‘We fear nobody’: USC’s new-look defense ready for LSU’s physical front
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell made clear the Tigers will run the ball plenty this season, a test for the Trojans’ run defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn
USC defensive players stay cool during the team’s April spring game at the Coliseum. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — The moment has finally arrived for USC’s defense, buzzing with a healthy dose of quasi-bulletin board material that spread fast across the college football landscape and was met with … shrugs. Deflections. A healthy dose, in return, of coyness.
“To be honest, I hadn’t seen it – I hadn’t really been, what is it on, like, I’m sure it’s on some social media?” defensive lineman Jamil Muhammad said Wednesday.
It came courtesy of one Will Campbell, all 6-foot-6 inches and 323 pounds of him, the All-SEC tackle sitting in a chair in LSU’s meeting room Tuesday and offering a declaration on LSU-USC to reporters during a media session.
“We know what we’re there for,” Campbell said of the weekend trip to Las Vegas, in a video taken by Sports Illustrated’sZack Nagy. “It’s not to go to Caesar’s Palace. It’s to be in a fistfight.”
And this, during another media session, making plain his program’s intentions.
“Like I said, we’re gon’ run the ball, so I mean, that’s not something we’re hiding or trying to keep quiet,” Campbell said, describing LSU’s overall offensive approach. “I’m telling everybody right now, we are going to run the football. So you can take what you want with that.”
USC’s defensive front, for one, didn’t take a whole lot. Sophomore Braylan Shelby said Campbell’s comments “didn’t mean too much.” Transfer linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold’s reaction was to simply “put the blinders on.” Fellow linebacker Mason Cobb even said he hadn’t logged into Twitter in a while.
But Campbell’s comments only solidified the reality that a physical LSU program will present in Las Vegas come Sunday afternoon. There is no tune-up game on this Big Ten slate, no Rice or San Jose State like previous openers in the Lincoln Riley era to run up a scoreboard at the start of fall. This will be a war, from the minute helmets are tugged onto sweaty brows in triple-digit Sin City heat, facing a national power from the South ready to run the football.
And for all USC’s expressed philosophical changes in the offseason, a new defensive staff and new defensive talent and a purported 1,400 pounds of total weight gain, LSU’s offensive front and ground game will serve as a “great test,” as defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn put it Wednesday.
“We’re prepared,” Lynn put it, simply. “We’ve known what the challenge is going to be, since I got the job here.”
Nine talented backs bristle in LSU’s room, from senior veteran Josh Williams to sophomore Kaleb Jackson, leftover carries from a Jayden Daniels-led rushing attack last year having to fan out somewhere. And four of LSU’s five most-utilized offensive linemen return from a strong group in 2023 that only allowed eight sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
“You could just tell by the tenacity, the ferocity – you could tell that they’re very prideful in being a good O-line, you can tell they like to enjoy and do what they do,” Mascarenas-Arnold said Wednesday.
“But, as a defense, we fear nobody.”
Memories of USC’s group last season have been washed away by most, by this point, with Lynn’s brand-new scheme installed and inspiring verbal drooling from a range of defensive players. But there are plenty of familiar faces, still, who will line up against that powerful LSU line on Sunday with the memory of a run defense that finished 119th out of 133 FBS programs in rushing yards allowed per game.
“Until you have a really real chance to show what you’ve been working on, and how much better you’ve gotten, what you’ve did and what everybody saw is going to be on their minds until you change it,” Muhammad said.
Sure – perhaps nobody will hit Caesar’s Palace. But Sunday, still, will be a “show,” as Muhammad put it.
“And I can’t wait to see myself, you know, my brothers, showcase what we’ve been working on,” Muhammad said. “Showcase how hard we’ve been working, and how ready we are for the moment.”
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and if we can’t read a clock…….a 2 minute warning in college football…..Thank goodness those networks that only make 100 billion (I’m exaggerating) have a chance to run another dozen commercials.
ESPN GameDay Predictions Desmond Howard — LSU. “Blake Baker will make a big difference for the Tigers. Harold Perkins Jr has changed his number to #7, a famous, big number at LSU.” Nick Saban — LSU. “Tigers are more physical.” Pat McAfee — USC. “I’m gonna stick with my original pick, USC, even though I don’t love it. LSU’s OL said he just wants to ‘fight’ USC.” Johnny Manziel — LSU. “I’m an SEC guy through and though, so give me the Tigers.” Lee Corso — LSU. “LSU’s new defensive coach is gonna pressure USC’s QB as soon as he… Read more »
USC doesn’t deserve any respect, not till they prove they aren’t the soft, poorly coached team of 2023. Who knows Riley and Lynn could have reached their ceiling. I seriously doubt it.
Saban really laid into Ohio St on Gameday this morning talking about them bragging about their $20 million dollar budget team. “You will be sh*t outta luck if those players don’t pan out”. Saban now has the forum to say what he really thinks versus having to be politically correct as a employed HC. Of course that doesn’t include Bama obviously?
Have so many conversations with LSU fans. They’ve been across the board great. None of them really like Kelly, but they all love Coach O. Also they are all geared up head to toe. Belts, socks, shoes.
Looking forward to watching USC/LSU, ND/Texas A&M, Clemson/Georgia…question, should a close loss say ND loses to Texas A&M by 3 weigh more than a blowout win like Oklahoma beating Temple by 48 when it comes to evaluating teams for the playoffs at the end of the season? My thoughts are that cupcake wins should mean nothing (including USC/Utah State) and teams with playoff aspirations should be discouraged from playing these type of non-conference games in the future.
