Is No. 5 USC as strong as its record? Some good and bad Trojan slants…
USC coach Lincoln Riley and Heisman favorite Caleb Williams have gotten off to a hot start, but bigger tests loom in the suddenly potent and on-its-last-legs Pac-12
Thuc Nhi Nguyen (LA Times) — There was no way Lincoln Riley would bite, even if the stats gave him a perfect reason to indulge.
“Do you think this team has the chance to be the best team you’ve ever coached?” a reporter asked this week.
Riley recoiled.
“This team has a chance to be a very good team,” said Riley, who is in second year leading USC and took three teams to the College Football Playoff in his first six seasons as a coach. “But we’re three games in. We’re one conference game in with a lot of things we haven’t done yet that we’re getting opportunities to do so. We’ll get our chance, just like we have every year. If we are [one of my best teams], then we’ll prove it here in the next couple months.”
The No. 5 Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) cruised into the bye week with blowout wins against San José State, Nevada and Stanford, but even putting up 50 points in three consecutive games for the first time in school history won’t count for much on USC’s final resume. For a team with championship aspirations, the wins were only the beginning.
Williams’ Heisman hopes
Caleb Williams slides a throw past a STAN defender in the first quarter at the Coliseum on Sept. 9. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Some of his numbers aren’t as gaudy as other contenders, but Caleb Williams is still the Heisman favorite for a reason.
The reigning winner is executing with ruthless efficiency: He leads the country in pass efficiency while ranking modestly in total offense (16th, 313 yards per game) and passing yards (16th, 292.7). Despite playing 25 of USC’s 36 drives, Williams still leads the nation in passing touchdowns with 12. He is averaging one touchdown for every 5.8 passes.
With Williams leading the charge, USC’s offense is on pace to be the highest-scoring team of Riley’s coaching career. The Trojans averaged 59.3 points per game through three weeks.
Vibes in the receiver room
Zachariah Branch beats STAN’s Gaethan Bernadel for a TD in the second quarter at the Coliseum on Sept. 9. (Wally Skalij/LAT)
In a position group as deep as USC’s receivers, the best ability is humility.
“Being too selfish breaks teams,” receiver Brenden Rice said. “You see this group of guys knowing that everybody and anybody wants to be that big playmaker, but everybody’s going to support each other and that’s what makes the Trojans a really good team.”
The arsenal of skill players will be vital as the quality of opponent increases during Pac-12 play after last year’s receiving stats were dominated by Jordan Addison.
Different players lead the Trojans in catches (Mario Williams, 10), receiving yards (Tahj Washington, 233) and touchdowns (Washington and Rice, three). The group is so deep that preseason camp MVP Kyron Hudson has struggled to find a place, earning three catches for 42 yards. Freshman phenom Zachariah Branch has nine catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns but is making his biggest impact on special teams, where he’s already scored on kickoff and punt returns.
Pressure in the backfield
Solomon Byrd against NEV on Sept. 2 at the Coliseum. (John McCoy / AP)
USC is not just stacked at the skill positions. The coaching staff’s offseason transfer portal raid is paying off on the defensive front, where the Trojans are thriving with a variety of pass rushers.
USC has 27 tackles for loss (nine per game), with no player tallying more than 4½. After Solomon Byrd’s team-leading total, nickelback Jaylin Smith has 3½ tackles for loss.
The balanced approach is a key improvement from last season when the Trojans averaged 5.6 tackles for loss behind Pac-12 defensive player of the year Tuli Tuipulotu, who notched 22 of USC’s 79 tackles for loss.
Diversifying the defensive pressure was a priority for the Trojans. Five of the team’s 15 new transfers were defensive linemen or rush ends.
“Everyone’s just out there trying to eat,” said freshman rush end Braylan Shelby, who has two tackles for loss and one sack. “We try to feed each other. If we stay in our rush lanes, good things are going to happen.”
CB Domani Jackson during a game against SJS on Aug. 26 at the Coliseum. (Kyusung Gong / AP)
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch commended Smith, the nickel, and safeties Bryson Shaw, Max Williams and Calen Bullock for their performance against Stanford, but the corner position is in flux.
Sophomore Domani Jackson soon could be battling Christian Roland-Wallace for a starting spot. The Arizona transfer was working as the No. 2 nickel during camp after Jackson grabbed the starting cornerback spot, but Roland-Wallace seems to be moving into a larger role. He played the most snaps of any defensive player against Stanford, according to Pro Football Focus, and spelled Jackson at cornerback.
The unforgiving position has magnified the pressure on Jackson as he returns from a knee injury suffered during his senior year at Mater Dei. The former five-star prospect’s untapped potential comes in contrast to the veteran Roland-Wallace, who led Arizona in tackles last season while starting all 12 games at cornerback.
Although his experience could give him an advantage, the redshirt senior said he has no problems rotating with Jackson and fellow cornerback Ceyair Wright.
“I trust in the staff,” Roland-Wallace said. “I trust in Coach Riley, Coach Grinch, Coach Donte [Williams]. However it happens to play out, I am completely fine with it. I know they’re doing what’s best for the team.”
