USC’s New Offense Should Be Awesome…

Reloaded USC ready to debut Lincoln Riley’s signature offense

Riley had a top-10 scoring offense in each of his seven seasons at Oklahoma

Adam Grosbard (OC Register —  When USC announced the hiring of Lincoln Riley in November, there were many reasons for optimism. A new energy on the recruiting path, a coach with College Football Playoff experience, a level of legitimacy that USC had not enjoyed for several seasons.

But perhaps the biggest reason for excitement surrounding Riley’s hiring: His high-scoring and creative offense.

In each of his seven seasons at Oklahoma as both offensive coordinator and head coach, Riley’s offenses ranked at least No. 8 in points per game. He turned Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray into Heisman Trophy winners, not to mention producing high-end NFL talent such as Mark Andrews, CeeDee Lamb and Joe Mixon.

Saturday’s season opener against Rice will be the first opportunity to see how Riley implements his iteration of the Air Raid at USC after spending an off-season remolding the roster into his image (more on that in a moment).

It’s difficult to predict exactly what the season will hold for USC. The natural growing pains that come with a new coaching staff and a bundle of new players all across the field make predictions mere speculation.

But a high-powered offense under Riley is a near certainty.

“Coach Riley, he’s a mastermind, so he’s got all that stuff up in his head. I don’t know where he puts it all,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “It’s one of the reasons why I came here, because of his adaptability to being able to adapt to his quarterbacks and certain personnel.”

Now, as for that personnel …

Quarterback

Williams’ transfer from Oklahoma in February was an important moment for this offense. He provides Riley a quarterback who knows his system and already has his trust, not to mention one that fits exactly what Riley wants to do with his mobility and arm strength.

Running Back

Despite losing Keaontay Ingram to the NFL draft, USC added a lot of intriguing talent to this room to go alongside Darwin Barlow, who rushed 62 times for 289 yards last season.

The biggest addition is former Oregon running back Travis Dye, who accrued 1,673 total yards from scrimmage last season while rushing for 16 touchdowns. He has averaged at least 6.0 ypc each of the last three seasons and his ability to contribute in the pass game will make him a valuable asset.

USC also added Stanford transfer Austin Jones and blue-chip freshman Raleek Brown, whose speed should make him an option not only in the backfield but out at the slot, too.

Wide Receiver

This is the unit that got perhaps the biggest influx of talent across the entire USC roster. The headliner, without question, is Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison, whose top-end speed made him a no-brainer addition in May despite all the other receivers USC added prior to spring camp.

Former Oklahoma wideout Mario Williams provides Riley and Caleb Williams (no relation) a familiar target to work with, and also has noticeable speed on the field. Brenden Rice gives USC a bigger target at 6-foot-2, while Terrell Bynum is a needed veteran presence in the room.

And don’t forget returners such as Gary Bryant, Tahj Washington and Kyron Hudson competing for snaps.

Tight End

This position has already been hit by injury with Jude Wolfe requiring surgery and Josh Falo missing much of camp. Falo was back practicing on Tuesday, but Lake McRee figures to be the first-team H-back while veteran Malcolm Epps fills the traditional tight end role.

Offensive line

USC returns four players who started along the line at some point last season, and three have settled into their roles. Long-time stalwarts Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees will man center and left guard, respectively, while redshirt sophomore Jonah Monheim will take over right tackle. And newly-crowned team captain Justin Dedich will step into the right guard job.

The one question that remains for the line is who will take over the left tackle job. Courtland Ford started eight games at the position last year for USC, but the Trojans added Virginia grad transfer Bobby Haskins during the winter. The two are still battling for the starting job, a competition that could spill over into the Rice game.

ocregister.com

________

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TrojanRJJ
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September 2, 2022 7:44 am

Great opening night. Really enjoyed the WV/Pitt game. The story line for SC fans was great. A former SC OC gets a change to show that he never got a fair chance at SC and the freed from the shadow of The Cat, he would shine. Former SC QB and Mater Dei great JT gets a chance to show that Kedon should have never beat him out. And, the opposing QB is Kedon. And, Pat Narducci gets to show Jordan Addison that he made a mistake in leaving PItt. What a story line. My take: HH showed that is still… Read more »

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
September 2, 2022 8:12 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Kedon, Erratic Sack Machine, that’s a good one. Lots of other good points RJJ. JT could regress back with GH, hope he has a plan B, hard to see him in the NFL unless his team and OC step it up. Kedon looks the classic pocket QB but doesn’t have much once the blocking breaks down. Yes, glad all 3 are gone. Looking forward to a show tomorrow

ATL D.D.S.
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September 2, 2022 9:57 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Will JT be Canada bound?

TrojanRJJ
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September 2, 2022 11:39 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I agree on Slovis. Not certain on JT. JT is certainly not a starter. But, he might make a back up or practice squad QB. I think SC will now start choosing far better QB talent. LR is expert at choosing talent and then developing it. If LR wants a QB, a kid would be nuts not to take the offer. Dart was not going to beat out Caleb and probably was not going to accept a back up role, so he left. The kid from Los Al is willing to wait a year. My guess is Miller Moss transfers… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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September 2, 2022 2:01 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Agree. I doubt either JT or Slovis make through the season. JT is a bit more mobile than Slovis, but that is not saying a lot. But, JT has a much worse OL and a scheme that requires him to throw a lot. Hence, he will take more hits. Slovis will take some really bad hits as his is simply not very athletic, even though his OL is decent and the scheme is based on the run. Slovis going against a quality DL is a terrifying thought if I am Slovis’ parents.

