FOOTBALL

The Right People To Fix The USC Defense?

This was the best quote from Lincoln Riley on Saturday night and it concerned the defense:

“A lot of work to do, and we’re the right people to get it done.”

Who is we? Alex Grinch? Riley? Donte Williams? The other defensive coaches?

I can’t say any of them are the “right people to get it done.”

Riley, a Mike Leach disciple, is the right person to fix the defense?

Just to be clear, I expect a better defensive performance Saturday because Nevada is terrible. The Wolf Pack was picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mountain West Conference preseason poll.

66 thoughts on “The Right People To Fix The USC Defense?”

  1. 1 year later has anything really changed? For sure by the end of this season if there is not significant improvement some really tough decisions will have to be made.

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      2. Riley [at end of season]: “I just don’t know what to do with you, Alex. 500 yards and 50 points to Utah, Notre Dame, Oregon and Washington is ‘inexcusable.’ Don’t cry. I’m sorry. What the heck —feel ready to start over in the Big Ten?!”
        Alex: “Yes, Sir. Now I have a real chip on my shoulder!”
        Riley: “You’re The Man!”

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    2. “A lot of work to do, and we’re the right people to get it done.”

      – ‘Ol Mule Shoe

      LMFAO!

      Alex Grinch, Shaun Nua and Donte Williams ain’t worth a shit

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  3. Caleb Williams did not drop the ball before he threw a 76 yard impromptu TD. Tight End Lake McCree was pulling and ran into the ball before Williams could get it. Watch the play in slow motion.

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    1. And Williams didn’t throw the Pass, he heaved on the run as far as it go. It’s 10,000 to 1 lucky, what’s his name, is able to run under the lame chuck.

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  4. Grinch knows he is gone at the end of the season if there is not big improvement. On the plus side, the D played with effort, which seemed lacking at times last year (or maybe they were just gassed).

    Aside from Bear and Lucas, the guys up front and the LBs still seem a bit on the small side. That isn’t so easily fixed.

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    1. One wonders why Jim Leonhard took a senior football analyst position at Illinois instead of a coaching job, maybe he knows something ?

      Grinch is a disaster, so is Williams. If Riley won’t can them then the AD has to step in and that may make Riley mad.

      And Klingsbury is NOT the answer for a new head coach.

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      1. The question I see about Grinch is how much improvement he needs in order to keep his job at the end of the season. I am guessing he will need at least a top-50 defense in Riley’s eyes, but I am skeptical they can become that, particularly playing Udub, Oregon, Washington, ND.

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      2. Caleb knows it’s on him against Utah, Notre Dame, Oregon and Washington. That must be creating a bit of resentment toward Grinch —who he knows won’t come through.

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      2. Gentry is listed at 225, but he looks the same as he did last year when he was listed at 205. Curtis is listed at 225, Cobb at 230, but he looks smaller than that. SEC starting LBs are 240-245, we don’t have anybody at that level who can motor.

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      4. Charlie had that problem on Two & A Half Men once, too, Tebow. Said it was like trying to shoot pool with a rope.

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    3. the SC ‘d’ line was constantly in the SJS backfield ,and that is a very veteran offensive team with a q/b that is just as elusive as williams…
      the linebackers seemed a tad slow for that rather fast and elusive q/b just like those that chase williams all over the field…this defense will jell quickly but the secondary has the most to improve,although they tackled pretty well.

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      1. So Cal, please don’t tell me you watched 2 1/2 Men. You provided all these great movie lines and recommendations, but now you just lost me.

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  5. My problems with the defense are the linebackers and safeties/nickel. it doesnt feel like Bullock is getting more elite. Jaylin and Max just dont seem to perform well.

    Domani is close to being good. Why is Covington not in the game? He is better than Wright. CRW will be on the field for nearly the full game against tough opponents.

    Lots of problems to fix on defense, but they have some pretty incredible players that just need the coaching staff to get better.

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    1. I think they just need to simplify the defense and let the talent do its job. How do we know what we have when Grinch has them going the wrong way every play in his stupid schemes.

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      1. K.I.S.S…..(keep is simply, stupid)…..pin your ears back and let your keys and reads take you to the ball carrier.

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  6. From what I see . I see DL getting into the backfield only to have a QB step up n scramble for 20-30 yds. Rush the middle n LB need to zone off n be there when the QB scramble. A couple times they did that but not athletically able to catch qb

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    1. Eric: not athletically able to catch qb

      I noticed some poor pursuit angles, mainly from Tackett, too flat. He must have underestimated the speed of the player and got beat a few times to a spot on the field. Sorry to pick on the kid but these are the little things that separate an average player from a great player…

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      1. Guys — think back to last year. Same problem. Our DE’s broke through — looked like we were gonna get big sacks —- and QB’s escaped —- and some of these guys [think Stanford’s QB] weren’t that fricking mobile.
        #There’sMoreToLifeThanBreakingIntoTheBackfield

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      2. I can blame some of that on a lack of depth across the defensive front. Late in the game, our big uglies were gassed. And when you’re tired you start to lose focus and mistakes happen. On paper that “shouldn’t” be an issue this season.

