fraud OCs. Unless buy a massive amount of talent like Texas.
LR turned out to be a more likable Goatboy Kiffy and Suck.
Actually Lynn is one of my biggest worries right now. His stock is high, at least for now. Was listening last week to the sports talk station that broadcasts UCLA football and during a listener call in period, I was blown away on how many callers felt Lynn was the next HC and pay him handsomely ( paraphrasing). Like 10 calls, 8 mentioned Lynn. Ugh
A fair response from Mandel. I, for one lost my cool after the Minnesota game, seeing somewhat the same script as almost every game this season, discussed here almost hourly. Less than a couple of months ago, I was also singing the praises of Riley and his defensive hires, finally squaring his shoulders to the Grinch debacle and the negative national attention we got for 2 years. Yes, may have done some irreparable recruiting damage. That’s history. We mostly all concur we aren’t giving up, AW giving us a positive prediction of a Penn St upset. I’ll take it. I’ll… Read more »
Lincoln Riley has proven to be not much of a quick study since his move to USC from OU. He’s late to the game with his necessary changes and stubbornly holds onto subpar facets of his game that continue to hold USC back. Getting upset with reporters after losses doesn’t help when you have Trojan media honks like Colin Cowherd telling LR to “grow up.” And now Mandel’s on Riley’s case too. It’s a clear trend. It’s obvious that LR’s “fit” at USC isn’t what many Trojan fans had hoped for. L.A. just isn’t as accommodating to his deficiencies as… Read more »
LR is too easy on the refs. He said that they admitted to him that they had no extra evidence to overturn the call on the field. But the rule says you must have that clear extra evidence to overturn the call on the field. They are admitting that they broke the rules. Also, he said that the officials admitted to him that the ball came loose and SC recovered but they didn’t know when it came loose. If they didn’t know when it came loose, then how do they know that it crossed the goal line? That overturned call… Read more »
He was in their faces the whole game … what can you do now about that shit call.
Get used to it the old B1G is going to bend over the newbies. Revenge for brutalizing them in all those Rose Bowls. They aren’t smart enough to have SC be Ohio St like, two big time powers in the league.
Eric Gentry could possibly redshirt Erik McKinney (WeAreSC.com) — Riley — “I think it’s always a possibility, right? You look across the country right now. I mean, you never know. No final decision’s been made. We’re going to keep evaluating how he’s feeling and how he’s progressing. He’s back with us, doing everything right now but the full practice. But he’s already able to ramp up some of the physical activity. So, ongoing, but this day and age I don’t know that you can say for sure one way or another.” Riley said calling Gentry out “indefinitely” is probably the… Read more »
This much is true. Lincoln Riley must have been a phenomenal baby. He wanted to pass before he can run. He has a dog (o-line coach) to blame everything on. When he gets tired he forgets fundamentals. Just a baby in coaching shoes.
Disappointing Lincoln Riley compared to Clay Helton after USC drops tight game at Minnesota Derek Peterson (Saturday Down South) — Lincoln Riley built some goodwill with USC’s 3-1 start to the season. He watched it evaporate into the Minneapolis night on Saturday when Max Brosmer punched in a quarterback keeper on fourth-and-inches to hand the Trojans a 24-17 loss. The Trojans were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter. After consecutive weeks with suffocating second-half performances, USC was flat in the final frame. Riley was torched on social media and, perhaps worse, some have begun comparing the start of his USC tenure… Read more »
So soon we forget the misery brought upon us by the CAT.
Sadly, Lincoln Riley has been a complete reminder of USC’s unfortunate and overly long streak of bad head coaching at USC.
It would be nice if he didn’t get outcoached yet again this week. Lately, that’s been too much to ask.
A comparison to the Cat is the lowest form of criticism a USC coach can receive. But the truth often hurts.
The fact of the matter of starting a new direction for this football program as the new HC here, LR has not succeeded as he claimed he would. This season is his 3rd one and he has yet to develop a complete team. When his offense worked, his defense failed. And as his defense is starting to work, his offense is failing. He is responsible personally for both situations. He kept a DC who couldn’t prepare and position a defense that worked. And his playcalling his prevented the two losses and has a O-line coach that isn’t developing players. And… Read more »
I could not agree more. And I’ll add poor clock management to the list of shortcomings.
