Too Bad Lincoln Riley Didn’t Do His Job

Column: Fired too late, Alex Grinch’s last stand ends USC’s season

Bill Plaschke (LA Times)  —  What a waste.

The USC football season essentially ended Saturday as one big fat waste.

A wasted brilliant offense. A wasted Heisman Trophy winner. A wasted full Coliseum. A wasted revival of Trojan pride.

Wasted, all of it, because of coach Lincoln Riley’s refusal to fix an indefensibly bad defense that, in a single, frightening word, has forever chiseled itself on to this season’s tombstone.

GRINCHED

The end came Saturday night in front of a rollicking sellout crowd that roared as the Caleb Williams-led Trojans offense pinned 42 points and 515 yards on fifth-ranked and unbeaten Washington.

And still lost.

They lost because the Alex Grinch-led defense gave up Washington 52 points … and 572 total yards … and an unthinkable 316 rushing yards to the 117th-ranked rushing team in the country.

They lost 52-42, the Huskies steamrollering defensive coordinator Grinch’s national embarrassment while sending the Trojans to their third defeat and essentially knocking them out of the Pac-12 championship hunt with two games remaining.

Grinch was finally fired Sunday morning, but it’s too late. Riley finally put the success of the Trojans’ program ahead of the protection of his buddy, but it’s way, way too late.

An autumn that began with national championship dreams has now been whittled to the Rob Gronkowski Bowl or bust, and the aftermath of this final dagger Saturday night was absolutely heartbreaking.

There was Williams, leaning into the stands, hugging his mother, openly weeping.

“I want to go home and cuddle with my dog and watch some shows,” he said.

This is what happens when you lead one of the country’s top five offenses for two seasons and yet your defense continually ensures that you can’t win any sort of championship.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams walks off the field during the Trojans' loss to Washington at the Coliseum.

Caleb Williams wasn’t supposed to go out this way. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

There was linebacker Mason Cobb, sitting with six other forlorn teammates at the postgame news conference, burying his head in his hoodie.

“Kind of looked like guys weren’t ready to make the play,” he said.

Weren’t ready to make the play? Yep, that sounds like the nation’s 120th-ranked rushing defense.

There was safety Calen Bullock (7), talking softly and looking confused.

“ All [the] big runs, either someone is not in their gap, or someone isn’t lined up,” he said.

Someone isn’t lined up? Indeed, that sounds like the nation’s 107th-ranked passing defense.

Finally, at the very end of the night, there was a quickly emptying Coliseum field dotted with giddy Huskies dancing around grim security guards, yet another team that showed up and ran the Trojans ragged.

USC had the nationally 111th-ranked defense before this game, and proceeded to play as if they should be dead last.

“Just pissed,” said Riley afterward. “Pissed that we missed this opportunity.”

Riley should be mostly pissed at himself, because Riley did this. He did this when he didn’t fire Grinch after last season’s late collapses against Utah and Tulane. He did this when he didn’t fire Grinch earlier this season as the Trojans were giving up 40-plus points four times in a stretch of five games.

Riley did this by shielding his close pal from Oklahoma even as Grinch’s struggles cracked the foundation of a program Riley was hired to build. Riley did this while displaying a loyalty that feels worse than nepotism, he did this while being paid $10 million a year to know better.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams and coach Lincoln Riley make their way to the field at the Coliseum.

Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley head down the Coliseum tunnel to the field before Saturday’s loss to Washington. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Grinch has finally been ousted in an announcement issued by the school early Sunday afternoon but it’s too late, it should have happened long ago. In a leadership fail that will forever symbolize his first two seasons here, Riley did this.

Everyone knew the firing would happen, so the real question is whether Riley will admit it should have long since happened. He wasn’t talking Sunday, but on Saturday night before the firing, I asked him, did he have any regrets about how he has handled the defense?

