FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Lincoln Riley Insists Trojans Are Stronger

USC is actually stronger and has more depth according to Coach Lincoln Riley.

“We’re a little bit stronger. There’s just a little bit more depth when you put the (second team in), which we don’t really even know who the twos are. But when the second wave of players goes in, there’s not as much of a drop off,” Riley said. “(We are) a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger. We feel a little sturdier, I guess.”

Just not so sturdy to practice three times last week.

You can say you are deeper and stronger but it looks less certain when you cancel a practice.

With USC in the final two weeks of spring drills, it will have to practice four times either this week or next week. But that fourth practice will probably be less physical given the way spring practice is run, especially if there are concerns about depth at some positions.

  • Riley said Jaylin Smith and Latrell McCutchin have enjoyed good moments in spring. That’s two more defensive backs he’s mentioned not named Domani Jackson.
  • With the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club this week, it means Lynn Swann may be making a public appearance. Swann doesn’t make many public appearances but did show at last year’s tournament.
Advertisement

68 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Lincoln Riley Insists Trojans Are Stronger”

      2. Tebow: Why all the hate for Reilly. He got 11 wins last year and had the third best offense. He has brought in some good defensive prospects in the portal and a veteran defensive coach as an analyst. Why don’t you pick on something/someone who really deserves it. Start with NASA and the astronauts. I heard the whole moon landing thing was staged. Are the astronauts queer too or just USC football coaches? I also heard the big bang theory and all the evidence that supports it was made up and that our universe is really part of a multi-verse that spits up universes and that the coronavirus was started in a Wuhan wet market when a bat bit a pangolin. Make sure you wear your mask when you are walking alone outside or driving alone in your car. We would hate to lose the valuable contributions you make to this blog.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Take notice how ‘Ol Mule Shoe gives Grinch the old stiff eye, it’s like he can’t wait to be alone with him.

        Mrs. ‘Ol Mule Shoe, do you think she knows what’s going on with those two or is she none the wiser?

        Poor lady, she’s probably as clueless as ‘Ol Mule Shoe’s defensive staff, hss no idea what’s going on.

        Sad

        Like

      1. tebow KNEW Duce was going to Georgia. He KNEW UCLA would beat USC in 2022. And he was on the Moon when our astronauts DIDN’T land.

        Like

      3. “tebow KNEW Duce was going to Georgia. He KNEW UCLA would beat USC in 2022. And he was on the Moon when our astronauts DIDN’T land.“

        Hilarious!!
        You’re too funny Michael.

        Liked by 2 people

    3. So now you’re an expert on women’s basketball…. Toooo funnnny! Just like you’re an expert on USC football yet claim to be a season ticket holder for the sole purpose of watching the marching band perform live. Then leave early to beat the traffic to catch the end of the game at home.

      Here’s the kicker, you mock people for not attending USC but they are true USC football fanatics, unlike you. I laugh at the hypocrisy!

      Like

      Reply

      1. “Expert” on women’s basketball. Never said that. Another lie.

        SOLE purpose?! Never said that either. Just because we usually leave after halftime, doesn’t mean that’s our sole purpose. Yet another lie. Gamedays are about more than football to us. It’s as much a social gathering as anything else; Not my problem that you don’t get it. Alumni get it.

        Mock people for not having attended USC? Never did that either. (The last paragraph is just a fact, not mocking.) In fact, I have stated more than once that since you root for my alma mater’s team, it would be great if we could get along.

        Some people CHOOSE not to go to college, others never had the opportunity. I was blessed with both the intellectual capacity and the financial means to attend and graduate from USC. Not everyone is as fortunate. I am occasionally AMUSED at people who display their jealousy of not having been able to attend USC. I know that’s part of what riles you about me. Deny it all you like. It’ll just be another of your many lies.

        Go have another drink.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Once again, using an alternative interpretation of your words so you’re not preceived as a lying idiot.(Tooooo funnnny!). Similar to how you use alternative”facts” as a way to push your narrative.

        I am just paraphrasing what you said a while back. I know, you’re too senile to recall what you previously said, so the convenient thing to do is label me a liar.