More big changes continue coming for college sports.
Judge Wilkins approves NCAA-House agreement, final details to be revealed in April. Back NIL pay, $2.8 billion for players back to 2017 (sorry Reggie!), former players in line for settlement will have a chance to review/object, new revenue sharing between schools and players starting July 1, full roster scholarships.
Look for the Project Rudy coming to college football. A 70 team super conference, eliminate all Group of 5 and FCS games, expanded playoffs, consolidate media rights under one agreement.
Poor Reggie! Maybe he can come up with some licensing money somehow for “The Bush Push”. He probably thinks that’s his property. What do you think Reggie? Put your thinking cap on and monetize the thing!
He should have copyrighted it! 😂
Who deserves more credit? Reggie for the Bush Push, or Matt Leinart for 4th and 9? That one is easy.
Seems like a long time ago. Hopefully the recipe used during those glory years gets reused.
A truly great moment in USC football history.
Watching from a TV screen, I’ve never heard a sound on the tube quite like the strangely-pitched screaming in agony Notre Dame fans as they watched Dwayne Jarrett sprint down the sideline towards the USC EZ after hauling in Leinart’s audible perfect throw. It’s always worth watching again, and again.
USC football at its finest
Those years were special for my kids too. Pete Carrol always had a summer youth football camp that went on daily for an entire week. The kids ( few hundred ) would actually work with several of the assistant coaches by position for a couple of hours, then feed them, then Coach Pete would give them a daily pep talk. I mean we’re talking about Elementary, Jr high and high school kids. One day they got to practice at the Coliseum and visit the locker room. Summer of 2003 camp is stuck in my mind. Although some assistants didn’t participate,… Read more »
Pete Carroll unexpectedly arrived like a hurricane moving through the entire Trojan football program, top to bottom.
He covered every base with a smile on his face, unlimited time for the fans, and great game plans in his head. Plus, the guy was a fantastic motivator who could also recruit like nobody’s business. Ed O always gave a lot of credit to Pete when describing their recruiting approaches and tactics. They were basically relentless.
We were blessed to have Pete. I wish things had ended better for him in Seattle. What a career!
And again, and again, and again…
You might really enjoy this very entertaining narrative on the historic drive to beat Notre Dame we’ve all watched over and over.
Matt Leinart completely and methodically recounts the game-winning march that led to the final Bush Push.
It still gives him goosebumps just telling the story to Julian Edelman (6:35 long).
“We just knew. We were locked in.”
Being there was surreal …. ND fans were wound up 4x more than usual trying to stop SC’s big win streak. I have never been to a game when the crowd stood up every play … every play, you never sat. When Zibby returned the punt for a TD, it truly felt like a freight train ran through your head. And Reggie, oh Reggie playing like his hair was on fire. ND couldn’t stop him but stupid Kiffy wanted to throw fades into a 25 mph wind most the game. Then the final drive. The 3rd down sack in which… Read more »
Leinart for the 4th and 9. One of the greatest USC plays.
Frankly LR has put himself in a no win corner due to his continual playcalling issues and naivety on the condition of the O-line play. If he wins Saturday, why did he get outcoached last week’s game. If he loses Saturday why isn’t the team making progress during the season? No matter how the Penn St. game ends up, his reputation has suffered to where the fanbase now has doubts in his ability to develop the program in a timely manner, if at all?
SC has talent but not the kind of talent you need to win NC’s. USC has 8 five stars and 41 four stars on it’s roster. Georgia has 19 five stars and 46 four stars on its roster.Enough said?
It’s simple. When we fail to reel in a desperately needed 4 or 5-star lineman, we attempt to mute the criticism with a quick commit of a 4-star WR or RB, instead of just getting done what needs to be done – consistently. Then we quietly slip a 3-star lineman in where a bold move was needed.
Bingo, Rock!
You are reading Riley’s mind!
What did Michigan have for 4 and 5 stars?
Last year.
Last year Michigan had 4 five stars and 43 four stars. Still well short of Georgia. Shows how great Harbaugh was at developing talent.
He kept his talent also.
