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What's your opinion of the state of USC going into spring?

I am looking forward to reading the WWs' thoughts on the state of USC going into spring.

What's your take on the USCs efforts to shore up the defense? Offensive line? Big gamble keeping Grinch. Is grinch that bad or w,as he given a crappy hand of cards?

Here are a few of my thoughts:

I sure hope Riley hits a homerun on all his moves on the defensive side of the ball, Lots; lot'serience coming in.

So much riding on this defense for next year; if they can at least be above average that might be all this team needs. I hope they are better than above average. How about solid-good? :-)

Just hoping we do not waste Caleb's last year at USC.; the kid almost took us to the Playoffs himself.

I think he is the best most spectacular QB at USC ever. If only Caleb had inherited a team, that Helton hadn't driven the program into the ground. What a recovery however for Riely and USC. Amazing.

I like the Offense player turnover going into spring ball. I think the offense overall is better. More depth. If we get Deuce ...Wow!

Recruiting:

I sure hope we land 5-star linemen on both sides of the ball from here out. That's the soil great teams grow from. That's; where great teams are made from.

We need our share of 5 stars linemen. With a class of 8 to 9 line players on Off and Def , I'd like 2 highly scouted 3 stars and heavy on 4 and 5 stars for the rest

A top TB I really like James Peoples I love his burst of acceleration through the LOS and his cutting.

What will it take for USCs Nil to be a factor?

20 comments

20 Comments

thesquat

Jan 24, 2023

defense will continue to be awful....still short on talent, and a bad scheme. I dispute the claim that we had superior defensive talent.

MLK Blvd

Jan 24, 2023

Riley needs to prove that he's more than just a glorified qb coach/OC. He's got a lot of work to do on his in-game management and his willingness to put the programs best interests ahead of his personal relationships. If he finishes again like he did this year, it's not grinch's neck in the noose; it's his now. But I doubt he realizes that. After last 16 years of substandard assistant and/or head coaching, USC fans aren't going to get jerk around anymore, so he needs to prove himself next year (bumping into the same glass ceiling he was hitting at OU isn't going to cut it).

Java

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

He has a 10 year 110 million contract with 9 to go. He’s not going anywhere despite whatever yelling any of you fans may want to do lol

firenze5

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

4-8 to 11-3 and a Heisman LR can coach

San Clemente

Jan 25, 2023

Replying to

If it was left up to to you and Sanka ,hugs would still be losing at USC.

at least under Fat Boy , Special teams weren’t embarrassing at SC.

Java

Jan 24, 2023

I think it Takes years to rebuild a program. Think it can be done faster on offense than d. D is more of a team game.

usc inone year rebuilt an offense into one of the top 5 in the country and they won’t miss addison. Singer will be all that and more. Branch and lemon will be wild cards. Brown will add a dimension of explosiveness they’ve lacked. He will go coast to coast 4 times next year if he stays healthy. Meaning from this side of the 50 to paydirt. I think they will have more wr and more explosive playmakers next year than any usc team I can ever remember. Lemon branch singer brown Jackson williams rice. All of those guys can torch you.

Looks like their ol has mass and depth. Will buy them time for the 3 stars to grow up

im concerned about replacing Travis dye and concerned about making sure Caleb stays healthy. Don’t think he will run unless he has to. Later in the year. By which time I hope Nelson has some reps and moss sticks around. Not sure off he South Carolina bafk is all that or the texas guys. Backs are asked to do way more than when Charles white and Marcus were there. overall I think the offense will be better. Largely because they won’t be challenged for 5-6 games and will build reps and depth.

Defense later

OldHickoryTrojan

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

The kid from South Carolina is fast and elusive, not sure about how well he powers the ball but he's more athletic then Dye and I read he can block his ass off which to me means he IS the main back next season...

Java

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

I was just wondering that. To me the only thing I wasn’t sure of was pass blocking. I think with this ol. These wr. The qb. The proven running ability. This will be an unstoppable offense. The only question I have was replacing dye. He was the only one who pass blocked last year either because he could not would. Brown was worthless. Incapable and unwilling. I think jones is willing but incapable.

the909trojan

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

Dye was an underrated part of that team and didn't get as much press as a few of the flashier players. It shouldn't have mattered to being with, but I doubt they lose the Tulane game with Dye healthy.

The incoming S Carolina back only graded out at 68% for pass blocking and 61% for run blocking. We saw Jones whiff on a couple of crucial plays last year as well. Not sure how the rb situation will unfold next year. It's far from doom and gloom but Dye was a major reason for that great start last year.

San Clemente

Jan 24, 2023

Last January I posted that USC football would score a lot of points , give up a lot of points, and be fun to watch as long as Caleb Williams stays upright.

This January.

wait for it.

USC football will score a lot of points (probably a few more), give up a lot of points (probably a few less), and be fun to watch as long as Caleb Williams stays upright.

I appreciate loyalty as much as anyone. The Grinch has already failed when he got "his players" at Oklahoma. I guess USC stands for University of Second Chances. sc

Java

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

It was obvious stupid. Didn’t need to post it. And yeah we all talked about it. Lincoln Riley always scored points. Duh. Wasn’t some magical insight. The question was whether they were going to build a championship quality defense in one year off of a four and 18. Almost impossible and it proved to be so. They did a bad as well as you could do. And then, when they were about to salvage it, a head case, who had probably been suspended by his attitude. Drops a ball

Out of bounds at the 1 and ruins the game.

Caleb Williams was taking his and running out of bounds 5 yards behind the Los. All things he corrected. FACT. To watch the tape. First games of the year he was trying to be Joe Montana and not run. And staying in the pocket. Taking hits from rice and fresno.

when rice and Fresno are teeing off on you. You’re not being elusive. This isn’t controversial.

you’re the idiot who thinks Draper Utah is 70 degrees and sunny all year. And men have “sugar tits”. You’d do best to pipe down and find a fight you CAN win .

San Clemente

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

"Caleb Williams is NOT ELUSIVE". Sanka. sc

Java

Jan 25, 2023

Replying to

If we just repeat the lie enough times, people will believe it's true

Princess Chlamydia

Click your heels 3 times and wish hard STD

Unknown member

Jan 23, 2023

National Championship or bust.

OldHickoryTrojan

Jan 23, 2023

Personally keeping Grinch will hurt a lot along with keeping Donte. The offense should actually be better IMHO. But the defense needs more beef and a better scheme along with a huge improvement in tackling. Add what I think is the worst kind of schedule the PAC could throw at USC and I think this is an 8-4 possibly 9-3 team...maybe worse if they get the injury bug. If Caleb goes down they have no backup with any game experience not a good thing.

thesquat

Jan 23, 2023

Replying to

one ankle injury away from a .500 season

BigBallss

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

or hamstring injury?

the909trojan

Jan 24, 2023

Replying to

My original thought was that this year would be a drop in talent primarily to the o line and d line losses. But the staff did a good job on the o line replacements, and better than I expected on defense. I see this team being about the same as last year talent wise but with a potentially worse record due to schedule. I also don't see how we maintain that turnover margin, and that worries me. Agreed with Hick. 9-3 regular season, possibly four losses. Questions on interior d line, running back to replace Dye, Blackmon's departure and impact on secondary, and the defensive scheme would be my biggest concerns.