USC Football At Critical Stage

State of USC’s football program: Overhaul complete. Now comes the ‘critical’ stage

Ryan Kartje (LA Times —  Every aspect of Lincoln Riley’s football program, every plan, every decision, every note from every season he’s spent as a head coach is accessible from an iPad that he has at the ready.

At Oklahoma, any given season’s notes might take up between 150 and 200 pages on Riley’s iPad. His first campaign as USC’s coach required, well … a few more.

“Year 1 here,” Riley said this week, “I had over 600.”

Riley spent some time poring through those notes since USC’s Cotton Bowl loss, assessing from every angle how far the team had come in his first year. It was the first chance he’d had to do much reflecting, Riley said, and it became clear in that process how much he might’ve missed with all the macro changes being made.

Sitting down with reporters this past week, Riley was blunt while assessing where the program stood when he arrived. The roster was worse, in spots, than expected. Certain aspects of the program, such as nutrition, were lagging way behind. There was no means for quantifying accountability with players. All those systems needed to be put in place.

“When you take over something new that also requires a complete overhaul, it’s amazing how much there is to do in the first year,” Riley said. “You’re so into every little part of it, I think maybe you lose — or not lose, it may be difficult to find some of that overall perspective. Every little thing has to be changed and answered for.”

The changes that were made helped spur a stunning turnaround as USC went from 4-8 to winning 11 games in Riley’s first season. But at times, Riley explained, the season felt like “a race you can’t ever get ahead in.”

Year 2 shouldn’t require so much catching up. The processes are already in place. The same staff, including embattled defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, remains intact. And as Riley sees it, the talent level of the roster should improve “dramatically,” whether by virtue of a more robust recruiting class or the 11 transfers who have already signed on.

“Now,” he said, “there’s proof of concept.”

The next steps in that plan came into clearer focus this week. Here’s what we know heading into an offseason Riley says will be “one of the more critical times for the program.”

Front and center? The defensive front

Former Purdue DE Jack Sullivan will be part of USC’s defensive front next season.
(Stew Milne / AP)

It wasn’t lost on anyone, Riley least of all, how much USC relied, game in and game out, on Tuli Tuipulotu getting to the quarterback.

“The reality was if he didn’t get there, our chances weren’t super high,” Riley admitted.

Tuipulotu, who led the nation in sacks with 13.5, is off to the NFL, leaving the cupboard even more bare up front for USC. But Riley and his staff have already made some major headway in restocking the position.

USC added a former five-star edge defender from Texas A&M in Anthony Lucas and a productive defensive end in Jack Sullivan, who broke out last season at Purdue. Arizona transfer Kyon Barrs was “one of the more explosive interior defensive linemen in the league”, according to Riley, and should offer a boost where USC desperately needed one. Oklahoma State inside linebacker Mason Cobb was an All-Big 12 selection last season and almost certainly will be a starter, while Riley has raved about the playmaking ability of Georgia State edge rusher Jamil Muhammad.

A more robust class of freshmen should help with depth as well. Six of USC’s 19 signees in the 2023 recruiting class are along the defensive front. More could still be on the way.

“That front will probably turn over more than any position on our football team this year,” Riley said.

O-line pipeline

WSU OL Jarrett Kingston blocks during a game against ORE ST. Kingston will be part of a new-look offensive line for the Trojans in 2023. (Young Kwak / AP)

The only position that might rival that rebuild is the offensive line, where USC must replace three of its five starters from last season.

But what might’ve seemed like a major concern a few weeks ago feels much less urgent now after a few quick trips to the transfer portal.

Washington State offensive tackle Jarrett Kingston emerged as one of the better pass protectors in the Pac-12 last season. Over 399 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, he didn’t give up a sack and gave up just three hurries. He’s now a Trojan and could step in immediately to replace Bobby Haskins.

Florida transfer tackle Michael Tarquin is likely to fit in first at right tackle, given that’s where he started last season. But he’ll be challenged by Courtland Ford and Mason Murphy, both of whom have starting experience.

With Jonah Monheim set to move inside to guard and Justin Dedich settling in at center, the only looming question might be at left guard, where junior Gino Quinones got the start during the bowl game.