Penalties
MarShawn Lloyd puts a stiff arm to STAN LB Spencer Jorgensen in the second quarter at the Coliseum on Sept. 9. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC is the most-penalized team in the Pac-12, tied with Arizona and Oregon with eight per game. Half of the team’s 24 penalties have been for holding.
“Some of the penalties just make you want to pull your hair out,” Riley said.
Holding penalties negated two touchdowns against Stanford. The Trojans made up for the call that wiped out MarShawn Lloyd’s 29-yard touchdown in the first quarter by scoring four plays later with a three-yard rush from Austin Jones, but Michael Jackson III didn’t get another chance after his 74-yard punt return was called back for holding by Duce Robinson.
While Riley can forgive the occasional aggressive penalty, “careless” penalties continue to irk him.
“Good teams don’t do that, good players don’t get dumb penalties,” Riley said. “And for us, I told them, it’s really simple: If we get some of the penalties like we did, those guys aren’t going to play. I mean, there’s no player that’s so good that they’re worth that. We’ll get it corrected.”
The schedule
CU WR Tar’Varish Dawson (6) is congratulated by WR Xavier Weaver after scoring a TD in the second half against NEB on Sept. 9 in Boulder, Colo. (David Zalubowski / AP)
It’s easy to look good against USC’s early schedule. There still are more unanswered questions about the team than sure things, and the upcoming slate will show who the Trojans really are.
USC has three of its next four games on the road and six of its final nine games against teams in the Associated Press top 25. Three of those games — No. 18 Colorado, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 13 Oregon — are on the road. The strength of the Pac-12 (yes, really) means the Trojans don’t need an undefeated run to secure a playoff berth, but they still can’t afford two losses. The College Football Playoff never has featured a two-loss team.
latimes.com
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Some things never change. Lane still loves to kick the hornet’s nest — and isn’t above using Taylor Swift for help. “Lane Kiffin isn’t heading into Alabama quietly as the Ole Miss head coach pulled off two troll jobs on the Crimson Tide already. Kiffin started stirring the pot by stating that he had a source in Tuscaloosa who told him that Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was not calling the plays for Alabama’s defense. This statement earned a quick response from Nick Saban, who rejected the claim. “Kiffin also posted a video of Taylor Swift performing her song ‘Castles… Read more »
Lincoln Riley’s USC Truck
Per Colin Cowherd — “They have a thing at USC where they got him a truck. He can look at all his film and do his homework and get driven to work in the back of it. When Philip Rivers was in San Diego, they bought these little vans, so Philip could sit in his chair and do all his game films and practice work. That’s what Lincoln has.”
Halftime Virginia vs Maryland game on FS1 …..Fox halftime guys …..Just now …… Spending a decent amount of time discussing Colorado winning Pac-12 this year .
Giving up 60 pts per Pac game won’t get it done
Lincoln Riley In Interview With Graham Bensinger
“I’m on the clock. I don’t know how I’ll feel in a few years. I became a head coach so young. I was only 33. My mindset was always like, ‘If I can make it to 50 (he’s 40 now).’ There’s other things I want to do. I don’t know exactly what they are. I don’t have the list right now. I just know there’s other things I want to do and experience. I may have a different tune when I get to 49. I don’t care a lot about legacy.”
I would not want to be CSU and Jay Norvell tomorrow.
One thing we know for sure about Primetime. He needs no speech writers.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1702405909983396213
Okay I just may have to add a bet in the weekly contest.
Primetime’s everywhere. I’ve seen him on five different channels today, none of which has ever mentioned any aspect of college football whatsoever that I’ve ever seen before. He’s the biggest personal one-man phenomenon to ever hit college football IMO, and my hat’s totally off to the guy. Plus, he’s doing all this under incredible personal health problems. Balls of steel. I pray he beats ORE in Eugene the week before the USC game. GameDay and Big Noon Kickoff may have to show up yet again. And if not, it’ll still get rankings (you know how I love rankings) that will… Read more »
ESPN, FS1 and one other were all in Boulder and had Primetime on their shows. Good to see Colorado relevant again. I read where he’s getting tons of calls from recruits who want to play for him. I do hope he beats ORE the week before we have to go up to Eugene.
Drake Jackson had a monster game for the 49ers last Sunday. He is now playing his correct position (DL) at this correct weight (275lbs). As you might recall, the Helton staff move Drake to OLB and had him play at 230 lbs. Played the kid in the wrong position and had him slim down to play it. Good for him he landed with a solid team whose staff recognized his correct position and allowed him the time to adjust from the lousy college coaching and program he was unlucky enough to play for. I wonder how many other kids suffered… Read more »
Herbie is blowing Suckisian like there is no tomorrow … after 15 years of filling ya with how great his ass boy Suck is. Suckisian finally won something. Hopefully Suck pulls a Suck and loses to Houston.