My mistake….make that 31 four stars
I love college football….say all you want about USC having issues…… Penn St has wrinkled the bed and decided to fly to LA on Thursday. They will be just relaxing on Friday. The reasoning is that the airport at Penn St is too small to accommodate a large jet so they have to travel to Harrisburg to catch a plane. LOL….never came up before! Somehow I think this would have never come up if these dudes did not have a great chance at being undefeated. All they have to do is beat Ohio State on Nov 2 at home. Bet… Read more »
So far Lincoln Riley has been outcoached this season by both Sherrone Moore and P.J. Fleck, both considered average CFB coaches from where they stand now.
Hopefully he’s not going to go down in flames to James Franklin as well.
Why was Minnesota running better plays than USC?
The Michigan game really cleared things for me. With Bear and Gentry we could not stop a team that could not throw a forward pass……think about that.
USC’s OL is so bad it simply can’t protect our QB and LR has no confidence in our running attack when it matters. He prefers throwing the ball and refuses to commit to the run to control the clock and get first downs with the game on the line. LR is over-rated as a play-caller, but it’s his favorite thing to do and obviously he doesn’t like advice. He also has questionable game and clock management skills which have been well-publicized and acknowledged. You have seen the results. Sooner or later, LR has to do something drastic to change the… Read more »
Yea, like resign……never happen. Another contract put together by the idiots running Heritage.
The more I see of LR…..the more I think my initial feeling was correct. Oregon got a dude that needed to learn a bit but was fundamentally a good coach, we got the flavor of the month that does not have a clue.
I was hoping he would show progression this year…..he has….in the wrong direction.
Dan Lanning is 27-5 (17-3 in conference) at ORE and undefeated this year. Lincoln Riley is 22-10 (14-7 in conference) at USC and has already lost twice. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see who is doing much better and is the superior coach now. #2 OHIO ST is only favored by 3.5 at ORE. Imagine how much the Buckeyes would be favored to beat USC in the Coliseum. I’d take Lanning any day of the week over Riley and his laughable pressers. That’s why Riley has to beat PSU this Saturday. He’s run out of bad material for… Read more »
So many USC fans think it’s just Knight’s checkbook…..no……it does help but…….Lanning is talented. I was hoping Riley would be a great hire……well…..not happening. Let’s hope he pulls a win this week and we can talk positively.
OHIO ST at ORE game — 4:30 PT/NBC/Peacock
PSU at USC — 12:30 PT/CBS/Paramount+
Should be a great afternoon.
Who in their right mind would have guessed the reason USC has lost 2 games so far? Not the defense, not the OL, not QB play, but the play call/game management of Lincoln Riley!
D’Anton Lynn’s a superstar.
I’ve already said here several times that Lynn deserves to be poached by another program as their HC, not just a coordinator.
God help us if Lynn takes off after this season.
Maybe Jen Cohen can line up a great OC job for LR in the NFL and make his life miserable if he doesn’t take it. Rams or Chargers would be nice for his wife and kids. They wouldn’t have to give up the mansion in PV. Can’t believe I’m saying that.
There is subtle rumor that LR is high on the Jones list of candidates as HC should McCarthy be out in Dallas. Kind of a natural fit for “MuleShoe” reaching the pinnacle of Texas Football.
LR can’t manage the game and call plays. He either needs to give that up as an HC or be the OC where ever he coaches.
If you work for Jerry, you have to do what he says, which cancels out a lot of strong coaches who don’t tolerate being meddled with 24/7.
But since Jerry likes all the publicity and looks to do all the talking, coaches like LR who don’t honestly mix that well with the media and fans might like Jerry the Lightning Rod leading the way all the time.
If we had an O line that could protect the QB, would this conversation even exist or would Riley still be an offensive genius?✌️😁
The old Big 10 teams whining about their 1 trip out west lol … try crisscrossing every other week across country to these Big 10 dumps. Washington just got back from freaking Rutgers 2 weeks ago and now on the road again to that crap hole Herkville for a 11am start. All this to get F ed over by Big10 refs.
Welcome to the BIG…… LOL…….we have held open our best hotel for you USC fans……and the super 8 has a free breakfast. Even got some of that there avocado you west coast people put on your toast…yuk! Seriously, most of the BIG cities are relatively nice places to live and go to school. As for the travel…….the day I heard about the deal I screamed….not without CAL, Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Oregon. Frankly, the travel will hurt us over the long term. Personally, Oregon is visiting Purdue in a week or two and I bet tickets will be easy to… Read more »
By coming on Thursday they will have negated the 3 time zones. I read where it takes 1 day per zone west to east and 2/3 day east to west. The west coast teams should consider travelling 1 day per zone, Thursday for CT, Wednesday for ET.