Good question with different facets. First, you are correct, cupcakes don’t help you get into the playoffs. So why play them? You play it first to get the kinks out, much like an NFL preseason game. You play it in November (SEC) to give your team the equivalent of a bye week. To be assured of a playoff spot you must win your conference by winning your conference championship game. The SEC, Big10, Big12, ACC and best Group of 5 champs get 5 spots. The other 7 spots depend on ranking. Strength of schedule will count along with record some… Read more »
The stronger the schedules, the more interest, intrigue, consequences, great plays, fantastic outcomes, and viewership for the great game of CFB.
I’d rather watch USC play a great schedule, like this season, any day of the week, over a softer schedule. Just let the best teams win against the best competition, week in and week out. Then let the chips fall where they may.
USC vs LSU is the perfect way to start the season. OU vs TEM doesn’t cut it.
OK, I’ll offer a contrarian opinion to that of the national experts at the risk of having to eat a generous helping of crow after the game Sunday. After noodling for a while on the angle that LSU’s OL is supposed to be among the best in the nation this year, and our DL was among the worst last year, so therefore LSU will stream roll us in that matchup, my thoughts are starting to solidify with a different conclusion. Admittedly, what I set forth employs generalizations and assumptions, and probably a whole lot of hope and wishful thinking, but… Read more »
Nothing like simple logic VT. How could the USC defense be any worse, or even the same. The bowl game showed us a slight preview, and now with additional manpower and REAL defensive coaching they should be totally revised and improved. This is what I think a lot of the experts are missing in their picks, but I am a USC homer so there is that also.
Bear Alexander fighting to start — “Still has a long ways to go…” Luca Evans (OC Register) — Early in August, Lincoln Riley emphasized USC’s need for Alexander to go from good to great in fall camp – a stretch Riley called “very, very important.” Evidently, even as Riley said Friday that Alexander had gained momentum across the past couple weeks, the junior hadn’t done quite enough to lock down a starting spot. Alexander’s listed as an “OR” starter at one of USC’s defensive tackle spots on their LSU depth chart, next to Wyoming transfer Gavin Meyer. A reminder,… Read more »
Here’s one at Kyle Field that I can’t wait to see tomorrow at 4:30 PT.
I’m predicting that the 2.5 dog Irish lose to the Aggies, now coached by Mike Elko, who spent a couple of years at DUKE before being rehired by the Aggies as their HC. New Irish QB Riley Leonard played for Elko last year at DUKE.
I can’t resist wanting the Irish to lay an egg, especially after they hammered us last season. It’s never good to see your major rival winning a huge game, absent other compelling reasons. That’s another reason UCLA losses usually make my day. But wouldn’t it be a lot better for USC if ND wins as far as USC somehow getting into the playoffs? USC hosting ND on Nov. 30 will be much more important if each team comes in with two or fewer losses. But I’d still like the Irish to get trashed, regardless of any PO impact. Not just… Read more »
Check out the A&M defensive line. This team is under rated. ND is going to be in a dog fight in a stadium that holds 100,000 plus and unlike Vegas…..who wants to travel to that place to see a football game.
What a way to start their year.
More USC/LSU predictions from B/R. Nobody seems to like the Trojans. Same old theme we’ve been hearing for months about the dominance of the LSU O-line, and everyone loves LSU LB Harold Perkins, the difference maker for the Tiger D. Ty Hayes — LSU. The battle of who’s gonna be worse on defense, despite new staffs and schemes. Trojans have great WRs, LSU DBs basically stink. Bottom line is the LSU O-line is simply too good for USC to handle. Steven Ngati — LSU. Defenses improved, but this game will still be high-scoring. QB Garrett Nussmeier gives LSU an edge… Read more »
I think we should just expect this. Our OL stunk last year (and it did) and we did not make any major changes to it. There are I think 3 5 star D players in the game: SC has two and LSU has one. SC’s are Bear and Lucas. See my comment below on both SC 5 star D players. Basically, it appears that a weak SC front 7 on D will be matched against the best OL in college ball. And, it appears that one of the best LB talents in the nation is matched against what appears to… Read more »
Obviously, any game with a 4.5 point spread can go either way. USC could easily win or easily lose. Biased fan bases fall on either side of the coin. But the vast majority of objective observers will pick the Tigers over the Trojans. Does that even matter? Only for coffee table talk at this stage. It’ll hopefully come down to who gets it done in the 4th Q. So what’s new? I’m interested to see just how good this LB Harold Perkins is for LSU. He’s getting amazing pub as the centerpiece of the new Tiger D. We’ve got to… Read more »
Wow Allen! You are the GOAT when it comes to player assessment. I will always defer to your opinion from now on. I had no idea who this Perkins guy is.
