USC’s Reshuffled OL Centers Around Justin Dedich

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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Steveg
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Steveg
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January 1, 2023 8:27 am

Anyone remember the argument that an air raid team will never get to the championship? All it takes is some defense.

Jamaica
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Jamaica
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January 1, 2023 10:15 pm
Reply to  Steveg

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.

ATL D.D.S.
Noble Genius
ATL D.D.S.
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January 1, 2023 6:22 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

But the SOB’s still won, so I have to listen to all of the UGA yahoos this week.

TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 9:03 pm

College Football proved today it is so much better than the NFL.

Trojan5
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December 31, 2022 9:13 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 9:54 pm
Reply to  Trojan5

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.

Chris
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Chris
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December 31, 2022 9:01 pm

Pretty sure I could have kicked that better than the OSU kid. That was terrible.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 8:49 pm

This is just me …..But Georgia made that drive look not very very hard .

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 8:50 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Where’s that been…

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 8:52 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Garret will be a HC before much longer.

rleeholder1
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January 1, 2023 6:11 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 8:41 pm

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!

TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 8:35 pm

Ohio State driving after giving up the TD on a busted coverage.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 8:28 pm

And Ohio State just made the ONE MISTAKE you can not make………Giving up a big play .

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 8:23 pm

Very nice use of a time out there .

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 7:55 pm

If Ohio State wins does the “Biggest Regular Season Game in ALL of College Football (Ohio State vs Mich) ” lose something in importance ?????

volunteerTrojan
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December 31, 2022 8:55 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Funny how they said that a couple weeks earlier when GA played TN, then numbers 1 and 2.

TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 7:35 pm

These games today are proving that underdogs can pull upsets.

Chris
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Chris
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December 31, 2022 6:15 pm

im convinced that with a healthy CW that we can score on these CFP teams.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 7:39 pm
Reply to  Chris

Agreed.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 8:39 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I’m thinking probably not. CW’s escapabilty is key to his success and unparalleled in cfb today.

Trojan5
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Trojan5
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December 31, 2022 9:25 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

rleeholder1
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January 1, 2023 7:06 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 5:35 pm

Okay I take that back. TD for Ohio State. Maybe Georgia is in trouble.

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 5:28 pm

Our future conference mates in Michigan and Ohio State are not doing well today.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 6:09 pm
Reply to  TrojanMPA90

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.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 5:21 pm

Hmmmmm ………………..Chris Coyte Pac-12 Ref doing this game …….A lot of yellow colored cloth on this field tonight ?????

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 5:17 pm

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 ” ?????

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 5:10 pm

Make ALL the “Experts” wrong TCU ……Win …………It ………..ALL !!!!!

volunteerTrojan
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December 31, 2022 5:17 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Sure, why not. Break up the monotony of the few team playoff hegemony.

TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 5:06 pm

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.

volunteerTrojan
Noble Genius
December 31, 2022 5:17 pm
Reply to  TrojanMPA90

Cal held him back.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 5:05 pm

And NOW Michigan fans have the moment in the game they can b##tch about all winter long .

Chris
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Chris
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December 31, 2022 5:05 pm

Wow, crazy game.

Steveg
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Steveg
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December 31, 2022 5:02 pm

If USC had a defense as good as TCU they would be undefeated right now

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 5:02 pm

Targeting ?????

Steveg
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Steveg
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December 31, 2022 5:00 pm

TCU the better team tonight but not by a lot.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:51 pm

Uh Michigan ………………Time Outs ?????

TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 4:53 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Harbaugh’s clock management was awful.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:49 pm

What needs to said in the TCU Offense huddle ????? ……”We Ain’t letting Michigan Offense back on this field ” !!!!!

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:42 pm

Does this TCU Defense have The Big Clutch Play in them ?????

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:40 pm

I still think Mich can win this game .

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:35 pm

Now we are seeing the punters show their stuff .

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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December 31, 2022 4:25 pm

TCU Coach trusting his defense by just taking the Field Goal here ?

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 4:15 pm

The TCU-Michigan game is off the charts. Wild game

Chris
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Chris
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December 31, 2022 4:13 pm

First to 70 wins!

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 3:58 pm

Well it AIN’T TCU’s defense .

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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December 31, 2022 3:57 pm

Now which defense makes the first stop TCU’s Defense or Michigan’s ?????

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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December 31, 2022 3:55 pm

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.

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 3:54 pm

Somebody needs to tell Michigan that when you score you need to stop the other team as well too.

HOF19
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HOF19
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December 31, 2022 3:38 pm

I know what happened here ………………..They Forgot to tell TCU that they AIN’T supposed to win this game .

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 3:31 pm

Michigan is back in the game.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 2:26 pm

Michigan needs to score a TD before halftime to get back in this game.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 2:16 pm

Give TCU credit for playing a good game so far and not being too overwhelmed.

Chris
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Chris
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December 31, 2022 2:02 pm

This game is nuts

RialtoTrojan
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December 31, 2022 1:46 pm

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 »

UtahTrojan
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December 31, 2022 4:41 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

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.

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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December 31, 2022 1:41 pm

TCU came to play today and Michigan looks tight.