USC’s offensive line bracing for the ‘harsh reality’ that awaits in 2023…
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — After five years together, Justin Dedich hadn’t given much consideration to the fact that one day two staples of USC’s offensive line would be gone. After all the games playing alongside Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees, all the practices and meetings and random outings spent together, it always felt as if he’d have one more.
But Neilon, the Trojans longtime center, was carted off the field with an injury in the Pac-12 title game, and Vorhees, having battled nagging injuries all season, bowed out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. Suddenly, there was no last hurrah and Dedich was playing center ahead of the Cotton Bowl, and Jonah Monheim had kicked inside to guard. An era had ended without warning.
“This is it,” Dedich said with a sigh. “It’s a harsh reality you gotta face. I’m glad we have a new group, and we’re playing well together, but those are my brothers. It makes me sad. It does.”
How harsh that reality winds up for USC depends in large part on Dedich, who’s likely to return for a sixth season as the anchor and leader of the Trojans’ offensive line. He and Monheim would be the only returning full-time starters on the line next year, making major change inevitable.
Those changes have been underway for weeks now. “It’s a brand new shuffle,” Dedich said.
With Dedich moving to center and Monheim to right guard, it’s still unclear how the other pieces will fit for USC. Gino Quinones started a game at guard earlier this season and was expected to slot in at left guard against Tulane, and redshirt freshman Mason Murphy will play one of the tackle spots.
Redshirt senior Bobby Haskins has been the Trojans’ starting left tackle for most of the season, after beating out Courtland Ford for the job. But on Friday, offensive line coach Josh Henson hinted that “you’ll see a lot of [Ford] in the Cotton Bowl.”
More changes could be on the horizon. Transfer offensive tackle Michael Tarquin, who started eight games for Florida this season, committed to USC on Friday afternoon, giving the Trojans a much-needed bookend to Murphy at tackle. Five more freshmen offensive linemen will arrive from the incoming recruiting class, including talented four-star tackle Elijah Paige.
“There will be new faces coming in in the spring, and we’ll see how they fit in,” Henson said. “But it’s a head start for those out on the field practicing right now.”
USC should have no shortage of options to reorganize up front by spring. But it won’t be easy to replace what Vorhees and Neilon have meant to a unit that went through its share of ups and downs.
There was no replacing Neilon’s calm amid the chaos, Dedich and Monheim said. Nor could anyone keep them in check quite like Vorhees, whose many superstitions had become a part of the USC line’s identity.
Once, Dedich made the mistake of grabbing the wrong pregame energy drink for Vorhees.
“I usually grab him, like, Rainbow Unicorn, but I grabbed him, like, Strawberry Blast, and he lost it on me,” Dedich said with a laugh. “He was like, ‘Dude, if we lose this game, it’s because of this.’ ”
Dedich was feeling particularly wistful for those quirks Friday. But as he looked across the locker room at Monheim, he filled with a sense of hope for the future.
“That kid over there, Jonah is really stepping up,” he said.
Reminded he’s now technically the elder statesman of USC’s offensive line, Dedich shrugged. He still can’t quite see it that way. Not yet, at least.
“I guess I might be taking on that role, but I don’t know,” he said. “You just want the success of the room to be that great. Sometimes you’re the leader and you don’t really know it. You’re just playing ball.”
latimes.com
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Anyone remember the argument that an air raid team will never get to the championship? All it takes is some defense.
You are correct Steveg but I said no air raid team has won a nattie. But This TCU team could be the first due to its defense.
GA only led for 1:49 of the game.
But the SOB’s still won, so I have to listen to all of the UGA yahoos this week.
The talented Buckeyes sure came ready to play, but the Bulldogs came through when it counted late in the 4th, like all championship teams do.
I love this GA vs TCU matchup. Cinderella’s probably gonna lose a slipper, but I’m very glad the Horned Frogs prevailed, even though MICH basically gave the game away IMO.
College Football proved today it is so much better than the NFL.
So true. Nothing like CFB, it’s players, coaches, colors, sounds, records, awards, venues, rivalries and traditions.
Happy New Year Allen. The games today were awesome. But after seeing the 4 defenses maybe we were a little too critical of our Trojans defense.
Happy New Year to you too T5, and to all of our TDB community. This past one has been memorable in so many ways.
Fight On TDBers!