“I understand the question, I know it’s y’all’s question to ask it, but I’m not into the big-picture questions right now,” Riley said, later adding, “I know as a head coach, it all falls under my responsibility ultimately and I don’t shy away from that and I never have, but there are times and places for those discussions and those will happen at the appropriate times.”

Sadly for the sake of a talented team that deserves better, the appropriate time was long ago. Grinch should have been long gone before Sunday, and Riley isn’t the only one who has been shrinking from his duty.

Where in the world was new athletic director Jennifer Cohen? She could have pushed Riley earlier to make the tough call on his pal. There is recent precedent for that sort of shove.

This week Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz announced that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, son of coach Kirk Ferentz, would no longer be with the team after the end of the season.

Goetz had to fire the son because apparently his father could not. It was the end of a nightmare that feels like the USC situation.

Grinch is not related to Riley, but it sure seemed that way. Remember, he was one of the handful of assistants who traveled on the private plane with Riley when the head coach arrived here for his celebratory opening news conference two years ago. It eventually seemed like the only way to get rid of him before Sunday would have been intervention from above, but that didn’t happen, and so Grinch was given one last chance to save Saturday’s game, midway through the fourth quarter, Washington with the ball on its own nine-yard line and leading by three.

If USC holds, they have the offensive firepower to drive down and win the game. But USC couldn’t hold. USC never holds.

On the first play of the drive, Washington running back Dillon Johnson took a pitch and raced 53 yards virtually untouched down the sideline to set up the Huskies’ clinching touchdown on Johnson’s one-yard run.

Fifty-three yards. On the first play of the game’s biggest drive. Unconscionable.

Johnson, a running back who had never gained more than 100 yards in a game, ran for 263 yards and four touchdowns. Unthinkable.

Johnson gained 199 yards before contact. That’s right, nearly 200 yards before he was touched. Unimaginable.

“They were slowing down,” Johnson said afterward. “They weren’t pressing as much as we thought they would. It made our day kind of easy.”

Slowing down? Not pressing as much? Made their day kind of easy? That quote right there could have led to Grinch being fired on the spot.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, wasn’t good enough,” Riley said of the run defense. “I mean, not by any stretch of the imagination. Couple of big plays in the run game, certainly at inopportune times.”

In the case of the Washington loss, inopportune is defined as giving up big chunks of yards as the amazing scrambling Williams is throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns, the tough Austin Jones is rushing for 127 yards, and the spectacular Tahj Washington is catching passes for 122 yards.

Earlier last week, Grinch took responsibility for the defense’s failings.

“Couldn’t be more disappointed in myself,” Grinch told reporters, later adding, “We gotta get it fixed, and we gotta get it fixed fast.”

USC finally made that fix Sunday, but it wasn’t fast enough.

Alex Grinch has lost his job … but only after USC lost its season.

What a waste.

latimes.com

_______

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Mikejohn
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Mikejohn
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November 6, 2023 8:30 pm

“…Riley did this. He did this when he didn’t fire Grinch after last season’s late collapses against Utah and Tulane. He did this when he didn’t fire Grinch earlier this season as the Trojans were giving up 40-plus points four times in a stretch of five games.”
Right On Bro!!

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
November 6, 2023 9:21 pm
Reply to  Mikejohn

I’ll go one step further. When he left OK, there were signs that Grinch was ineffective. Would have been a perfect time for LR to fully assess his areas of weakness and address. Should’ve left Grinch behind and reset then. Perfect chance to upgrade his staff.

John Weld
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John Weld
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November 6, 2023 6:19 pm

USC Basketball plays tonight at Kansas St at 7pm on TNT.
USC is currently ranked #21 in the country.

Tirebitter
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Tirebitter
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November 6, 2023 5:04 pm

This is the first time that I have agreed with Plaschke!

Trojanfanatic
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Trojanfanatic
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November 6, 2023 4:34 pm

It would be best if they not only picked a high powered DC who has staff in tow, but someone who we could see sliding into the HC job in case LR can’t shred air raid programming. Just in case.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
November 6, 2023 5:19 pm
Reply to  Trojanfanatic

LR’s offense can hardly be described as air raid.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
November 6, 2023 6:39 pm
Reply to  Trojanfanatic

The offense is mostly great. LR seems to panic a bit when he gets behind and his play calling gets desperate.