Caleb in Year 3

Riley has now coached three different Heisman Trophy winners, plus another Heisman finalist, but he’s never worked with any of those quarterbacks after they’d won the prestigious award.

He’ll get that chance with Caleb Williams, whose heroic showing as a sophomore this season begged questions of how his ceiling as a quarterback could possibly be any higher.

“There’s still a lot of things that the kid can get better at,” Riley insisted.

The spotlight will burn much brighter next season. Only once has there been a repeat Heisman winner, but the expectations for Williams will be that high. He’ll be the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, too, meaning NFL scouts are sure to spend the season picking him apart. It’ll be a different sort of test for USC’s budding star quarterback.

“There’s certainly things, fundamentally. There’s things mentally that he can do better. There’s things, situationally, he can do better,” Riley said. “That position, it’s such a constant climb. And so yeah, I mean, excited about the progress, but also, there’s gotta be more.”

More talented at receiver?

USC DB Jaylin Smith tackles ARIZ WR Dorian Singer during a game on Oct. 29. Singer will be part of USC’s receiver corps next season. (Rick Scuteri / AP)

Kyle Ford was the sixth overall receiver recruit in the 2019 class. Gary Bryant Jr. was the seventh-rated wideout a year later. And C.J. Williams was the 10th best at the position two years after that.

All three have now left USC via the transfer portal. And yet, given the logjam they have at the position, could the Trojans be more talented at receiver next season?

Replacing a likely first-round pick like Jordan Addison won’t be easy, but Arizona transfer Dorian Singer was among the best receivers in the Pac-12 last season. He absolutely torched the Trojans in Tucson in October and should step up as a top target.

Incoming five-star freshman Zachariah Branch seems poised to make an immediate impact, and Makai Lemon, a top-50 recruit, could be close behind.

Special teams questions

Riley has never spent one of his full-time staff spots on a special teams coordinator, nor has he offered any indication that he might change his mind on the matter. But the coach admitted that USC’s special teams needed to improve in several areas.

That much was clear after Mario Williams muffed a kickoff return in the Cotton Bowl near the goal line, initiating an epic USC meltdown. Riley called the fumble “a monumental error” and labeled USC’s kickoff return efforts as “pretty disappointing on the year.”

He wasn’t pleased with how few touchbacks USC produced — at 43%, USC ranked 84th in the nation — or with USC’s punting, which he said “wasn’t quite as consistent as we would expect them to be.” The Trojans proceeded to mine the transfer portal for a punter and kickoff specialist, Arizona State’s Edward Czaplicki to push Aadyn Sleep-Dalton and Alex Stadthaus.

Riley did express confidence in freshman kicker Denis Lynch, who connected on just 68.2% of his field goals in his first season.

“He missed a few that we would expect him to make,” Riley said, “but he probably made a few that were pretty, you know, that were pretty gutsy, big-time kicks for a young guy in that scenario.”

latimes.com

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Chris
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Chris
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January 19, 2023 3:57 pm

Ethan white is visiting, 1st team all SEC guard. I already feel good about our line, but he could slide into the Voorhees slot and we wouldn’t see a big drop, if any, in production.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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January 19, 2023 9:37 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I’m assuming you mean clean fingernails?😉

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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January 19, 2023 2:04 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I always think I’m funny, but looks aren’t everything

TrojanRJJ
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January 18, 2023 1:36 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I thought SC banned the term “field” as racists. Or is it OK to use the term “field” if you are naming the “Practicum” after an African American female? No disrespect intended towards Felix, she is well deserving of the honor.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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January 18, 2023 3:52 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

I see mao folt is still acting as the see all know all of race relations. just STFU, carol.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2023 10:35 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Never mind the fact she never competed as a USC Trojan Athlete, turning pro out of High School. I guess cause she graduated from USC makes it legit. It is funny that they rename a “field” within a week of the School of Social Work bans the term “field”. She was a great athlete so I really don’t care.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2023 11:05 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

They are gonna need depth to get through another last 3 game guantlet. At least there is a bye before the CCG, assuming SC doesn’t have an early end to the season. No game Thanksgiving weekend means we will watching and waiting for dominoes to fall our way. On the 25th we will be watching Oregon-OSU, Washington-WSU, Utah-Colorado and UCLA-Cal. The way the Pac12 cannibalizes itself anything can happen.