Trojan5
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September 1, 2022 8:46 pm

Boy, we are so lucky USC didn’t hire Franklin. Not sure he ever was a real candidate. But he sure gets a lot of publicity g
for a mediocre coach.

volunteerTrojan
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September 1, 2022 9:03 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Purdue has a funky helmet design on the front. Up close, it’s clear it’s a set of train tracks. Further out, it looks like the stitching on a football, like a Super Bowl Trophy.

TrojanRJJ
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September 2, 2022 7:49 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Fun 4th Q. Do not know why Purdue did not keep running the ball and then punt on that last drive. But, I had not watched the game until the 4th Q. I really like Joel Klatt as an announcer. I thought he added a lot to the game.

Steveg
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September 1, 2022 9:56 pm
Reply to  Trojan5

Had SC hired Franklin I could see a lot of fans moving on.

John Weld
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September 1, 2022 8:15 pm

Pitt/WVU, what a great game to open the college football season.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 8:22 pm
Reply to  John Weld

Perdue/Penn St is close back and forth.

John Weld
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John Weld
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September 1, 2022 8:29 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Thanks….on it now

HOF19
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September 1, 2022 7:37 pm

As an SC fan from 3000 miles away videos like this are just GREAT to view >>>>> (from today titled” Lincoln Riley Breaks Down USC’s 1st Depth Chart “) Lincoln Riley breaks down USC football’s first depth chart of the 2022 season – YouTube

San Diego Trojan
September 1, 2022 7:11 pm

Pitt-West Virginia 24 all starting the fourth. Fun to watch and it is very strange watching Slovis on another team, but he looks good and more decisive and healthier than last year. He definitely made the right decision to leave and reinvent himself. JT looks good, but still hangs on to the ball too long. Either Pitt’s D is better or West Virginia’s O-Line is making the one he had at SC look good . He’s taken a lot of hits. I wish them both much success.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 8:18 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Slovis 16/24 308 yds 1 td 0 int
Daniels 23/39 214 yds 2 td 1 int

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 1, 2022 7:40 pm

May be just me, but it looks like Slovis is a smaller version of his USC self. Could it be Pitt’s o-line is bigger than USC’s was last year?

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 6:12 pm

Penn St ranked 17????? They are not any better than 30. The east coast Franklin hype again.

Chris
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Chris
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September 1, 2022 5:36 pm

Graham Harrell offense at it’s finest. Throw it to the same guy 35 times.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 6:29 pm
Reply to  Chris

If Kedon’s receivers had hands they would be killing WV. I lost count all the catchable balls they have let go incomplete.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 1, 2022 7:42 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Ha, I was thinking same thing about Daniels’ WV receivers. Seems his receivers are dropping a lot too.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 1, 2022 7:45 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

“semi-Tombstone stache”…Boom! Great call, I knew I had seen Daniels’ look somewhere, and you brought it home. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.

Chris
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Chris
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September 1, 2022 4:52 pm

Anyone watching the game? So far both JT and Kedon have had good moments. I have no idea why, but I’m rooting for JT.

Steveg
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September 1, 2022 4:54 pm
Reply to  Chris

They look pretty even, neither is really mobile. Can’t wait to see Williams show his wheels.

Chris
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Chris
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September 1, 2022 5:01 pm
Reply to  Steveg
Me too. We haven’t had a guy like that since Rodney Pete 
Scioto
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September 1, 2022 5:02 pm
Reply to  Chris

The new era of college football. Two So Cal kids at QB, but JT Daniels looks like he’s from West Virginia. I can say that, as I grew up in that neck of the woods, and it was the woods. But on the West Bank of the Ohio from all those Pittsburgh and West Virginia yinzers.

Chris
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Chris
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September 1, 2022 5:06 pm
Reply to  Scioto

I’m in the woods now in eastern washington.

Scioto
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September 1, 2022 5:55 pm
Reply to  Chris

Those are some beautiful woods.

My homeland woods are a hollowed out, meth, opioid addicted hellscape. Industrial capitalism > financial capitalism.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 4:51 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Who is Max Chadwick. I like his thinking. Is he from PFF?

Golden Trojan
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September 1, 2022 5:11 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Who ever he is I hope he is right.

HOF19
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September 1, 2022 11:13 am

LOL ……Family member asked if I am planning my ENTIRE Saturday around USC’s opening game ….My response ? …….Absolutely ! ……….FIGHT ON !!!!!

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 11:22 am
Reply to  HOF19

EVERY Saturday is built around the USC game. Hope you enjoy it.

Chris
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Chris
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September 1, 2022 11:23 am
Reply to  HOF19

Yes, yes I am. I will be unavailable on most Saturdays for anything other than real emergencies.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 1, 2022 11:36 am
Reply to  Chris

Even then call 911 during a tv timeout.

RialtoTrojan
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September 1, 2022 1:40 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Yes but do you have your game-day shirt and your Sunday go to meetin’ shirt laid out yet. (I wear one on Sunday and occasionally (when we win) put my “God is a Trojan” button on it.