Trojanfanatic
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November 6, 2023 8:25 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

It is good but has become unbalanced. We realize CW is a phenom, but we need to make our opponents work harder, keep the ball longer, shorten the game. Our time of possession right now is ranked 107 in the nation. Conversely Georgia is ranked 2. The rest of the big boys are in the top 25 in the nation. It matters. We have some stud running backs and a serviceable not incredible OL. Cross our fingers.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
November 6, 2023 9:18 pm
Reply to  Trojanfanatic

According to the stats, USC has rushed 296 times and passed 349 times. So, passing 54% of the time. Not trying to be argumentative, but…seems pretty balanced to me.

Trojanfanatic
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Trojanfanatic
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November 7, 2023 7:25 am

i agree but it’s when he runs. Sometimes he outright abandons the running attack for a half and it becomes a passing 4 and out or a TD. We have actually some stud backs that can control the game including helping the D. I will admit that when we are behind or often matching TDs, the impulse is to let CW save us, but often without a D stop or two, we become one dimensional and all the teams now are going into the 2 high safeties scheme AZ dropped on us. It would be nice if we cracked the… Read more »

Chris
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Chris
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November 6, 2023 9:19 pm
Reply to  Trojanfanatic

I wouldn’t trade offenses with Georgia. But boy would I like to have their D.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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November 6, 2023 4:24 pm

So what improvement will happen? We have coach of the out of gaps defensive line and (Shaun Nua) and the Associate Head Coach for defense and inside linebackers (Brian Odom)
By the way what’s the difference between defensive coordinator and associate head coach for defense?
My take on the title is added padding like the word “featuring” in movie credits.
Both of these guys are minions for Riley and stood by watching the defense going off the rails. I guess they get two weeks to prove their coordinator held them back.

Chris
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Chris
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November 6, 2023 5:43 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Honest question with no intention of disrespect, have you ever been part of a coaching staff? I have at high school level which is not all that impressive. I can tell you as an assistant, I disagreed with the head coach and still coached the way he asked. I will bet that Nua and Odom have their own philosophies but toed the Grinch line.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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November 6, 2023 6:24 pm
Reply to  Chris

No I haven’t been a coach but I did draw a penalty with my drum line by playing between downs. (It made the zebras restless)
I was hoping someone would say these guys were following orders (for lack of a better way of saying it) The players want exposure from playing time, the coaches are between a rock and a hard place.
Do you think if the two coaches set up a basic scheme package, they can rely on their player’s experience to come up with a little defense?

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
November 6, 2023 6:36 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

I would hope a D Line coach and a Linebackers coach know about toughness. Just dial it back so the players can execute and they should be better. And aim your tackle at the ball carriers ball sack and not his shoulders!

Chris
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Chris
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November 6, 2023 7:25 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

100%. Good drummers know their rudiments, good lineman know their basic techniques. I hope that is exactly what happens.

Steveg
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Steveg
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November 6, 2023 1:11 pm

Odds are sure against us this week. Thing is, there have been more upsets this season than any I can remember. My wife keeps weekly track and the numbers are in double digits every week. So yes, I am pulling for a major upset. Good chance my heart will get broken again, but what the heck. USC is now playing with absolutely nothing to lose. It could get interesting or it could be over by half. These players can go out and win one for themselves. Boy would it help recruiting right when we need it.

HOF19
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HOF19
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November 6, 2023 12:28 pm

USC a WR Factory ??? >>>>> Talkin’ Colts
@TalkinnColts

Michael Pittman Jr. is a Top 3 WR in a Loaded 2020 WR Draft Class .

