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USC Morning Buzz: Time To Upgrade Defensive Schemes

I know for many fans, recruiting is always the most important issue, especially in June.

Some fans would rather finish No. 1 in the recruiting rankings than in the College Football Playoff, to update an old joke I used to tell.

This is a better question: Has USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch incorporated any new schemes for this season?

I’ve heard from a couple of sources this is being mooted at times within the program but nothing final has been decided. It’s extremely important if you believe the defense needs to do more than simply recruit more players/transfers.

Because at the end of the day, all that matters is whether USC can win a national championship. With Caleb Williams, the odds are a lot better than without him, so if Grinch has new tricks, he probably should use them this season.

39 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Time To Upgrade Defensive Schemes”

  1. I know nothing about how to coach football defenses, but from my vantage point it appeared as if SC didn’t have enough quality players last year, so I would presume there will be an upgrade in talent with corresponding results

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    1. Great point Sparrow. They can only scheme as far as their talent will take them. We had notoriously slow linebackers last season and could not apply pressure much on the Qb. Most of the D line is rebuilt as is the linebackers. If they do their jobs our DB’s could really look good.

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  2. All Grinch needs to do is coach up the whole unit. They have the all the talent in the world, but can he make each defensive player play at their best based on the scheme. Put up or get out town, myself I would love to see Coach O take over the defense going into the Big, wouldn’t you Wolfe? Wolfe you don’t agree with me ? Last time I stated something like this your next post was exactly stating what I mentioned. Fight on just 5 weeks or so from fall camp LET’S GO!!!!!!!

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  3. HI SPARROW
    JUST TO LET YOU KNOW
    I FULLY AGREE WITH YOUR RELIGIOUS COMMENTS IN YOUR LAST POST

    GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE I GUESS !!

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      1. HI LJ
        I AM LOSING MY MIND 😇😇😇😇😇 OVER MY DARLING ANGEL WIFEY !!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😂😂😂😂😂😂👧👧👧👧👧👧❤️❤️❤️

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  5. Once opposing teams learned to double Tuli, the D line was exposed, and that was that as opposing QBs had forever to throw. Lots of new DL and LB talent joining the team through the portal, and Romello Height is back after being out almost all of last year. Performance should be much better this year.

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    2. Great point trojan1967, hopefully Grinchy Nua, Manning n Williams can synchronize a scheme that is not so complex that makes these players think too much. Just give the basic and let there natural abilities take over and use the Dodgers mantra pass the baton. Meaning DLM hold up the line let the LBs make tackles when DL are doing their jobs it makes it easier on the rest of the unit. Simplify simplify simplify!!!! Not multiply the same mistakes that’s insanity Grinchy. Ditto Utah twice, Tulane. Tackle with leverage n force, no poor angle arm tackles!!!!!!

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  6. I hope most comments are correct. Many coaches that work in second level programs ( i.e. Texas Tech, WSU, etc) must scheme around having smaller perhaps less talented players. Over time, it becomes their specialty, thus hard to return, if they ever did, to blue blood stout defensive schemes. Looking at Grinch’s defensive record, I’m not sure. I hope he can. If not, we aren’t gonna see many 4 / 5* players come our way in the 25 season or beyond.

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    1. If Grinch fucks ’23 up…which is eminently possible since his players quit on him after the Notre Dame game…. he’s gone…..
      #…And’25WillTakeCareOfItself…

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  7. I agree the lack of quality players played a far greater part in the collapse of the defense in most cases. At times it appeared as if the defense was gassed. Instead of ones and twos there were ones and none. Winning in recruiting has to play a part in getting better.
    As a team the overall need to succeed was amplified greatly and don’t see a letdown coming. Building on the success of last season should be the theme of this season.

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  8. The problem is not Grinch needing more “tricks”, it is an overall defensive philosophy and making sure all the players can execute on their responsibilities. It is building a defense based on the skills of the players you have. And then having a practice philosophy and culture that improves player skills over time.

    Last year USC had major gaps in skills – on the d-line and even more, in the linebacker corp.

    I think that with Kliff Kingsbury taking on some offensive responsibilities, it will free up Riley’s time to make sure the defense makes sense.

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    1. And there is the rub. With more competent offensive coaches around AND a former head coach to oversee the defense installations, more continuity with players on both sides of the ball should result in better adjustments. Plus, this team will have a talent advantage in the regular season over every team they play. There is zero excuse for losing this year. If the players are doing it then it’s the coaches that have created it.

      Riley needs to show he can run an entire team. But with Grinch track record, special teams stupidity, and stubbornness calling offenses plays that are simple, I’m not sure.

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  9. More better players does not equate to better defense. If they are in the incorrect position to make a play it is doomed. A good defensive coordinator will recruit players to match their schemes and not the other way around. Clay Helton would recruit all these WRs but no one else. You cannot win with just 4 star WRs.

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    1. Alot more of the difference between a good DC and a bad DC is in the ability to teach the players a scheme and execute it well. I think it is pretty rare for a scheme to just be wrong and more often, it is a lack of skill in teaching the players what their part is in the play.