        Typical behavior of a sociopath!

        Like

      3. Alternative interpretation?! LMAO! Look at your first sentence. All I stated above was that I enjoyed watching the women’s championship game and you post more of your usual bs, about me claiming I’m an expert.

        As Plow Horse said, no one needs to try and make you look stupid. You do that all on your own.

        Have a great day!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Another prime example of your inability to comprehend context. The “alternative interpretation” comment had nothing to do with women’s basketball… FOCUS!.. Knock knock!

        Here’s any idea, instead of arguing all morning, do something productive. I am sure the wifey has a long list of “honey do’s” you have been neglecting

        Like

  2. As far as I can see, USC has good coaches but prima donna players. To state the obvious, any team of 3 star players with a running QB and a 4.4 running back can beat them (e.g., Tulane). Tulane’s strategy was to keep running SC into the ground and out of gas by the end of the game. It worked.
    They have a porous run defense along the line which makes the LB’s and DB’s have to do the job of the line. It’s like an orchestra without a horn and drum section, so violinists have to mimic the sounds of horns and a symphony becomes a cacophony. Oregon, Washington, the Dames and USeeLA will beat them in 23, and any other team with a running attack.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I don’t know why people are so negative. USC did good, not great . LC is good coach not great. But the choice and the math is to move up a few points. Alabama wasn’t in the playoffs. Should we say Saban is horrible?

        This year we confirmed USCs baseline. We confirmed Riley is not a Championship coach yet, but he is close. Both USC players and Coaches have to grow into Championship material. Clean things up. Less bad plays, less average plays and more above average and clever plays. We need the pocket not to collapse. Fans didn’t know CW running around in the backfield wasn’t the design of Football. The Offensive Line was as bad as the defense. So if they improve a notch or more , They will be close. But is taking 1 step forward good enough?

        We will see in 2023.

        Like

  3. Wayne says “any team of 3 star players with a running QB and a 4.4 running back can beat them.” Then how to you explain the wins over Notre Dame and UCLA last year. Also, we have brought in three new defensive lineman, a couple of rush ends, and a linebacker from the portal. We should improve defensively. Our center, Dietich said Kyon Barrs is a load and very difficult for him to block.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. HI PLOW HORSE
      THERES A FAIR CHANCE WE GO 15-0 WITH THAT OFFENSE WE HAVE
      WE ARE LOADED AT THE SKILL POSITIONS
      JUST WATCH US ROLL UP THE POINTS !

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. GT: We will be fun to watch. This year’s team may be similar to the 2005 team with Leinart, Bush, White, Jarrett, ect. A great offense with a questionable defense. That 2005 team had a great o line and could really pound the ball when necessary. I am hopeful that this team will be able to run the ball like that team. If they can, watch out. And our defense should improve. We have some good players on the defensive side.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Wayne usually makes more sense. How in the fuck would “any team with a QB and a 4.4 running back” beat a team with the best QB and receivers in the country? Add Duce Robinson and a sturdy O-Line and a real strong trio of running backs and you have the best offense in NCAA football.
        #AnyOldOffenseWithAQb&FastBackAin’tGonnaBeatThat

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Wait…. A 48-45 loss to USC, that’s a perfect example of a “moral” victory…. You should feel proud. Next seasons score will be a hard pill for you to swallow

        Liked by 1 person

      3. The overall record is 50–33–7 in favor of USC. Multiple national championships. Most rose bowl victories and PAC 12 championships. Been lucky for quite awhile now.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Owns is PARTLY right. UCLA was on it’s way to victory in their final drive…. BUT…. the inevitable happened: DTR took one chance too many.
        #LiveByTheGamble,DieByTheGamble

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Glad you can feel good about losing. You have nothing but losing to us in your future. Three points will turn into 20 plus this year and it’s only going to get worse for you.

        Like

  4. This battle between So Cal and Gabby is really appearing to be to old guys who can’t remember what they themselves or the other has said. It’s like a tennis match, with a little football thrown in.