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      1. ..and the caliber of QB only goes WAY up starting October 14th–[continuing through November 18th] ….
        #IfIWereGrinchI’dBeALittleConcerned….

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      2. When we hit the meat of the schedule, it’s definitely going to test the team’s resolve.
        I didn’t check the head-to-head schedule of the teams we will play in the last 6 weeks. There is a potential for our opponent(s) to be undefeated at that point in the season. The games take on a greater meaning when it’s a potential CFP elimination game.

        With the expanded CFP in 2024, there will be some wiggle room for redemption. With our luck, it would be a road game against an angry and motivated Alabama team(ouch!)

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      3. Oregon has to play Utah and Washington before they get to us…..Utah has to play UCLA and Oregon State…. Notre Dame has Ohio State before we play them….
        #ThisCouldBeFun

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  9. Keeping Grinch and Donte will and has cost USC credibility on the recruiting trail. The only semi quality defensive players to come to USC are portal refugees but that’s not gonna cut it in the B10. If Riley spins at the end of the season and keeps these guys, then we simply must accept we have an articulate talented offensive coordinator not a HC.

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    1. I’d like to expand on that Riley description: A charismatic, articulate offensive genius who doesn’t give a flying shit about defense cuz ALL he WANTS to do is outscore everybody…
      #HeLIKES48-45Scores…
      #SometimesWeAreOnRightSideOfThatScore[UCLA]..
      #SometimesNot[Utah]

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  13. MG made the comment regarding that big sjsu run where the entire SC box was stuffing ??? going left and it left a hole where a Helo could land. The spy is too slow and for whatever reason lost containment. #90, Alexander pushed left for whatever reason.
    A teaching moment. I looked at that several times. SJSU qb must have been surprised and took off. He had a guy over the middle wide open who ended up blocking and gave the QB 15 more yards.
    Hope SC learns. The D seemed lost sometimes.

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      2. Yep! Definitely the way to go for football or trial work…..
        ….[maybe not so much for painting or music]….

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  14. agree missed opportunity with Jim Leanord
    he is truly masterful on defense. He gets lot out of much less talented wisconsin team ,what could he do at USC.
    I was at the game its just that defensive players were constantly out of position.On the plus side, not as many missed tackles as last year which is good but this was SJS. I’m afraid against a good team they will put up 50.

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  15. wolfie is NOT a go to source for any objectivity on SC, in any sport, since the PC years on…he is very good on other things…I expect the SC defense to improve week to week and not play the entire roster each game,but settle into what most great teams do have a true 1st string,2nd and the back ups, etc…like bsktbl he will never ever be objective…not ever.

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    1. True that Wolf is not objective, just ‘objectionable’

      A positive is that San Jose and now Nevada are glorified scrimmages
      where a lot of guys are auditioning for No 1 or 2 jobs
      at the cost of developing early season chemistry

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      1. Thing is what the coaches are doing is giving themselves the ability to see every possible player in game speed conditions. I think they will do much the same against Nevada, perhaps not quite as many players though. Stanford game will even fewer players as 1st and 2nd sets are established.

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  17. I copied my post from another blog (because I’m lazy) so if you read it twice it’s my fault.
    People were all over Riley for his “illegal block” argument with refs after the onside kick Saturday night. It turns out he was right, but used the wrong terminology.
    I remember a weird onside kick that USC recovered where the ball bounced up and the USC player grabbed the ball in the air above the other team’s player. USC ball right? No because the referee ruled the player interfered with the chance to catch the kick. The ball was given to the other team. I was beside myself when this happened so I checked the rules.
    From the college football rule book:
    “The player must be given a 1-yard “halo” to catch the football; this applies to punts and kickoffs. What is this? If the kicking team does not give the returner a chance to catch the ball, it will result in a penalty for the kicking team. This penalty is called “kick-catch interference.”
    Saturday night the replay clearly showed a Trojan being pushed back before he could field the ball, which amounted to “kick catch interference.” Riley was arguing illegal block so the refs didn’t look at interference. Riley was right but expressed it incorrectly. Why was it important? It showed that the refs were either incompetent or biased or both.

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    1. Thanks TD 207 for posting for me some idiot has blocked this post for some reason 3 times. It’s not offensive or critical it has something to do with sham moderation

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      1. TD 207 is correct. Furthermore a SJS player touch the ball before it went 10 yards therefore SC ball at the spot of the touch. Don’t ya just love Pac – 12 officials?

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