With CW, we wouldn’t have been embarrassed, and with a decent chance winning. We do need better linemen and secondary, but the rules so favor the offense that shutdown defenses of the past are becoming ever more rare.
I thought the TCU secondary was the best of the 4 I saw today.
Wow. Another insane game. I don’t think GA would have squeaked out this win with JT Daniels.
Pretty sure I could have kicked that better than the OSU kid. That was terrible.
This is just me …..But Georgia made that drive look not very very hard .
Where’s that been…
Amazing brothers story:
Lincoln Riley — HCing USC in the Cotton Bowl
Garrett Riley — OCing TCU in NC game
Garret will be a HC before much longer.
Very cool. Also, the bothers Clay and Tyson Helton were both in Bowl Games this year, albeit minor ones. We all have our opinions on Clay. I just think he was over his head at USC and in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s a decent guy and glad he landed somewhere where he could be successful. I had a big smile on my face when his Georgia Southern team beat Nebraska this last year. Happy New Year to everyone on TDB. Many thanks to Allen and John for making the blog interesting, fun and enjoyable.
Just want to say Happy New Year to all the faithful TDBers. It’s been a fantastic year and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the journey following the Trojans with all of your insight and contributions. Here’s to an even better 2023!
Ohio State driving after giving up the TD on a busted coverage.
And Ohio State just made the ONE MISTAKE you can not make………Giving up a big play .
Very nice use of a time out there .
I don’t think that was targeting by GA in the EZ. JMO.
If Ohio State wins does the “Biggest Regular Season Game in ALL of College Football (Ohio State vs Mich) ” lose something in importance ?????
Funny how they said that a couple weeks earlier when GA played TN, then numbers 1 and 2.
Wow. OHIO ST is really surprising me. I can’t believe those are the same guys who got pummeled by MICH.
And not in a hundred years would I have bet that the winners of today’s PO games would be TCU and OHIO ST.
These games today are proving that underdogs can pull upsets.
im convinced that with a healthy CW that we can score on these CFP teams.
Agreed.
But the interesting angle is can Miller Moss win the game if Mr. Heisman can’t?
Because they are such different QBs, and I know diddly about Moss, I’d probably still say yes because USC still has this turnover thing I like, as well as WRs who can blow a game wide open, even without Addison.
I’m thinking probably not. CW’s escapabilty is key to his success and unparalleled in cfb today.
Here is the question I have. Does Moss enter the portal after Monday’s game? I could see him transferring to Fresno. They need a qb and Tedford runs a good offense and is a good coach. Would be a good spot for Moss. I don’t see him ever getting the starting job at SC.
I think it depends if he really likes going to school at USC and if he gets a worthwhile NIL bump to leave. A QB can go down at any time. Moss could conceivably be needed, like he might on Monday.
Interesting for the youngster. I wouldn’t be surprised by a decision either way. For all we know, he’s already set ut to join Tedford, this being the secret world of the NIL/portal and all.
So much mystery and uncertainty these days. That’s why teams need such a strong HC to be able to successfully weather this CFB environment.
It’s so much different these days with the transfer portal and NIL. I remember when Matt Cassel backed up Carson Palmer then Matt Leinart. Cassel never started a game for USC and yet had a successful NFL career, albeit a rocky one. With Nelson coming in next year, Moss may find himself in the same position as Cassel did barring injury to CW or Nelson.
Okay I take that back. TD for Ohio State. Maybe Georgia is in trouble.
I still think NFL feeder GA will win by 14-17 once they get their bearings. With QBs being so mobile these days, defenses can’t cover all these open receivers all over the place. Good start for the Buckeyes, but I seriously doubt they can sustain it. JMHO.
Our future conference mates in Michigan and Ohio State are not doing well today.
So much for smash mouth B1G football. If MI’s defense couldn’t stop TCU, they wouldn’t have stopped USC. From what I’m seeing today, I have no doubt we’ll be in the hunt for the B1G championship early and often.
I think TCU’s offense is pretty darn good, and Max Duggan is one of those guys who seem to make everyone a little better.
Hmmmmm ………………..Chris Coyte Pac-12 Ref doing this game …….A lot of yellow colored cloth on this field tonight ?????
Here is a kinda weird question that just popped into my mind ……Behind closed doors when the “Board of Directors ” of the Big-10 get together does one of them ask >>> “Which would we prefer at this point in time (TV Marketing-wise) as a member of the Big-10 ….. Rutgers ………….or Colorado ” ?????