He Ranks:

• 1st in Receptions
• T2nd TDs
• 3rd Yards
• 2nd Rec YAC/ R

In a Class that includes:
Justin Jefferson
Ceedee Lamb
Tee Higgins
Gabe Davis
Jerry Jeudy

2manyyears
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2manyyears
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November 6, 2023 3:00 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Amon Ra St.Brown isn’t exactly chopped liver.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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November 6, 2023 11:46 am

From an odd standpoint, do you realize all the pressure this puts on OR. The nation now expects OR to slaughter SC. I think they will, but slaughtering SC will get them no honor; it is simply expected. Never thought playing SC would be the equivalent of playing San Jose State, but it sure is this Saturday.

Chris
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Chris
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November 6, 2023 11:32 am

Our defense will not go from terrible to good this week, but it will change. I am 100% positive that it won’t get worse. I am one of those crazy people who think we are talented on D. Just don’t do stupid things and we will be so much better. Get lined up right and let good athletes go play.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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November 6, 2023 11:52 am
Reply to  Chris

Chris, Totally agree. Our kids have ZERO to lose in this game. The season is gone and this is their chance to make a statement. OR needs to make a statement and bury SC in Eugene. In fact, it is expected. I would do just as you state: greatly simplify the D and the assignments; play the best players and see what happens. It cannot get any worse. We have the worst D in Power 5. And one of the worst Ds in all of D1 football. And, we have the worst special teams in P5. And the OR D… Read more »

Tirebitter
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Tirebitter
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November 6, 2023 5:08 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

But LR said we were just a spark away from a NC????

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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November 6, 2023 2:56 pm
Reply to  Chris

If we simplify the defense this week and can force turnovers, we have a chance to knock off Oregon. It won’t be easy but you play the game between the lines and not on paper.

Also Oregon’s defense isn’t great and they have to stop our offense.

Get any improvement from our defense this week and it will be a nice surprise.

HOF19
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HOF19
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November 6, 2023 11:22 am

This coming Sunday morning I WILL probably be in some pain and a bit bummed out …..Why ? Because I can not seem to stop myself from believing that on “Any Given Saturday ” SC can win …….So SC … Fight On and beat Oregon !

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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November 6, 2023 11:56 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Well if I could get 3 minutes to say something to Caleb I have always felt he wants to thank USC fans somehow someway . And I would tell Caleb the one last Gift he could give Die Hard USC fans is to have best game EVER in a USC uniform vs UCLA <<< But that is just me …..Fight On !!!!!

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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November 6, 2023 5:19 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

gonna be late Saturday for us East Coasters

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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November 6, 2023 10:24 am

Plascke’s too late article missed the point. It was too late when we saw how & who LR was recruiting in these past two years. He was immediately putting the defensive side as a poor 2nd fiddle to all the offensive players on the Portal and even the few HS recruits, were most on offense and telling the press how important defense is. Now he has a two year rebuilding program ahead of him on defense and playing this next year in a defensive minded conference. What was he thinking? He has to hire a top notch DC and give… Read more »

Chris
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Chris
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November 6, 2023 9:51 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

You would think the pressure is off and the D can go out play loose. Nobody is expecting us to go in there and get the win. Although I can still talk myself into it.

Jamaica
Noble Genius
Jamaica
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November 6, 2023 10:34 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

We will watch a HC & his program that USC should have copied. Of the 4-PAC 12 programs going into the Big 10, Oregon is prepared the best to be competitively successful.

Tirebitter
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Tirebitter
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November 6, 2023 5:10 pm
Reply to  Chris

Nah. Remember there has to be a coherent scheme. The players might be more motivated but, so what?

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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November 6, 2023 9:28 am

I said it after a narrow win earlier in the season, “It looks like another ‘wait til next year’ type of season.” Now I’m thinking I hate that I was right. If Caleb Williams doesn’t just hang up his cleats and sit out the remainder of the season, they should give him the Heisman for putting up with crappy defense. I’m not being snarky when I ask why the defensive line coach and linebacker coach weren’t more vocal about players being misaligned? For the next two weeks, we could see a different defensive unit, or we could see the root… Read more »