Official Season Opener Depth Chart (starters in bold) QB Miller Moss Jayden Maiava Jake Jensen RBs Woody Marks Quinten Joyner Bryan Jackson OR A’Marion Peterson OL LT: Elijah Paige, Micah Banuelos LG: Emmanuel Pregnon, Gino Quinones OC: Jonah Monheim, Kilian O’Connor RG: Alani Noa OR Amos Talalele RT: Mason Murphy, Tobias Raymond WRs WR: Kyron Hudson OR Duce Robinson WR: Zachariah Branch Jay Fair WR: Makai Lemon Josiah Zamora WR: Ja’Kobi Lane OR Kyle Ford Charles Ross TEs Lake McRee Kade Eldridge Walker Lyons DL DE: Anthony Lucas, Braylan Shelby , Solomon Tuliaupupu NT: Gavin Meyer OR Bear Alexander, Jide Abasiri DT: Nate Clifton, Kobe Pepe OR Elijah Hughes DE: Jamil Muhammad, Devan Thompkins, Sam Greene, Kameryn Fountain LBs WILL: Mason Cobb OR Eric Gentry, Elijah Newby MIKE: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Desman Stephens OR Raesjon Davis CBs CB: Jaylin Smith, DeCarlos Nicholson CB: Jacobe… Read more »
Less than 3 days to kick off and still some spots that are undecided. Don’t know if that is a good thing or not. So who starts Sunday? Bear hasn’t won the starting job? Or Cobb v Gentry? Or RG or WRs? So much undecided. At some point make a decision so the starter gets the reps and the team can work as a unit. A lot of rotation against LSU doesn’t sound good. But what do I know?
Lincoln Riley on Gavin Meyer — “I mean there’s just always areas that you’re looking to address. We’ve been really pleased with Gavin and bringing him in. It’s very apparent that he’s going have an opportunity to make a big impact for us, not just the way he plays but just his attitude, the way that he’s joined the team. Culture-wise and long-term-wise, he fits exactly what we want and is going to be a really good player, so we’ve been thrilled with that addition.” If only Bear Alexander had Meyer’s head. Meyer — “I like to play with a… Read more »
I don’t like the or between Alexander and Meyer. We have been told that Alexander has made a step forward…..with his talent and experience he should be first team BIG. Obviously this is not so.
As we enter fall some of the false spring nonsense begins to fade.
For some reason, the lack of consistency tag continues to trail Bear Alexander after all this time. As you point out, this isn’t a good sign, no matter how you slice it.
Give LR and USC credit for reeling in Meyer, a relative unknown from WYO compared to the other DL portal targets USC missed out on. It looks like he could end up being much more important than we ever dreamed. He chose the Trojans over CAL, WIS and ILL.
Riley is very fortunate in that Meyer was still available in the portal after all the other candidates chose going elsewhere, even to lesser programs. I still can’t figure out what LR’s thinking was in recruiting. Did he really think he could go portal as long as he needed to and prepare the program for this season in the Big? What magical wand did he have to feel he could develop depth in such a short time? There seemed not to be a sense of urgency in hitting the HS recruitment trial when the whole CFB nation was talking about… Read more »
For 2024 USC has 22 recruits and 18 transfers (1.2:1). In 2023 USC had 24 recruits and 15 transfers (1.6:1). #1 Georgia for ’24 has 29 recruits and 11 transfers (2.6:1), #2 Ohio St has 22 and 7 (3.1:1), #3 Oregon has 26 and 14 (1.8:1). What do you think is a good ratio?
I hear you GT. But my thinking is how many of those HS recruits were even 4-stars and still in a Trojan uniform today ready to rotate in? We have depth problems, serious ones on both lines after 3-recruiting years. One or two injuries here and we will be seriously handicapped. It took LR some two seasons to realize he couldn’t just outscore the other team in not taking defense seriously enough. This has put the program behind where it should be. Even worse if LR hadn’t replaced the defensive coaching staff during this off season. In a way, we… Read more »
Saban talked about the character trait that separates players. It appears that Bear struggles with it. Saban called in self-discipline. As I understood him, it involves several traits. First, the desire to understand how to perform your position properly. Second, it is the desire and ability to desire to develop the capability to play your position properly. Third, is the ability to bring that level of “proper performance” to each and every time you practice it and then when you play it. Bear has all the talent in the world. But, it appears that he struggles with self-discipline. My guess… Read more »
I’d take a player like Gavin Meyer any day of the week and twice on Sundays over Bear Alexander. Bear’s upside talent-wise is greater of course, but he doesn’t show it enough so far to make up the difference. The fact that Meyer is already a co-starter with Alexander says it all. USC fans are hanging on to the chance Alexander will finally grow up and start playing like he should much more often. So far, that’s been such a struggle for Alexander that I’m just grateful we have Meyer on the field to show Alexander how it should be… Read more »
We see it the same way. If a game were on the line, I would play Meyer 100 times before I would play Bear. I think Lucas is in the same boat. I sure hope one of them figures it out.
You just never know how you will make your mark in this world. Reggie Bush famously stands out for many different things in CFB. Now, watching most CFB or NFL games, I routinely see a “Reggie Bush Push” play in short-yardage situations — almost a guaranteed conversion too. Reggie impacted the game of football in many ways. Some think the Bush Push play should be banned. I think it’s here to stay. While Reggie pushed Matt Leinart into the ND EZ while he was holding the ball high over his head and turning, most all Bush Push plays are what… Read more »
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman picks LSU over USC LSU (-4.5) vs. USC, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (PT), ABC
The Tigers have lost four season openers in a row, but they’ll snap that streak against the Caleb Williams-less Trojans. These teams were awful on defense last year; expect both to be a little better on that side of the ball. They also both have to replace Heisman-winning quarterbacks.
The Tigers have the much better O-line, so I’m picking them here.
I expected this. And, candidly, it makes sense. LSU has the consensus #1 OL in the nation and SC has a totally unproven front 7 on D and a suspect OL. I still like the Trojan’s chances.
Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio joining Wisconsin as senior adviser: Source Bruce Feldman (The Athletic) — Longtime NFL coach Jack Del Rio is joining WIS as SR adviser to the HC, according to a source briefed on the matter. The 61-year-old Del Rio will assist both sides of the ball and be there for Badgers HC Luke Fickell to bounce ideas off of as needed. Del Rio had spent the last four seasons as the DC with the Washington Commanders before being let go in Nov. He had spent over a decade as an NFL coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then… Read more »
I was there. Still remember that game. Sam was absolutely amazing. Texas should have beat us by 14. Game was saved when Ehrlich (starting as a true frosh) had the ball stripped by a DE (whose name I cannot remember) as he was going in to score the winning TD. Texas was by far the better team. I remember a couple of plays from that game. One was a play I had never seen before nor seen since. On the last play of the first half, SC had the ball at about the 50. Sam threw a short pass to… Read more »
It was an amazing performance by Sam. His sudden little jump pass over the middle to Stephen Carr on the game’s final drive in regulation was a thing of beauty.
Just an incredibly hard-fought game that gave the Trojans a minuscule amount of redemption for the historically bad 2005 NC loss to Vince Young and the Horns in the Game of the Century, 41-38.
Darnold will always be one of my favorite USC QBs. Hope he succeeds with the Vikings.
The USC vs LSU drum beat goes on. No matter how many times I hear about the specifics of this long-awaited, heavyweight battle in Vegas (what could be better!), I’m ceaselessly fascinated by the mirror images of these two semi-desperate teams. No. 23 USC vs No. 13 LSU, 4:30 p.m. (PT) Sunday, ABC Justin Williams (The Athletic) — A neutral-site bout in Las Vegas featuring two programs that are uniquely intertwined. USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly were hired to their respective jobs a day apart in November 2021. Each had encouraging first seasons and disappointing second seasons. Each coached one… Read more »
USC beat Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl, and LSU beat Oklahoma 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl. LSU was declared national champions by the BCS, but the AP voters chose to not adhere to the BCS computers and declared USC its national champions.
I will be departing TX early Saturday for the game on Sunday. I think the above article states the obvious. LSU has the #1 rated OL in the nation and its DBs are its weakest position group on LSU. USC has the #1 OC in the nation whose O is based on the pass and the SC WR are the strongest position at SC and probably top 5 in the nation. SC’s DB are its second strongest position group on SC and probably a top 25 group in the nation. In addition the SC DL and LBs are to two… Read more »
D’Anton Lynn on chess-playing redshirt soph S Kamari Ramsey (6-0, 204) — “Some people just get ball, and he’s a guy who just understands ball, There’s certain things that we don’t need to teach him that he just naturally gets.” LAT — That’s proven especially helpful as USC takes on a totally new defensive scheme, with a coordinator who’s content to switch up concepts, depending on the opponent and its tendencies. Ramsey (who claims to be the best chess player on the Trojans), with his deep understanding of Lynn’s defense, is a critical piece in that ever-changing equation. It’s a… Read more »
With CJ Baxter of TEXAS and A&M’s Rueben Owens out for the 2024 season, here’s info on the 2023 recruiting cycle’s other top RBs.
QUINTEN JOYNER, USC
Chance Linton (247Sports.com) — Much like ALA’s Justice Haynes, Joyner played sparingly as a frosh. He finished the year with 125 yds and one TD on 18 carries while preserving his redshirt as the Trojans leaned on since-departed MarShawn Lloyd and Austin Jones.
Joyner accounted for more than half of his yardage in a Week 2 win over NEV, carrying the ball four times for a career-high 65 yds, highlighted by a 47-yd TD.
Coach Lincoln Riley turned to the transfer portal again this offseason following the exits of both Lloyd and Jones, bringing in MISS ST standout Woody Marks.
The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Joyner now enters this season as the clear-cut No. 2 on the depth chart behind Marks, with true freshman Bryan Jackson and redshirt frosh A’Marion Peterson battling to be RB3.
“We feel like we have four contributors, and we know, if history is any indication, we’re going to need them all at some point,” Riley told USCFootball.com.
“But right now, Woody and Quinten have, at least at this point, separated themselves as the one and two.”
In case you didn’t know, Chad Morton (younger bro of Bruin Killer Johnnie Morton) is in his first season as the RB coach for the Chicago Bears. In episode four of Hard Knocks, Morton was featured pretty heavily. He played for four NFL teams from 2000-06 and has been coaching in the League in various capacities since 2009. The speedy Morton (5-8, 185, Torrance South) was All-Pac-10 at USC, where was the team’s primary RB his final two seasons. As a SR, he led the team with 1,141 yds and 15 TDs on 262 carries and he ranks 12th on the Trojans’ all-time rushing list with 2,511 career… Read more »
Allen, point of correction from a South Bay local–it’s South Torrance, not Torrance South. The Spartans were frequent Bay League foes of my alma mater of Palos Verdes.
Interesting, but please let me explain to our TDB readers why I have to disagree with you here, despite your Palos Verdes background. Actually, there’s not a city in California called South Torrance. There’s a “neighborhood” called South Torrance, but the city is actually Torrance, not South Torrance. Wikipedia refers to Chad Morton’s HS as South High School, a public high school in Torrance, California. It is one of five high schools in the Torrance Unified School District. The five different high schools in Torrance are South (Home of the Spartans), North, West, Torrance, and Drevno. South High’s own website refers to itself… Read more »
Ah, I see your point. As a South Bay resident, we always identified the high school on PCH South or South Torrance. But from a statewide or national audience, the ID would be Torrance South High School. no one else on this blog cares about this point except you, me and the Morton brothers!😎
The Morton’s are two of my favorite USC players all-time.