Frankly, if it has not been considered, it needs to be……but there we go again……thinking. It will cost some cash but we play maybe 3 at a distance games per year…..it will not break the bank.
For one of the main revenue sports…..might consider basketball also.
The others don’t pay the bills.
SC still needs higher quality and experienced players on the O-Line and D-Line.They may also need a new O-Line coach. They say “well, we’re only 2 plays away from being 5-0”. Even if they were 5-0, I would say that this is not a play-off team.
College Football Playoff stock watch: Texas A&M rising, USC falling after chaotic Week 6 Austin Mock (The Athletic) Stock down: USC I want to preface this by saying that I fully expect USC to upset Penn State on Saturday after I put the Trojans in the stock down category. But for the second time this season, USC blew a fourth-quarter lead in game it should have won. First it was Michigan, now it was Minnesota. As high as I was on the Trojans earlier this year — their Playoff odds climbed to as high as 69 percent before the Michigan trip… Read more »
They definitely need help on both sides of the LOS
Left tackles (and right OTs too) have never seemed so important as they do today at USC.
Sure, we’ve all known forever that they are a big deal for any team and a QB’s best friend.
But when you see Miller Moss getting rag-dolled or quickly dumping off throws two seconds after the snap so often, it really accentuates the need to have good people at the tackle spots if you are to expect any real success for your favorite team.
Internet blurb — “With USC’s OL, Carson Palmer would struggle.”
SC only had 4 pass completions of over 10 yards. Moss is not getting the time needed to go deeper.
Sometimes Moss doesn’t even have time to toss a 4-yd shovel pass.
You’d think USC’s coaches would have picked up on this during their behind-closed-doors practices, but no such luck.
A winner like CPC would have the other side visit practice just to scare the heck out of them…….LR hides the weakness and pretends his press conference is going to make it all better.
As much pounding Miller is experiencing, it’s getting to where you wonder when that next hit will take him out of the game? At the press conference after the Minnesota game, you saw a spent Miller Moss. Penn St. will be coming after him as it’s now everyone’s game plan to get Moss on the ground before or immediately after he releases the ball.
Mike Vrabel (AP Coach of the Year in ’21-22) was fired by the Tennessee Titans in early January 2024.
Cleveland hired him as a coaching and personnel consultant last March.
I think the Jets should take a chance on him as their next HC. But I sure wouldn’t want to be the coach of disruptive, ego-driven, over-the-hill Aaron Rodgers.
I see Alabama had their version of Bear Alexander “take the shirt” and will be transferring.
I would love to see a team made up of all the prima donnas that say to their coaches and teammates, “If I ain’t playing, I’m moving on!” SMH…these morons will do really well in life after their careers end /sarc/.
What are the odds USC gets involved here? Alabama defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis (a former top-100 player and the sixth-ranked DT in the 2022 class, from Columbia, MS) has decided to redshirt for the 2024 season and will enter the NCAA transfer portal. The junior said that decreased playing time was the primary factor in his decision. Ian Casselberry (Yahoo Sports) — Oatis, listed at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, appeared in five games for the Crimson Tide this season, accumulating one tackle and one pass deflected. In his three seasons at Alabama, he has 57 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, three tackles for loss… Read more »
I’d say take a pass on Bear 2.0.
I’d rather find another guy like the kid we got from Wyoming. (I think that is where he’s from.)
Ya, I personally think the odds are zero USC would go after Jehiem Oatis.
I was just wondering if anyone else thought the Trojans would take a shot here because of our problems in the trenches which simply haven’t been addressed sufficiently.
I agree DDS. Once you feed a child candy (money) they will want more and will pout and disrupt if not given what they want.) Recruit the HS kids mostly-mainly and develop them. Few if any program has succeeded going too heavy in the Portal.
Entz will find you those type guys … if LR is invited to find a NFL job and Lynn has already moved on. Keep this guy. Hopefully Lynn has been told to hold tight. Imagine Lynn as HC!