I can’t stand Herbie. He was a backup QB for Ohio State when USC kicked Ohio State’s butt in the LA Coliseum in 1989. He did some mop up duty at the end of the game. SC then went back to Columbus, Ohio the next year and kicked the Buckeyes’ butts again with Todd Marinovich at QB. Herbie has hated on us ever since those days although he hides it well at times.
This is just me but I hope these Kids on USC’s team don’t EVER look at the AP Poll .Just worry And Focus on the Next team up on the schedule ……….FIGHT ON !!!!!
HOF19, I think the coaching staff is way too good for a serious let down. And, the kids know how important each game is for them to reach their goals. They are playing the toughest schedule in the nation. I can hardly wait to see just how good this team really is. I do know that the team has improved hugely since its first game.
If this team has a let down it won’t be because of the coaching staff. LR says, cause a dumb penalty – you are on the bench, phone it in in garbage time – you are on the bench. Doesn’t matter who you are.
Buffalo Fever Once again, Colorado’s game is getting more bets than any NFL game this weekend Nick Bromberg (Yahoo Sports) — “Bettors cannot get enough Colorado. “The Buffaloes are 23.5-point favorites against Colorado State on Saturday night and are once again the most-bet football team of the weekend at BetMGM. And it’s not even close. Over 90% of bets and 95% of the money bet on the spread is on the Buffaloes to cover. “You see the lineup this morning for kids to get tickets?” Deion Sanders said in a video posted to X on Wednesday. “They say the city made $18 million… Read more »
An interesting article in the SB Sun Jon Wilner is pointing out that the PAC 12 commissioner responded to the PAC 2 by saying nobody has left the PAC 12. Nobody has formally announced they are leaving. I guess the fact that the other 10 teams have been penciled into other conferences doesn’t mean they’re leaving the conference of chumpions
It seems the question is what constitutes “notice of withdrawal”? SDSU got into that this summer, the MWC resolved it. If the “notice” is not clearly defined in the bylaws, I would think that will be a big mess. GK is in that rock/hard place spot. I’ll let the TDB legal team sort this one out.
One main legal principle that comes to mind is an old contract law standard that “ambiguities are resolved against the maker.” I’m not sure who the “maker” is here (whoever wrote the contract), and if it’s the conference, what help is that? There’s another legal maxim called “res ipsa loquitur“, meaning the thing speaks for itself, and is usually applied in tort or negligence law. Then there’s always the doctrine of “clean hands” which requires the court to deny equitable relief to a party who has violated good faith with respect to the subject of the claim. Did Carol Folt… Read more »
We can count on liberal college presidents to do what’s fair and equitable, right? 😉
They can always just take some big adversarial swing at it and let some judge tell them what to do. Good luck with that Pac.
The schedule upcoming is going to be extremely exciting. I still think they can run the table, but injuries or a let down against either Arizona team could create serious turmoil in the rankings. Utah has a Qb that we all know will be back for the USC game, and to beat them at their best should put USC in the top 4. With a win over WA and OR at Oregon, they could go to #1 or #2 because they are ranked so high. It really looks like the ND game will be a battle royal and we have… Read more »
Lane Kiffin and Jaxson Dart Stewart Mandel (The Athletic) — “The dark horse to watch in the SEC West is Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin bringing in Oklahoma State transfer quarterback Spencer Sanders told us he wasn’t completely confident in Jaxson Dart, but he’s been singing Dart’s praises since the spring, and the QB has definitely looked sharper. “It’s early, but Dart’s currently the nation’s third-rated passer behind Caleb Williams and Sam Hartman. Louisiana Tech transfer Tre Harris had already amassed 188 receiving yards and five TDs before leaving last week’s Tulane game with a first-half injury. (He’s expected back.) “All that being said, the Rebels were in a dogfight with the Michael Pratt-less… Read more »
LOL … Goatboy Kiffin is a born loser. Ole Piss will fire him.
Colorado fans are getting a little full of themselves after 2 wins. It’s cute. They will get one more this week then reality will set in.
Chris, NO ONE knows how good this CO team really is. We will have a clue in two weeks when then go to OR. If they beat the Ducks in Eugene, they are for real. They remind me a LOT of last year’s SC team. Great on O but a question mark on D. If the D turns out to be just good, look out. I do expect that the SC/CO game may set a record for the Pac 12 in scoring. I think the CO O is legit as SC’s was last year. this year’s SC’s is clearly better… Read more »
I haven’t read the full article yet, but the schedule this year was set up for a 3-0 start. USC needs to focus on one game at a time, rather than the schedule. ASU is up next and I’ll never forget the lone loss in the 1978 season to them in Tempe, AZ. SC hadn’t faced a QB like Mark Malone that could run and pass equally well. Malone was a big dude too and he went on to play for the Steelers in the NFL. Beat the Sun Devils!
The “Nonce is Invalid” error has been fixed. Your systems will be updated automatically as your browser cache gets flushed and our new blog update gets loaded for you.
Well, John, nonce you very much. You are NEVER in-valid in my eyes and in the eyes of TDB nation.😂