    Like

    Reply

    1. All I did was state that I was rooting for the Aztecs tonight and enjoyed yesterday’s women’s game. He cries that I only post about Biden, yet when I post about NCAA sports, he still cries. (Where did I claim to be an expert? Just because I enjoyed watching the game?!)

      Don’t be a fool and buy his bs about me forgetting something, because it’s simply not true. You also bought his other bs about me being the one to first bring family into it. No one else does.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Kind of off point: I just watched a 2020 election video wherein Biden was explaining to some young kids how he told Corn Pop how he was going to wrap a chain around his neck.
        #WhatWasThatAbout?
        [Also…. I just saw two of Trump’s attorneys bragging about how loud Trump was going to shout “Not Guilty!” at arraignment. Are they stupid or what? The indictment [by all reports] is fatally flawed] —all they have to do is demur and get this thing into a higher court for review. Once Trump pleads he GIVES the trial court jurisdiction]……

        Like

      3. And 58% of Americans say charging trump with a crime is the right thing to do even if it’s “perceived” as politely motivated.

        Where was your outrage when trump was leading chants at his rally crying “lock her up”

        ……and you call ME a hypocrite….

        Like

      4. Wow!….playing the victim AGAIN! (toooo funnnny!) Here is the comment you replied with to one of our great members “trojan1967″(below). I have not had any interaction with you in days, yet you thought it was appropriate to post one of your typical lame-ass comments directed at me. But you want to convince the blog it’s always ME that starts stuff. And Steve is right about you, he was just being polite about it.

        Lawyer John
        APRIL 2, 2023 AT 10:02 PM
        No no, there was another time when Scott Wolf threw praise on a coach when he congratulated ol’ Helton for finally playing Sam Darnold

        trojan1967
        APRIL 2, 2023 AT 10:10 PM
        John, I think that reference was more like “It’s about time the village idiot figured out what everybody else could see as plain as the nose on their face”.

        So Cal
        APRIL 3, 2023 AT 12:11 AM
        He hasn’t posted today, ’67.

        OH!! You meant Helton. As Emily Litella used to say, “Neverind.” 🙂

        Like

      5. Someone else brought up your nickname. (I am not the only person who has referred to you as such.)

        Playing the victim?!LOL! Once again, look in the mirror.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. What the FUCK!….. Any half-wit could comprehend what 1967 was saying regarding his comment to LJ. Once AGAIN!….. use an alternative interpretation to avoid looking like a lying idiot. It’s comical how you try to run from your cognitive lapses.

        Plus, you always mention OTHERS yet plow horse is the only one who comes to your rescue. I am sure it has nothing to do with the spirited exchanges between plow and myself.

        Like

      7. Also…Steve is right about me?! Your lack of reading comprension and denial are hilarious!

        The comment was directed at both of us, Dumbass.

        Liked by 1 person

      10. MG: If Trump pleads not guilty does he waive the right to demur? Is there such
        a thing as a “judgment on the pleadings” motion in a criminal case?

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Several others besides PH have called you out. Just because you black out when you’re binging and don’t remember doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.

        Neither PH nor I need rescuing, especially from the likes of you.

        P.S. You might want to learn how to use reflexive pronouns correctly.

        Like

      12. What “several” others?…..please name them or it’s just another example of you using an alternative interpretation to avoid being perceived as a lying idiot.

        It must suck for the wifey to live with a sociopath

        PS…. so you feel better, please replace “myself with me”…my bad!

        Like

      13. No worse for her than for a 74 year old still having to breastfeed her 50 year old son.

        Tell Mom I said hi!

        Like

      14. Only a sick perverted old man would take pleasure in a 74-year-old woman lactating into a grown man’s mouth. Does your family know you talk about this on a blog?

        You just proved my point about a wifey having to live with a sociopath who takes pleasure in sick fantasies.

        My mom wants to meet you.

        Like

      15. Understand So Cal, I don’t buy anyone’s bs about anything. You and I see eye to eye ideologically. I like you and I like Gabby, I personally do not want to get into the middle of your stuff. I will antagonize Gabby once in a while for the sport of it only. If you think I am buying anything, you are sadly wrong.