At a national trade show and realized that my hotel is connected to the college football hall of fame. Going to have to find time to make it there.
Welcome to Atlanta, Chris! The college football HOF is cool, but a one -time visit will prove to be enough, IMHO. At least I felt that way when I was at a function there a few years ago.
the downtown area is great! Cool vibe.
Go over the the Varsity and get a dog. “What’ll ya have”.
The Varsity! Yes! Enjoyed some Varsity visits while my brother was in grad school at GA Tech.
Whatever happened to Roll Tide, Roll? Paul Finebaum Unleashes Scathing Critique of New Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer Analyst goes scorched earth on first-year Crimson Tide HC Michael Gallagher (Athlon Sports) — Alabama was upset by unranked Vanderbilt on Saturday in a game the Commodores never trailed in, and now there are more questions than answers about the Crimson Tide and Kalen DeBoer. Finebaum — “Well, we saw a new head coach in Alabama named Kalen DeBoer, who, after all the praise he got here last week, showed that the Nick Saban era is over, because Nick Saban would have… Read more »
Finebottom lives for opportunities like this.
These upper-crust coaches get paid so much money these days, I have a hard time feeling grief for any of them. Winning cures everything. Losing brings brutality from fans and media alike.
Sure does, just ask Riley.😂
They all want to be coaches or athletes. Paul gets to criticize a guy who has forgotten more than he will ever know.
There is no question DeBoer is a very good coach, his record proves it. What happened to Alabama may be that perhaps all those good old boys don’t realize that Vandy ain’t that bad this year.
D coordinators are hip to Riley’s schemes, and without a gamebreaker QB, he is merely an avg OC. His refusal to utilize the run or feature a heavy pass to RB plan is killing USC. It is time to try a dual QB game plan, need to do something to catch defenses off balance.
Are you saying LR doesn’t run the ball enough? Granted the defenses have worked on USC weak spots, but saying he didn’t run the ball enough?
What is USC’s biggest weakness? Pass blocking. LR stops running the ball late in the game when he has a one score lead. What kind of offensive genius does that.
P.J. Fleck outcoached the predictable Lincoln Riley big-time. LR’s gonna have to change his tune or he is toast and will continue to struggle at USC.
“You could just tell, they were running the ball,” P.J. Fleck said postgame, “but they still wanted to throw the ball.”
Like the wildcat at the goal line … but use Maiva, he is 6’4, i was so afraid the snap would go over little Marks head.
I would definitely use Maiva, not only at the goal line, but use the wildcat in any 4th and one situation.
Practice this … not the F ing Statue of Liberty
I had to laugh at that play. Long time, no see. These kids have never seen it I am sure.
Colin Cowherd’s response to Lincoln Riley’s bad presser after USC’s loss to MINN
“USC is not ready for the Big Ten. They were pushed around by both Michigan and Minnesota. The Golden Gophers played with more intensity, more urgency, more passion, and they were more physical. They ran for 193 yds and USC’s bad tackling from years past has re-emerged.
“They just don’t have enough high-end elite players. No depth on the offensive or defensive lines. Now Lincoln Riley is getting impatient and the walls are closing in.
As far as LR’s objecting to reporter questions — “Grow up.”
These kids are going to have to wake up to the idea that for many of these Midwest programs, USC represents the west coast power that has historically beaten their teams and conference in the glamorous Rose Bowl, and for them, a game against USC is nearly a Rose Bowl game. It’ll take a while for this to wear off, but USC is going to get every B1G team’s best effort. So every Saturday, their opponent is going to be jacked up, their fans will be jacked up, and sleep-walking through first halves will not cut it.
But thanks to the destruction of the Trojan football character by people like Max Nikias, Lynn Swann and Helton, LR came into a program that had lost its soul as a flagship powerhouse and it now will take years and patience to rebuild Trojan football back to where it belongs. Even with all the resources available here to attract the athletes & coaches needed, “as long as you have the right plan & it’s support system to do it”.