How could anyone ever forget Johnnie’s 23-yd catch from Marinovich in the corner of the Rose Bowl EZ to beat UCLA 45-42 in 1990. Just incredible, and such a fantastic moment in USC football history.
“You could just tell by the tenacity, the ferocity – you could tell that they’re very prideful in being a good O-line, you can tell they like to enjoy and do what they do,” 
Sure – perhaps nobody will hit Caesar’s Palace. But Sunday, still, will be a “show,” as 
and if we can’t read a clock…….a 2 minute warning in college football…..Thank goodness those networks that only make 100 billion (I’m exaggerating) have a chance to run another dozen commercials.
ESPN GameDay Predictions Desmond Howard — LSU. “Blake Baker will make a big difference for the Tigers. Harold Perkins Jr has changed his number to #7, a famous, big number at LSU.” Nick Saban — LSU. “Tigers are more physical.” Pat McAfee — USC. “I’m gonna stick with my original pick, USC, even though I don’t love it. LSU’s OL said he just wants to ‘fight’ USC.” Johnny Manziel — LSU. “I’m an SEC guy through and though, so give me the Tigers.” Lee Corso — LSU. “LSU’s new defensive coach is gonna pressure USC’s QB as soon as he… Read more »
USC doesn’t deserve any respect, not till they prove they aren’t the soft, poorly coached team of 2023. Who knows Riley and Lynn could have reached their ceiling. I seriously doubt it.
Saban really laid into Ohio St on Gameday this morning talking about them bragging about their $20 million dollar budget team. “You will be sh*t outta luck if those players don’t pan out”. Saban now has the forum to say what he really thinks versus having to be politically correct as a employed HC. Of course that doesn’t include Bama obviously?
Have so many conversations with LSU fans. They’ve been across the board great. None of them really like Kelly, but they all love Coach O. Also they are all geared up head to toe. Belts, socks, shoes.
There is probably so much electric in the air if you held up a light bulb it would turn on.
Matt Leinart says Lincoln Riley told him Miller Moss reminds him of Baker Mayfield
Looking forward to watching USC/LSU, ND/Texas A&M, Clemson/Georgia…question, should a close loss say ND loses to Texas A&M by 3 weigh more than a blowout win like Oklahoma beating Temple by 48 when it comes to evaluating teams for the playoffs at the end of the season? My thoughts are that cupcake wins should mean nothing (including USC/Utah State) and teams with playoff aspirations should be discouraged from playing these type of non-conference games in the future.
Good question with different facets. First, you are correct, cupcakes don’t help you get into the playoffs. So why play them? You play it first to get the kinks out, much like an NFL preseason game. You play it in November (SEC) to give your team the equivalent of a bye week. To be assured of a playoff spot you must win your conference by winning your conference championship game. The SEC, Big10, Big12, ACC and best Group of 5 champs get 5 spots. The other 7 spots depend on ranking. Strength of schedule will count along with record some… Read more »
The stronger the schedules, the more interest, intrigue, consequences, great plays, fantastic outcomes, and viewership for the great game of CFB.
I’d rather watch USC play a great schedule, like this season, any day of the week, over a softer schedule. Just let the best teams win against the best competition, week in and week out. Then let the chips fall where they may.
USC vs LSU is the perfect way to start the season. OU vs TEM doesn’t cut it.
OK, I’ll offer a contrarian opinion to that of the national experts at the risk of having to eat a generous helping of crow after the game Sunday. After noodling for a while on the angle that LSU’s OL is supposed to be among the best in the nation this year, and our DL was among the worst last year, so therefore LSU will stream roll us in that matchup, my thoughts are starting to solidify with a different conclusion. Admittedly, what I set forth employs generalizations and assumptions, and probably a whole lot of hope and wishful thinking, but… Read more »
Nothing like simple logic VT. How could the USC defense be any worse, or even the same. The bowl game showed us a slight preview, and now with additional manpower and REAL defensive coaching they should be totally revised and improved. This is what I think a lot of the experts are missing in their picks, but I am a USC homer so there is that also.
These guys are acting like this Baker guy is a miracle worker and Lynn won’t make any difference at all. Well, we’ll see before the sun sets.
Poor TEM QB Forrest Brock, a juco transfer who last played before about 100 fans.
In four series vs OU, he’s 1-7 passing, lost a fumble, was picked off, and also took a huge sack. He lost two yds on his only completion.
The Sooners lead 17-0 shortly before the end of the 1st Q.
The Owls were 3-9 last season. So glad USC isn’t starting off with a cupcake like this.
Bear Alexander fighting to start — “Still has a long ways to go…” Luca Evans (OC Register) — Early in August, Lincoln Riley emphasized USC’s need for Alexander to go from good to great in fall camp – a stretch Riley called “very, very important.” Evidently, even as Riley said Friday that Alexander had gained momentum across the past couple weeks, the junior hadn’t done quite enough to lock down a starting spot. Alexander’s listed as an “OR” starter at one of USC’s defensive tackle spots on their LSU depth chart, next to Wyoming transfer Gavin Meyer. A reminder,… Read more »
Here’s one at Kyle Field that I can’t wait to see tomorrow at 4:30 PT.
I’m predicting that the 2.5 dog Irish lose to the Aggies, now coached by Mike Elko, who spent a couple of years at DUKE before being rehired by the Aggies as their HC. New Irish QB Riley Leonard played for Elko last year at DUKE.
So #7 is a 2.5 pt dog to #20? Who’s right, the AP/Coaches or Vegas? I go with those that got skin in the game. Go Aggies!