TrojanRJJ
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January 18, 2023 1:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I would say this has to be one of the toughest in the nation. 5 of the last 6 are against potential top 15 teams. Last year’s was brutal with 2 in a row, but 5 of 6, with 3 in a row. At ND and Utah back to back, then two weeks later Washington, at Oregon and UCLA back to back to back. I doubt any team in the nation is playing a gauntlet like that. I really doubt 11-1 next year; I would go with 9-3.

TrojanRJJ
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January 18, 2023 1:32 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

LR shocked me this year. But, I just do not think that SC has the roster on D to pull this off. The front 7 has more talent than last year, but that talent is thin, particularly on the DL. If LR brings in 2 more elite DL, one more elite ILB and two more elite OLB, then the talent on the D will be shored up. The O could use another elite OL. The first six games of the season should be victories, it is the last six that are the killers. If SC gets the amazing TE that… Read more »

Steveg
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January 18, 2023 4:22 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Roberson is visiting USC again this week and Pleasant is looking good. Both DB’s

usc50
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January 19, 2023 11:46 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Yes, that is a brutal schedule and the defense has to be ready this year.
Last year it was fixing the offense. This year it is fixing the defense and special teams. The talent is coming in. It remains to be seen if the defense coaching is up to par.
But it should be good preparation for the Big10 for don’t anticipate for it to be any easier. Most likely harder.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 18, 2023 8:35 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Is he implying USC will only win half its games in the B1G? There are two teams in that conference, the rest are lesser, some much lesser. USC is on the right track to move into that conference and be a challenger, ucla not so much but who ever knows with them.

TrojanRJJ
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January 18, 2023 1:24 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Mandel is forgetting the 12 team format. Under it, SC should make the playoffs regularly. The move was for money and marketing. SC will face the same level of competition in the B10 that it faces in the Pac. Utah, Washington, Oregon (and Oregon State in Corvallis) are all tough opponents. If SC plays in the B10 W, it will see Iowa (a Utah clone) and Wisconsin (ditto) yearly as well as NE. It will see Mich, tOSU, and Penn State irregularly.

Steveg
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January 17, 2023 6:32 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am going to love seeing Branch and hopefully Roderick Pleasant back returning kicks.

Golden Trojan
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January 17, 2023 10:44 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Nelson, Lemon and Branch are going to be amazing trio in 2024. Lemon and Branch will contribute in ’23 as well.

Steveg
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January 18, 2023 8:37 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

I am wondering what will happen to Miller Moss. With Nelson coming in as the heir apparent will he stick or move somewhere where he will finally get some PT.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2023 11:10 am
Reply to  Steveg

If he is smart he stays and gets mentored by Riley and becomes a coach. If he was NFL material he would be gone already.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 17, 2023 6:00 pm

Kyle Ford commits to …..ucla.

Chris
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January 17, 2023 6:07 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Demoted to JV.

PN4SC
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January 17, 2023 6:53 pm
Reply to  Chris

For the life of me, I don’t understand how someone could play for SC, and then transfer to fucla, especially with all the options he must have had. He must not be too bright. He could have spent his entire life an SC alum, and he just screwed himself. Poor career choice.

ATL D.D.S.
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January 18, 2023 6:16 am
Reply to  Steveg

What was KF thinking?. Bless his heart.

Golden Trojan
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January 17, 2023 10:45 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Interesting to see the NIL deals. Did Nelson take a pay cut going from High School to College?

Steveg
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January 18, 2023 8:39 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Jadan Rashada sure got screwed at Florida, is now trying to get out of his commit and LOI and go elsewhere. It makes Florida look really bad right now.