Don’t forget Pat Haden
That huckster … who is he ripping off now
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) on questions Lincoln Riley should be asking himself Kartje — After two losses in three weeks — first, to a flawed Michigan team and now to a middling Minnesota squad — there are a lot of fair questions being asked about the Trojans coach, who’s now lost seven of his last 12 at USC. But the biggest concern I have with Lincoln Riley is that it’s not clear he’s asking any of those same questions of himself. Even the untrained eye, to use Riley’s own parlance, could see he was outmaneuvered by Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck on… Read more »
The pattern is set. If USC has a one score lead with less than 10 minutes in the game, LR will abandon the run even if it is working. He will give the opponent time on the clock to win it in the last minute. He did in Ann Arbor and Minneapolis, the Tulane Meltdown might even qualify. He has an OL that can run block well enough, a good mix of Marks and Joiner will be enough. He is not able to manage the game and call the offense at the same time.
Winning 20-17 doesn’t make LR happy
In another week, the team will travel to Maryland with a probable 3 & 3 record and this will be the most important game for LR this season. If he goes 3 & 4, the sky will fall on the 100 million dollar man and any momentum the program has garnered will be in danger of disappearing. I wouldn’t want to be in LR’s shoes then.
This loss to MINN was a total disaster … and not just because it happened.
It was also all about how it happened. It very closely mirrored USC’s heartbreaking collapse to MICH. How the team reacts on Saturday will tell us all what this group, as well as the entire coaching staff, is really made of.
As far as LR goes — Colin Cowherd says “the walls are closing in.”
That’s always a very ominous description of a person’s position. Sends chills down many a spine.
They still need better players on that D-Line.The players seem to be playing hard but what can you do when your players are undersized and inexperienced? The O-line needs people too. They have 2 offensive linemen who are playing up to par. Bench Zach Branch or , at least, make him compete for his playing time.
Quinton Joiner fumbles and they bench him. Zach drops passes and there is no penalty.Make him compete for his playing time.
Weird application of USC’s new and improved football culture. Maybe it’s a “baby steps” thing.
That always makes me think of the Bill Murray/Richard Dreyfuss movie What About Bob? If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about.
AW both you and Fleck have it right. Our run game was literally as good as I’ve seen it, and LR, as in past games, has an impulse control problem, by simply not managing the game and acquiescing to his instincts to throw when we are in the enviable position of controlling the clock, the ball, and eventually the stacked D front they will have to roll into to stop the gashing. The D in my opinion is good enough to win most games. We just gotta get them off the field by limiting change of possession so often. Unlike… Read more »
Kickoff time announced for USC football’s road game against Maryland
Chris Trevino (USCFootball.com) — 3-2 USC and the Big Ten announced on Monday that the Oct. 19th road matchup with 3-2 Maryland will kickoff at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET). It will be televised on FS1. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
247sports.com
Already have my tickets for this game! Can’t believe Maryland scheduled USC as their homecoming opponent. This should be USC’s first BIG win on the road ✌️
Ya, if USC loses to MARYD, the wheels are officially off. I doubt it will happen, but with our terrible OL protection, I think the word is out about how to beat USC. MICH and MINN showed the way.
Can USC start putting game plans together to reverse this latest slide downhill by the Trojans?
Since I predicted here that USC would somehow beat PSU (-5.5) on Saturday, I have confidence that the season is not lost. We could still get into the POs. Though that’s a very tall order as things stand now, but you have to start somewhere.
I see a last year desperate Washington type effort … better but not enough as bad habits are hard to break. That game ended 50 something to 40 something. Iin stall ball, clock rarely stops, Big 10 … 27-21 or something like that.
Whatever it is LR simply doesn’t have it. Hopefully, a big shot has whispered into Lynn’s ear ‘Don’t go anywhere, hang tight’
I’m not sure if you are suggesting that D’Anton Lynn take over, but if you are, I can think of worse ideas — unless LR completely turns around the Trojans and gets into the POs. He would then deserve the benefit of the doubt, which he obviously hasn’t earned lately with his big-time game mistakes and horrible, laughable pressers.
But the truth is, because of money, and it’s only year three for LR at USC, we’re stuck with him and his massive contract.
So let’s beat PSU. It could easily happen. UCLA proved that in their losing effort last Saturday.
LR, due to huge contract, will be around awhile obviously. But if he did grab the Browns job or something like that … Lynn (or Entz) as HC wouldn’t be a bad thing. Lynn would be sick actually.
Ya USC should beat a Minny … a run team that couldn’t run all year or even beat a D1 team.