I can’t resist wanting the Irish to lay an egg, especially after they hammered us last season. It’s never good to see your major rival winning a huge game, absent other compelling reasons. That’s another reason UCLA losses usually make my day. But wouldn’t it be a lot better for USC if ND wins as far as USC somehow getting into the playoffs? USC hosting ND on Nov. 30 will be much more important if each team comes in with two or fewer losses. But I’d still like the Irish to get trashed, regardless of any PO impact. Not just… Read more »
Check out the A&M defensive line. This team is under rated. ND is going to be in a dog fight in a stadium that holds 100,000 plus and unlike Vegas…..who wants to travel to that place to see a football game.
What a way to start their year.
More USC/LSU predictions from B/R. Nobody seems to like the Trojans. Same old theme we’ve been hearing for months about the dominance of the LSU O-line, and everyone loves LSU LB Harold Perkins, the difference maker for the Tiger D. Ty Hayes — LSU. The battle of who’s gonna be worse on defense, despite new staffs and schemes. Trojans have great WRs, LSU DBs basically stink. Bottom line is the LSU O-line is simply too good for USC to handle. Steven Ngati — LSU. Defenses improved, but this game will still be high-scoring. QB Garrett Nussmeier gives LSU an edge… Read more »
I think we should just expect this. Our OL stunk last year (and it did) and we did not make any major changes to it. There are I think 3 5 star D players in the game: SC has two and LSU has one. SC’s are Bear and Lucas. See my comment below on both SC 5 star D players. Basically, it appears that a weak SC front 7 on D will be matched against the best OL in college ball. And, it appears that one of the best LB talents in the nation is matched against what appears to… Read more »
Obviously, any game with a 4.5 point spread can go either way. USC could easily win or easily lose. Biased fan bases fall on either side of the coin. But the vast majority of objective observers will pick the Tigers over the Trojans. Does that even matter? Only for coffee table talk at this stage. It’ll hopefully come down to who gets it done in the 4th Q. So what’s new? I’m interested to see just how good this LB Harold Perkins is for LSU. He’s getting amazing pub as the centerpiece of the new Tiger D. We’ve got to… Read more »
Wow Allen! You are the GOAT when it comes to player assessment. I will always defer to your opinion from now on. I had no idea who this Perkins guy is.
Ya, I’m not gonna let you ever forget you actually said here you’d rather take marginal Mason Cobb over unanimous Pre-Season AA Harold Perkins.
That takes guts!
You know what they say, ignorance is no excuse! 😉
Way more LSU gear around than us. Hope it’s just early arrivers and not indicative of crowd.
I fly into tomorrow. My guess is a lot of SC fans traveling to Vegas will do the same.
Official Season Opener Depth Chart (starters in bold) QB Miller Moss Jayden Maiava Jake Jensen RBs Woody Marks Quinten Joyner Bryan Jackson OR A’Marion Peterson OL LT: Elijah Paige, Micah Banuelos LG: Emmanuel Pregnon, Gino Quinones OC: Jonah Monheim, Kilian O’Connor RG: Alani Noa OR Amos Talalele RT: Mason Murphy, Tobias Raymond WRs WR: Kyron Hudson OR Duce Robinson WR: Zachariah Branch Jay Fair WR: Makai Lemon Josiah Zamora WR: Ja’Kobi Lane OR Kyle Ford Charles Ross TEs Lake McRee Kade Eldridge Walker Lyons DL DE: Anthony Lucas, Braylan Shelby , Solomon Tuliaupupu NT: Gavin Meyer OR Bear Alexander, Jide Abasiri DT: Nate Clifton, Kobe Pepe OR Elijah Hughes DE: Jamil Muhammad, Devan Thompkins, Sam Greene, Kameryn Fountain LBs WILL: Mason Cobb OR Eric Gentry, Elijah Newby MIKE: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Desman Stephens OR Raesjon Davis CBs CB: Jaylin Smith, DeCarlos Nicholson CB: Jacobe… Read more »
Less than 3 days to kick off and still some spots that are undecided. Don’t know if that is a good thing or not. So who starts Sunday? Bear hasn’t won the starting job? Or Cobb v Gentry? Or RG or WRs? So much undecided. At some point make a decision so the starter gets the reps and the team can work as a unit. A lot of rotation against LSU doesn’t sound good. But what do I know?
One thing for certain, Greedy is a great name for a DB!
Lincoln Riley on Gavin Meyer — “I mean there’s just always areas that you’re looking to address. We’ve been really pleased with Gavin and bringing him in. It’s very apparent that he’s going have an opportunity to make a big impact for us, not just the way he plays but just his attitude, the way that he’s joined the team. Culture-wise and long-term-wise, he fits exactly what we want and is going to be a really good player, so we’ve been thrilled with that addition.” If only Bear Alexander had Meyer’s head. Meyer — “I like to play with a… Read more »
I don’t like the or between Alexander and Meyer. We have been told that Alexander has made a step forward…..with his talent and experience he should be first team BIG. Obviously this is not so.
As we enter fall some of the false spring nonsense begins to fade.
For some reason, the lack of consistency tag continues to trail Bear Alexander after all this time. As you point out, this isn’t a good sign, no matter how you slice it.
Give LR and USC credit for reeling in Meyer, a relative unknown from WYO compared to the other DL portal targets USC missed out on. It looks like he could end up being much more important than we ever dreamed. He chose the Trojans over CAL, WIS and ILL.