TrojanRJJ
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January 16, 2023 12:46 pm

I do not know if you guys have been following the FL NIL saga with the CA QB Rasdada. The kid is a 4 star out of the Bay Area. FL collective offered him a $13 M “pay for play” NIL (over 4 years). That is a solid NFL back up contract. I doubt Matt Barkley makes that much. Well, FL boosters woke up and realized that they had hugely overpaid for the kid and advised him that he would have to renegotiate his deal. He signed the Letter of Intent with FL based on that NIL. Well, he was… Read more »

Fighton74
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January 16, 2023 11:34 am

Recently I have seen a few articles on recruiting as to how USC creates a championship defense compared to Georgia with Safeties and LB’s. All hypothetical’s of course. However when 2 high level recruits enter the transfer portal from Georgia’s defense. One being a 5 star OLB and another 4 star ILB I would hope that we would be on to both of them immediately. I realize of course that many teams are after those guys, but why not us. Georgia’s success the past two years is due to there defense and the depth they have at those positions. The… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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January 16, 2023 12:46 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, how many scholarships do we have left to give?

Steveg
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January 16, 2023 7:17 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

RJJ, there is a guy on On3 that is keeping track and right now he has USC with 86. So that means by the end of spring ball someone has to leave. Anyone else leaving will open slots for portal players.

TrojanRJJ
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January 16, 2023 12:50 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Great receiver. I cannot recall him dropping a ball. Taj, Brendan Rice and Mario Williams all regularly dropped passes. Rice really corrected that issue in the Tulane game. Other guys with no drops that I can recall are Kyle Ford and Michael Jackson. I hope Ford gets on a team that has a competent QB , a competent OC, and a competent passing scheme. I would think Purdue should be a great match, but Purdue just lost its QB to graduation. But, I wish him well; he as a great player.

volunteerTrojan
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January 16, 2023 3:09 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Not predicting here, but Tenn seems to be a popular next stop for USC transfers. He could line up with Bru McCoy, who had himself a pretty nice season.

UtahTrojan
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January 16, 2023 6:53 pm

I was thinking TN as well.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 15, 2023 5:34 pm

Glad to hear Justin Dedich announces he will return for 2023.

Chris
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Chris
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January 15, 2023 4:24 pm

Dedich officially coming back. He’s been at workouts, so it was expected, but good to have him back. Going to be anchoring our line.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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January 16, 2023 4:50 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Dedich in HS looks like Buzz McAllister (Kevin’s older brother) in Home Alone and Home Alone NewYork!😂

rleeholder1
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January 17, 2023 5:32 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Such an important position to have back on the OL. In my opinion, Centers don’t get enough credit for what they do. They make the OL calls, often have a DL right on their nose and have to make quick, accurate snaps, especially in the “shotgun” formation. Looking forward to the 2023 season and hope to attend a game in the Coliseum this year.

rleeholder1
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January 18, 2023 5:57 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I’ll never forget his bowling ball shotgun snaps to JT Daniels when JT was a Freshman. I think the year was 2017. Those errant snaps had JT running for his life most of the time and JT was/is not known for his running ability. I hope Toa is doing good as well. I understand JT has transferred again to Rice. Hope he does well enough to earn some attention from the NFL. I’ve always liked him and thought he got a raw deal at USC with Martin and Helton.

Petero
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January 15, 2023 12:26 pm

Mid last week a Oregon St. an ALL Pac 12 1st team LB entered portal. Don’t remember name…..Does anyone know if we have offered him?

Chris
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Chris
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January 15, 2023 1:04 pm
Reply to  Petero

Message board rumor is that he is headed to Bama. Same rumor says he was tampered with and offered big NIL money to go there.

TrojanRJJ
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January 16, 2023 12:53 pm
Reply to  Chris

Chris, I think all these elite kids have agents who shop them. I know if I were an elite talent, that is what I would do. Speights is an elite talent. I would love to get him, but when I read that FL paid an unproven 4 star HS QB 13 M, I have no idea what a kid like Speights can garner. I do know SC does not play the “pay for play” NIL game.