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  10. If you want to know the real defensive issues go back and re watch the games. Getting gashed was one problem. That was coming from gap integrity. Improper cover techniques taught. (See Cal game, in dime package with no safeties back or linebackers in the middle of the field, and press coverage on the line and you have a nickel playing a slot inside receiver outside in. Any HS qb sees that and its 6pts. And it was. We learned that in pop warner, no help to the inside, play your man to the boundary, make the throw longer and use the side line an extra defender). And finally…Tackling. I rewatched the first 6 games last week. The average play had 2.5 missed tackles on each. And bad arm tackles at that. numerous plays at 6-7 missed tackles per play. Same with special teams. 2-3 yard gains ended up as 8-12 yard gains, 2-3 yard losses turned into 3-5 yard gains. Compare that to the opponent, not even great defenses were way more efficient and technically proficient. And that was against our bevy of skilled players. And that includes the elusive Caleb and the tough as nails, never go down Travis Dye. Details my friends, details.

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    1. Great analysis, Vault. But one thing still bothers me — I’ve re-watched the playoff game against Utah & the Cotton Bowl [otherwise known as Mister Owns 2 favorite college football games of all time] and our backers and corners and safeties were in position to make several plays…but runners & receivers just ran by them. Something was wrong. The effort and the “want to’ was missing. I hope Grinch’s bluster wasn’t starting to wear on them —because if that’s even ONE of the reasons for those sad performance we’re in trouble the whole second half of this season.

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      1. I agree totally Mike. While i agree about the sneaky void of talent (though a fair amount of regarded kids out of HS) techniques and fundamentals were lacking. Also we have seen far less talented teams play much more efficiently and hold much better offenses to less points. I just think far too many people (fans and coaches) think problems are solved in recruiting only. The schemes and the technical skills still need to be taught, reinforced and cemented in and last years team constantly gave me the feeling from the beginning that that was an after thought. If he didn’t recruit well and didn’t do carol a solid, would Donte still be on this staff? I coach for a living. Teaching and communicating is the backbone of the profession. We have taken discards and turned them into great athletes. That’s what you do. That, you would be amazed, will pretty much recruit for itself and makes the recruiting job much easier. I really think not taking advantage of a golden opportunity and picking up Jim Leonard while he was available and didn’t need to use a buyout was a major blunder. He was cut adrift because he was an interim head coach who didn’t get the head job not cause he was unsuccessful. The guy had top 5 defenses in the country every year he was a DC. Young and energetic with a pedigree of being in the NFL and coaching there too. And we didn’t have to pay a buyout. Major mistake. Btw, his dudes don’t miss tackles and they play to the whistle at full speed and never give up. We can’t say that about our defense last year. Oh ya and they don’t celebrate for making routine plays. That is their job.

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      2. So far I think LR has done a masterful job. I agree with everything that he has done except one thing……He kept Alex Grinch!!!

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      3. In the last 2 games of the season Grinch’s players were often outta the play way before the whistle. Coach Leonhard’s players play to the “echo” of the whistle. Who ya gonna call? Leonhard or Grinch?

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    2. It’s apparent that the lack of talent showed up in games against tougher opponents. Specifically, Haskins and Voorhees injuries along with Travis Dye were injuries that USC couldn’t manage. Now, Riley has a better setup in regards to an overview of the entire program. He should be able to assist in the adjustments. But will he admit mistakes by the coaching staff-including his own mistakes?

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    3. Great analysis, Vault91. Great comments everyone who is not Fake Gabby So. Cal Wife or any third person imposters. Let’s right this site with thoughtful analysis on USC Football not Biden, Trump Putin, we need to get away from that right n left wing rhetoric propaganda depending on which side u rock with. Shout out to Rouviset, game tv, TW Trojanbogs LJ GT, MG, Parcelman and everyone who makes solid points. Great post Wolfe!!!!

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  11. I actually think that SC will incorporate some new schemes on offense in the sense that they plan on bringing in a lot of new plays for the tight end. Why would they be going after so many tight ends if they were not going to use them?

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    2. Hey Steveg49 where is Gabby when we talk real opinions about our USC football this will be a better site. Let’s keep bringing strong takes and the non coaches opinions won’t even mattered they will get filtered to fake Gabby web page Where are you when topics have substance if you don’t have an insightful and intelligent opinions don’t post that trash on this site it’s not funny and it shows how intelligent you are. #WarKeepAllPeopleWhoDontHaveAworthyopinionOffWolfeSite

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  13. I do think that Grinch (along with Don Brown) will work on having a season’s worth of installments for particular players to keep them motivated during the season. Also, there is more size and depth. You go from defensive ends that are 259 lbs (Tuli) to 280 lbs (Lucas), 260 lbs (Figueroa) to 300 lbs (Sullivan) and everyone returning will be bigger and more capable to play more schemes. If Alexander and Barrs can stay healthy and apply pressure up the middle, then there’s your SEC level defense right there. It’s still bothering me that the SC coaches have some denial issues, though.

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    1. TW your right on. Now we just need Kourtney Foreman Heights to play hard n give us 20 great snaps a game, maybe this competition on the defensive side of the ball will be the driving force that’s puts us in position to reach the CFP. Only a thought.

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  15. Hey Steveg49 where is Gabby when we talk real opinions about our USC football this will be a better site. Let’s keep bringing strong takes and the non coaches opinions won’t even mattered they will get filtered to fake Gabby web page Where are you when topics have substance if you don’t have an insightful and intelligent opinions don’t post that trash on this site it’s not funny and it shows how intelligent you are. #WarKeepAllPeopleWhoDontHaveAworthyopinionOffWolfeSite

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    1. Thanks for calling out my stalker gotroy22, aka fake gabby. I appreciate the insight you bring to the block. I’ll be back up and running shortly

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