Riley is very fortunate in that Meyer was still available in the portal after all the other candidates chose going elsewhere, even to lesser programs. I still can’t figure out what LR’s thinking was in recruiting. Did he really think he could go portal as long as he needed to and prepare the program for this season in the Big? What magical wand did he have to feel he could develop depth in such a short time? There seemed not to be a sense of urgency in hitting the HS recruitment trial when the whole CFB nation was talking about… Read more »
For 2024 USC has 22 recruits and 18 transfers (1.2:1). In 2023 USC had 24 recruits and 15 transfers (1.6:1). #1 Georgia for ’24 has 29 recruits and 11 transfers (2.6:1), #2 Ohio St has 22 and 7 (3.1:1), #3 Oregon has 26 and 14 (1.8:1). What do you think is a good ratio?
I hear you GT. But my thinking is how many of those HS recruits were even 4-stars and still in a Trojan uniform today ready to rotate in? We have depth problems, serious ones on both lines after 3-recruiting years. One or two injuries here and we will be seriously handicapped. It took LR some two seasons to realize he couldn’t just outscore the other team in not taking defense seriously enough. This has put the program behind where it should be. Even worse if LR hadn’t replaced the defensive coaching staff during this off season. In a way, we… Read more »
Saban talked about the character trait that separates players. It appears that Bear struggles with it. Saban called in self-discipline. As I understood him, it involves several traits. First, the desire to understand how to perform your position properly. Second, it is the desire and ability to desire to develop the capability to play your position properly. Third, is the ability to bring that level of “proper performance” to each and every time you practice it and then when you play it. Bear has all the talent in the world. But, it appears that he struggles with self-discipline. My guess… Read more »
I’d take a player like Gavin Meyer any day of the week and twice on Sundays over Bear Alexander. Bear’s upside talent-wise is greater of course, but he doesn’t show it enough so far to make up the difference. The fact that Meyer is already a co-starter with Alexander says it all. USC fans are hanging on to the chance Alexander will finally grow up and start playing like he should much more often. So far, that’s been such a struggle for Alexander that I’m just grateful we have Meyer on the field to show Alexander how it should be… Read more »
We see it the same way. If a game were on the line, I would play Meyer 100 times before I would play Bear. I think Lucas is in the same boat. I sure hope one of them figures it out.
Lincoln always has “or” on his depth charts.
Hopefully that keeps them competing to get better.
Colorado looks like same team as last year. Shaduer is great, skill guys are good, Hunter is all American, the rest of the team is not great.
You just never know how you will make your mark in this world. Reggie Bush famously stands out for many different things in CFB. Now, watching most CFB or NFL games, I routinely see a “Reggie Bush Push” play in short-yardage situations — almost a guaranteed conversion too. Reggie impacted the game of football in many ways. Some think the Bush Push play should be banned. I think it’s here to stay. While Reggie pushed Matt Leinart into the ND EZ while he was holding the ball high over his head and turning, most all Bush Push plays are what… Read more »
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman picks LSU over USC
LSU (-4.5) vs. USC, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (PT), ABC
The Tigers have lost four season openers in a row, but they’ll snap that streak against the Caleb Williams-less Trojans. These teams were awful on defense last year; expect both to be a little better on that side of the ball. They also both have to replace Heisman-winning quarterbacks.
The Tigers have the much better O-line, so I’m picking them here.
LSU 28, USC 20
Pick: LSU -4.5
nytimes.com
He hasn’t seen either line so how does he know. USC only scores 20? They average 40+, we shall see.
I expected this. And, candidly, it makes sense. LSU has the consensus #1 OL in the nation and SC has a totally unproven front 7 on D and a suspect OL. I still like the Trojan’s chances.
Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio joining Wisconsin as senior adviser: Source Bruce Feldman (The Athletic) — Longtime NFL coach Jack Del Rio is joining WIS as SR adviser to the HC, according to a source briefed on the matter. The 61-year-old Del Rio will assist both sides of the ball and be there for Badgers HC Luke Fickell to bounce ideas off of as needed. Del Rio had spent the last four seasons as the DC with the Washington Commanders before being let go in Nov. He had spent over a decade as an NFL coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then… Read more »
I love the attitude of “we fear nobody,” but can we keep that in the locker room please?
The Cat’s Out Of The Bag Now!
And I’m glad. LSU’s talking about a fistfight. USC’s talking about no fear. The players of the teams have officially taken each other on.
It’ll all come up again for the massive viewing public in the pre-game TV coverage, hopefully.
Both teams are further backed into corners with their words, with future actions the only determinant.
Only one can emerge victorious!
Former Trojan WRs Deontay Burnett (’15-17) and John Jackson III (’19-22) have been released by the Cowboys and the Bears.
Jackson is a very good friend of Caleb Williams’.
Team-mates no more
Burnett…caught that epic pass from Darnold against PSU in the Rose Bowl. Will never forget that play!
So true. It was just an awesome catch along the back of the end zone as I remember. I’ll publish a shot of it if I can find one.
This was actually the Burnett catch I was thinking of, when USC beat TEXAS 27-24 in double OT on Sept. 16, 2017 in the Coliseum:
The TX catch was a great one too. That had me yelling and fist pumping. The Rose Bowl catch had me on my feet jumping around the living room.
I was there. Still remember that game. Sam was absolutely amazing. Texas should have beat us by 14. Game was saved when Ehrlich (starting as a true frosh) had the ball stripped by a DE (whose name I cannot remember) as he was going in to score the winning TD. Texas was by far the better team. I remember a couple of plays from that game. One was a play I had never seen before nor seen since. On the last play of the first half, SC had the ball at about the 50. Sam threw a short pass to… Read more »
It was an amazing performance by Sam. His sudden little jump pass over the middle to Stephen Carr on the game’s final drive in regulation was a thing of beauty.