TrojanRJJ
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January 15, 2023 8:46 am

Did you ever wonder about who was really the best player in college say at QB. We NOW know the best QB in 2016 was Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech. Kliff Kingsbury was the coach and the Mahomes lead team went 5-7 in 2016. The best QB in 2017 was Josh Allen of Wyoming. His team went 8-5. How about 2021? Pretty clear is was Brock Purdy of Iowa State. Purdy is now 6-0 as the 49er starter, and I saw him play for the first time yesterday as the 49ers demolished the Seahawks. I stopped watching after the middle… Read more »

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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January 15, 2023 8:18 am

The story goes that USC was originally known as the fighting Methodists and that one afternoon a newspaper reported stated that they fought like Trojans. The name stuck.
I just hope nobody points out that the Chargers played like Trojans (losing a game they had all but won) I don’t think the city could stand two teams with same mascot.

Golden Trojan
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Golden Trojan
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January 15, 2023 8:13 am

I haven’t watched a Chargers game in a few years. After last night, I remember why! Why would anyone be a die hard Chargers fan? Life is too short for that kind of aggravation. What’s worse choking for 30 min or 5 min?

TrojanRJJ
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January 15, 2023 8:19 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

I am not a fan of the pros. I watch them for entertainment. The Chargers never were much. I liked watching them when John Hadl was the QB and then when Coryell coached them with his innovative O. I thought the D played a lights out first half, but then failed to adjust when the Jags did. The game, however, was lost on O. They scored only 3 points in the second half. The Jags, I thought, were the better team.

ATL D.D.S.
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January 14, 2023 5:06 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I remember seeing all of these guys on campus during my undergrad days. Can’t believe one of them has passed.

TrojanRJJ
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January 15, 2023 8:24 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am amazed the athletic department let the football program devolve into such a mess. The problem with nutrition was also confirmed by a transfer (I cannot remember who) who said that the nutrition approach at the transfer school was light years ahead of the Cat. It is remarkable how much LR accomplished in his first year (he is clearly an elite HC). The issue is going to be if he can now develop a DC who is at least average. What I find amazing is that no one has mention that SC special teams were rated by PFF as… Read more »

RialtoTrojan
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January 14, 2023 9:54 am

I think the recent portal acquisitions show that Riley is aware of the defensive deficiencies and special teams needs. That’s a good sign. That Helton was allowed to degrade the program so deeply is a bad sign. I don’t want to blame the players or the recruiting, but certain areas stand out. For instance the area of player development must have caused regression. Either the players were allowed to do whatever they did in high school to get them into USC without coaching at a college level. Or the coaches were not adept at teaching correct techniques at a college… Read more »

volunteerTrojan
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January 14, 2023 4:56 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Yes.

HOF19
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HOF19
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January 14, 2023 9:14 am

This programs next accomplishment can only be win the Pac-12 (minimum) ….It got to the Pac-12 Championship game but lost. Am I saying that if SC fails to even play in the Pac-12 Championship OR loses say …….3 regular season games next year that they took a step backwoods ? ….Well reading USC’S Beat Writers they would WITHOUT a DOUBT consider that a step backwoods .

volunteerTrojan
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January 14, 2023 8:51 am

I think the resources are there, but the program hasn’t taken advantage of them. Thanks Helton.

rleeholder1
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January 14, 2023 8:20 am

Kartje’s comment of “certain aspects of the program, such as nutrition, were lagging way behind” is troubling. With all the horsepower that USC has from a medical and health perspective, to say that nutrition is lagging way behind kind of blows me away. Maybel I’m biased being a two-time SC Alum and having been treated at the Keck Medical Center in the past, but I would think USC would be a leader when it comes to nutrition. I didn’t read the rest of Kartje’s article after he said that.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 14, 2023 9:09 am
Reply to  rleeholder1

Didn’t LR hire a new nutritionist this season? Did she fail or has she not gotten the program off the ground.

rleeholder1
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January 14, 2023 9:13 am
Reply to  Steveg

Steveg: I honestly don’t know. I now live in Northwest Arizona and don’t get a lot of details on the program like I used to when I lived in the LA area.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 14, 2023 7:34 am

I like his honesty about Caleb still having a lot of things he can get better at. I sometimes think he is slow making his reads and that is why he is having to escape the rush. The pocket only holds so long. Perhaps that is his off season project.