Make ALL the “Experts” wrong TCU ……Win …………It ………..ALL !!!!!
Sure, why not. Break up the monotony of the few team playoff hegemony.
Congratulations to TCU and Sonny Dykes. Never thought much of him when he was at Cal but he’s done a heck of a job.
Cal held him back.
Just another nail in CAL’s coffin. They can’t win on the field, Sonny Dykes proves he could win at the very highest level elsewhere, and they need UCLA to give them money so they can still field a team. Life is good!
Sonny Dykes really has emerged in his first year at TCU. He’s really never had anything close to a season like this before. of course, very few have — especially based on how little we all thought of TCU (5-7 last year) before the season.
Phil Steele ranked TCU at #51 in the pre-season. Athlon parked the Horned Frogs at #55.
What an amazing season! Now USC just needs to beat TULANE in the Cotton Bowl and nail down an even higher AP/Coaches rank going forward with big momentum into spring.
And NOW Michigan fans have the moment in the game they can b##tch about all winter long .
MICH got outplayed. Maybe they should bitch about that.
Wow, crazy game.
TCU, Cinderella Supreme. I wouldn’t call that targeting, either.
If USC had a defense as good as TCU they would be undefeated right now
Targeting ?????
TCU the better team tonight but not by a lot.
Uh Michigan ………………Time Outs ?????
Harbaugh’s clock management was awful.
What needs to said in the TCU Offense huddle ????? ……”We Ain’t letting Michigan Offense back on this field ” !!!!!
Does this TCU Defense have The Big Clutch Play in them ?????
Nope.
I still think Mich can win this game .
Especially if they keep getting “catches” that aren’t really caught.
Now we are seeing the punters show their stuff .
That TCU punt returner needs to decide if he’s really suited for the position after letting one drop right next to him and roll another 12-15 yds, putting the Horned Toads into a hole.
TCU Coach trusting his defense by just taking the Field Goal here ?
Does defense even exist anymore? Not in a lot of the games I’m seeing.
The TCU-Michigan game is off the charts. Wild game
First to 70 wins!
What a great TCU/MICH game. Should be a wild 4th Q.
Well it AIN’T TCU’s defense .
Now which defense makes the first stop TCU’s Defense or Michigan’s ?????
It is like a boxing match ….Michigan knocks TCU to the Mat ……And TCU gets right up and throws a right hook to the head and knocks Michigan to the Mat.
Somebody needs to tell Michigan that when you score you need to stop the other team as well too.
I know what happened here ………………..They Forgot to tell TCU that they AIN’T supposed to win this game .
Michigan is back in the game.
Leading 20-6 at half, TCU is now favored to beat MICH by 7.5.
I didn’t have a horse in this race before the game, but now I’m all fired up to see the Horned Frogs pull off a pretty darn big upset.
It seemed like everyone was sold on MICH to win this one. The Wolverines have made some huge mistakes, but still nailed a 59-yd FG (not a typo) as the 1st half ended. Momentum is so important.
Michigan needs to score a TD before halftime to get back in this game.
Give TCU credit for playing a good game so far and not being too overwhelmed.
I don’t know who’s gonna win or lose the Fiesta Bowl, but quick and athletic TCU has clearly thought they could win it from the very beginning. HypnoToad’s galore.
This game is nuts
I am not too concerned about a huge drop off on the line. My guess is the coaches know what they’re doing. They have molded a much better unit in one year than we have seen in several years. When they start getting blue chip prospects in the future we will be watching a machine. The quarterback of the future has enrolled and will have a great model to follow. Some people in other places are complaining that Tulane is beneath us, but I believe the Cotton bowl committee has a good matchup. USC wins if they come to play… Read more »
TULANE is a great opponent for USC at this stage. I don’t think USC deserves a higher-ranked opponent and hopefully, USC handles business. I sure don’t want to hear any excuses that the Trojans weren’t up enough for the Cotton Bowl.
As they say, play the game, not the name.
If we had the coach that should never be mentioned again I would be very worried about this game. The team would not be up for a win. I suspect LR will have the team ready.
TCU came to play today and Michigan looks tight.
Duggan can play, Dykes can coach, and MICH started off so fast, they seem trapped by the quick change of events and a 14-0 Horned Frog lead sure makes this an interesting game.