Someone tell Java to stick to moderating.... football analysis is not his gig
Yes there are improvements across the D (especially considering what Lynn has to work with) but statistical measurements are only meaningful when comparing successful programs. Statistical improvements by a team that went from 11-3 to 8-5 to 5-7 suggests those stats aren't contributing to winning ballgames! Problems lie elsewhere.
SC was somewhat successful w/Grinch cuz Caleb was a Heisman scrambling QB who hid a lot of ills which are currently being exposed across both lines.
And with NO big uglies coming in (one 4 star doesn't cure anything, only exacerbates the problem) on either side of line, we are in for several more 6-6 seasons until the coaches prioritize both lines.
You can nitpick, analyze and scrutinize all the details you want, but the one thing all the playoff contending teams have in common is recruiting well year after year for ALL positions not just skill positions.
Spend some of that NIL on 4-5 Outland candidates and a 3 star RB will find holes; a rookie QB will have time to find those WR's; sacks and TFL will stuff the other team into making mistakes. Our recruiting has been so lopsided under Riley's coaches, its gonna take years to fix!
The defense has improved under DL. Fewer assignments getting blown, better tackling in the secondary. Rush is still a joke. LB play is still underwhelming.
The 3rd down stat that everyone loves to talk about is smoke at mirrors. USC is tops on not allowing 3rd down conversions. They are at or near the bottom on giving up 4th downs. Those two stats are not independent. The truth here is USC gives up yards on 3rd downs, but like USC's O not having a turnover in 2022, USC's d has "benefitted" in that most of the 3rd down gains end up 1 yd short. Of course, USC then gives up that yard on 4th down like <insert prom night metaphor here>. You get the point. USC's D is not stout up front and still has a way to go to be dominant. Don't get caught up in this 3rd down myth like a lot of you guys got suckered in on that LSU win vs a very average opponent. You were warned about them as well...
People who want to take a broad stroke to this program and sweep it all out saying no progress based on the record are childish.
There are measurable areas where they clearly have improved. Defense is one. Better on 3rd down, better scoring. yes they need to get more pressure on the QB and more sacks. They lack there yes. However. If they can turn that around. Add that element? This defense could go from "ok, pretty decent" to dominating.
And obviously we know their offense needs to improve. They need to execute downfield throws better. Need to move the chains and run the QB more. Think they can add about 50 yards a game that way. Maybe 100. Obviously need to step up scoring which that will help with.
I think improvements above can add 7 points a game to USC scoring. And I think this disaster of a kicking game, which has gone backward every year of Riley's tenure, could add 3 points a game. I think USC can get their scoring D under 20 a game and can get their scoring O above 35-40. Those happen and USC becomes a Top 5 team.
Someone tell Java to stick to moderating.... football analysis is not his gig
Yes there are improvements across the D (especially considering what Lynn has to work with) but statistical measurements are only meaningful when comparing successful programs. Statistical improvements by a team that went from 11-3 to 8-5 to 5-7 suggests those stats aren't contributing to winning ballgames! Problems lie elsewhere.
SC was somewhat successful w/Grinch cuz Caleb was a Heisman scrambling QB who hid a lot of ills which are currently being exposed across both lines.
And with NO big uglies coming in (one 4 star doesn't cure anything, only exacerbates the problem) on either side of line, we are in for several more 6-6 seasons until the coaches prioritize both lines.
You can nitpick, analyze and scrutinize all the details you want, but the one thing all the playoff contending teams have in common is recruiting well year after year for ALL positions not just skill positions.
Spend some of that NIL on 4-5 Outland candidates and a 3 star RB will find holes; a rookie QB will have time to find those WR's; sacks and TFL will stuff the other team into making mistakes. Our recruiting has been so lopsided under Riley's coaches, its gonna take years to fix!
what's his fourth down rate?
Sanka's boy the Grinch isn't a good comparison. My dog Bam Bam could do better than 40 percent.
Oh wait, NOW he never thought the Grinch was a good coach, and apparently never did.
The defense has improved under DL. Fewer assignments getting blown, better tackling in the secondary. Rush is still a joke. LB play is still underwhelming.
The 3rd down stat that everyone loves to talk about is smoke at mirrors. USC is tops on not allowing 3rd down conversions. They are at or near the bottom on giving up 4th downs. Those two stats are not independent. The truth here is USC gives up yards on 3rd downs, but like USC's O not having a turnover in 2022, USC's d has "benefitted" in that most of the 3rd down gains end up 1 yd short. Of course, USC then gives up that yard on 4th down like <insert prom night metaphor here>. You get the point. USC's D is not stout up front and still has a way to go to be dominant. Don't get caught up in this 3rd down myth like a lot of you guys got suckered in on that LSU win vs a very average opponent. You were warned about them as well...
How about this:
Losses with Grinch in 2 years: 7
Losses with Lynn in 1 year: 6
Lynn sucks!
People who want to take a broad stroke to this program and sweep it all out saying no progress based on the record are childish.
There are measurable areas where they clearly have improved. Defense is one. Better on 3rd down, better scoring. yes they need to get more pressure on the QB and more sacks. They lack there yes. However. If they can turn that around. Add that element? This defense could go from "ok, pretty decent" to dominating.
And obviously we know their offense needs to improve. They need to execute downfield throws better. Need to move the chains and run the QB more. Think they can add about 50 yards a game that way. Maybe 100. Obviously need to step up scoring which that will help with.
I think improvements above can add 7 points a game to USC scoring. And I think this disaster of a kicking game, which has gone backward every year of Riley's tenure, could add 3 points a game. I think USC can get their scoring D under 20 a game and can get their scoring O above 35-40. Those happen and USC becomes a Top 5 team.