        Like

      16. LIKED!….. “I will antagonize Gabby once in a while for the sport of it only.”

        I actually enjoy it from you. It’s led to spirited yet cordial exchanges between us. We can both disagree and move on.

        I appreciate you staying neutral regarding the “tennis ” match… by the way, great analogy

        Like

      17. Well, you took his “forgetting” comment above at face value, as you did his comment about bringing family into the mix. (That was about 3 months ago.)

        Most people know better than to take his non-football comments at face value. Heck, even MG has told him how full of it he is, but does it in so nice a manner that it flies right over his head.

        I know I need to take Cal & PH’s advice…be the bigger person and ignore it. He does make it difficult with the bs he posts.

        Like

      18. Plow Horse,
        If the charge is so messed up as to not allege a public offense [which might be the problem with this indictment], the appropriate action is filing a demurrer —cuz you can’t plead guilty or not guilty to a defective complaint or indictment. If Trump waives the defects in the indictment and says ‘I plead not guilty to this defective bullshit” he’s placed himself in the ridiculous position of granting jurisdiction of the case to the trial court…
        #…BetterToDemur…
        #…HaveTheDemurrerDenied[ByTheDipshitTrialJudge]…
        #…AndGetThisPieceOfCrapIndictmentReviewedByAHigherCourt

        Like

      19. MG what are “all the reports” saying the indictment is fatally flawed and how do they have access to the details?

        Liked by 1 person

      20. Inquisitive –Prof. Dershowitz, Prof. Turley [the two most respected legal minds in the country], N.Y. Times [Left], National Review [crazy right], Washington Post [crazy left] — have pointed out that the legal theories presented to the grand jury [and leaked to the press] are laughable —- the Statute of Limitations has run on any record keeping misdemeanor, N.Y. has no jurisdiction over federal election laws….and it constitutes malicious prosecution for a D. A. to make a campaign promise to “get Trump.” That’s not how justice works.

        Like

    2. When you’re dealing with a sociopath like so cal, he has to get the last word in or he feels defeated. The actual “old man” is nothing but sideshow entertainment to me. He’s softer than Charmin

      The funny part, he has the football IQ of a slug but has been a season ticket holder for well over 40 years. I guess pre-game and the band are enough for him and the wifey.

      PS….Are you jealous, asking for a friend

      Like

      Reply

      1. The last word?! LMAO!! Look in the mirror, you hypocrite. As others have stated, always accusing me of what you’re guilty of. Sad.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Stop it!……stop the arguing, go find something productive to do. It’s really too bad that people have to deal with your bad behavior

        Like

  5. Why do I get the shakes when SC starts bragging that This year they are stronger and bigger when in years past that proved to be a myth.

    Besides, I recall McKay starting a new season by looking over the candidates for the football team and saying in effect, “You look like you are big and strong, but can you run?”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. No excuses this year. With more continuity within the football program and everyone else on the schedule taking a step back or missing key leadership, this team should be favored in every game.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. I see us favored in every game with the exception being on the road at Oregon. They return a future NFL QB with across-the-board talent equal to USC. By no means will we lose this game(spoken like a fanatic). But it may come down to who has the healthiest roster on game day. It will be the 11th game of the season and off a previous week’s game against Washington.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I hope with some early season blowouts, Riley uses the opportunity to give the backups some quality minutes which could pay dividends late in the season when the brutal stretch hits reality. I have some concerns along the offensive like regarding injuries and backups filling in without affecting Celab’s ability to have the whole playbook available

        Like

      2. The O-Line takes time to build. They have to work together. It goes beyond talent. But the talent is there and the rough part of the season is the 2nd half so I think the O-Line will be much better this year. There’s a lot of talent on that O-Line.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Parcel: It goes beyond talent

    That comment reminds me of a great movie I recently watched again called “The Blind side”….It makes light of the mental aspect of being a great lineman

    Like

    Reply

  10. They brought in 3 experienced stars in the transfer portal. Then they have a lot of projects that CH brought in a couple of years ago, some of which are now ready to make their move. Then they have Elijah Paige. He will work his way into the rotation sometime this year. I think that he’ll play 3 years at SC and then be a 1st round draft pick in the NFL.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.