Just an incredibly hard-fought game that gave the Trojans a minuscule amount of redemption for the historically bad 2005 NC loss to Vince Young and the Horns in the Game of the Century, 41-38.
Darnold will always be one of my favorite USC QBs. Hope he succeeds with the Vikings.
The USC vs LSU drum beat goes on. No matter how many times I hear about the specifics of this long-awaited, heavyweight battle in Vegas (what could be better!), I’m ceaselessly fascinated by the mirror images of these two semi-desperate teams. No. 23 USC vs No. 13 LSU, 4:30 p.m. (PT) Sunday, ABC Justin Williams (The Athletic) — A neutral-site bout in Las Vegas featuring two programs that are uniquely intertwined. USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly were hired to their respective jobs a day apart in November 2021. Each had encouraging first seasons and disappointing second seasons. Each coached one… Read more »
And both claim the National Championship in 2003.
I’ve always preferred the AP, haven’t you Jam?
USC beat Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl, and LSU beat Oklahoma 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl. LSU was declared national champions by the BCS, but the AP voters chose to not adhere to the BCS computers and declared USC its national champions.
I will be departing TX early Saturday for the game on Sunday. I think the above article states the obvious. LSU has the #1 rated OL in the nation and its DBs are its weakest position group on LSU. USC has the #1 OC in the nation whose O is based on the pass and the SC WR are the strongest position at SC and probably top 5 in the nation. SC’s DB are its second strongest position group on SC and probably a top 25 group in the nation. In addition the SC DL and LBs are to two… Read more »
Good summary RJJ. The ultimate question is a good run game. Can USC stop it? Does USC have one?
Luca, I enjoy your articles and writing style, but the “triple-digit Sin City heat” won’t be a factor inside Allegiant Stadium.
Oh thank goodness. I didn’t know the stadium was indoor.
“But it’s a dry heat.” Yeah, so are convection ovens!
D’Anton Lynn on chess-playing redshirt soph S Kamari Ramsey (6-0, 204) — “Some people just get ball, and he’s a guy who just understands ball, There’s certain things that we don’t need to teach him that he just naturally gets.” LAT — That’s proven especially helpful as USC takes on a totally new defensive scheme, with a coordinator who’s content to switch up concepts, depending on the opponent and its tendencies. Ramsey (who claims to be the best chess player on the Trojans), with his deep understanding of Lynn’s defense, is a critical piece in that ever-changing equation. It’s a… Read more »
With CJ Baxter of TEXAS and A&M’s Rueben Owens out for the 2024 season, here’s info on the 2023 recruiting cycle’s other top RBs.
QUINTEN JOYNER, USC
Chance Linton (247Sports.com) — Much like ALA’s Justice Haynes, Joyner played sparingly as a frosh. He finished the year with 125 yds and one TD on 18 carries while preserving his redshirt as the Trojans leaned on since-departed MarShawn Lloyd and Austin Jones.
Joyner accounted for more than half of his yardage in a Week 2 win over NEV, carrying the ball four times for a career-high 65 yds, highlighted by a 47-yd TD.
Coach Lincoln Riley turned to the transfer portal again this offseason following the exits of both Lloyd and Jones, bringing in MISS ST standout Woody Marks.
The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Joyner now enters this season as the clear-cut No. 2 on the depth chart behind Marks, with true freshman Bryan Jackson and redshirt frosh A’Marion Peterson battling to be RB3.
“We feel like we have four contributors, and we know, if history is any indication, we’re going to need them all at some point,” Riley told USCFootball.com.
“But right now, Woody and Quinten have, at least at this point, separated themselves as the one and two.”
247sports.com
In case you didn’t know, Chad Morton (younger bro of Bruin Killer Johnnie Morton) is in his first season as the RB coach for the Chicago Bears. In episode four of Hard Knocks, Morton was featured pretty heavily. He played for four NFL teams from 2000-06 and has been coaching in the League in various capacities since 2009. The speedy Morton (5-8, 185, Torrance South) was All-Pac-10 at USC, where was the team’s primary RB his final two seasons. As a SR, he led the team with 1,141 yds and 15 TDs on 262 carries and he ranks 12th on the Trojans’ all-time rushing list with 2,511 career… Read more »
Allen, point of correction from a South Bay local–it’s South Torrance, not Torrance South. The Spartans were frequent Bay League foes of my alma mater of Palos Verdes.
Interesting, but please let me explain to our TDB readers why I have to disagree with you here, despite your Palos Verdes background. Actually, there’s not a city in California called South Torrance. There’s a “neighborhood” called South Torrance, but the city is actually Torrance, not South Torrance. Wikipedia refers to Chad Morton’s HS as South High School, a public high school in Torrance, California. It is one of five high schools in the Torrance Unified School District. The five different high schools in Torrance are South (Home of the Spartans), North, West, Torrance, and Drevno. South High’s own website refers to itself… Read more »
Ah, I see your point. As a South Bay resident, we always identified the high school on PCH South or South Torrance. But from a statewide or national audience, the ID would be Torrance South High School. no one else on this blog cares about this point except you, me and the Morton brothers!😎
The Morton’s are two of my favorite USC players all-time.
How could anyone ever forget Johnnie’s 23-yd catch from Marinovich in the corner of the Rose Bowl EZ to beat UCLA 45-42 in 1990. Just incredible, and such a fantastic moment in USC football history.
They call it Morton’s Corner