By Bryan Fischer
FOX Sports activities School Soccer Author
When Lincoln Riley was first employed at USC, most thought it might solely be a matter of time earlier than considered one of school soccer’s vivid younger coaches may return Troy to prominence together with his trademark high-flying offense.
Because the Trojans glide previous the midway level of Riley’s first season, this system is certainly doing lots nicely on that facet of the ball and is again on the nationwide radar because the Pac-12’s highest-ranked workforce at No. 7. Along with scoring greater than 40 factors per sport, they sport a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Caleb Williams, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner in receiver Jordan Addison and the convention’s second-leading rusher in Travis Dye.
But USC, which faces No. 20 Utah in a key convention showdown Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app), is 6-0 for the primary time since 2006 not as a result of they’re able to transferring the ball seemingly at will. Slightly, it is as a result of they’ve turn into much more accustomed to taking it away from their opponents at a historic tempo.
Can USC knock off Utah?
RJ Younger is joined by Geoff Schwartz to preview the most important matchups in Week 7 of the faculty soccer season, together with USC's troublesome highway journey to Salt Lake Metropolis.
The Trojans lead the nation in turnover margin (+14) and stay the one workforce in double-digits on the constructive facet of the ledger. Notching 15 takeaways simply halfway by way of 2022 is especially notable contemplating the cardinal and gold by no means recorded greater than 19 within the 4 seasons prior. After shutting out Washington State within the second half final Saturday, they're additionally permitting the fewest factors of anyone within the league.
"We discuss being an effort-based protection. Everyone likes to speak about expertise and scheme — we like to speak about effort," defensive coordinator Alex Grinch advised FOX Sports activities. "There isn't any such factor as nice expertise with out effort. There’s no scheme that’s going to make up for effort. That’s the factor that we circle."
Effort is one thing that was implanted in Grinch from an early age. Rising up the nephew of soon-to-be School Soccer Corridor of Fame coach Gary Pinkel, the undersized security made his method to Division III powerhouse Mount Union within the late Nineties to play for one more Corridor of Famer in Larry Kehres. Grinch gained three nationwide titles with the Purple Raiders across the flip of the century — alongside teammates-turned-coaches Matt Campbell (Iowa State) and Jason Candle (Toledo) — earlier than becoming a member of his uncle as a graduate assistant in the course of the early days of turning Missouri right into a constant winner within the Large 12.
A lot of what Grinch now teaches on a weekly foundation in Los Angeles has roots in classes from these early days, specializing in issues like consideration to element and self-discipline, along with the utmost effort he requires on each snap, drill or movie session.
Following stops at New Hampshire, Wyoming, Missouri, Washington State and Ohio State previous to linking up with Riley at Oklahoma, Grinch has additionally come to dwell by the phrases "no excuses" with regards to teaching protection. That’s a message that stems from not solely spending 20 years' price of Saturdays strolling off the sphere as a think about a win or a loss, however in going up towards offensive minds like Ryan Day, Mike Leach and Chip Kelly every single day in follow, too.
" that once you go towards probably the greatest offenses within the nation, you’re going to be challenged on a day-in and day-out foundation. That’s a bonus for us," says Grinch. "For a defensive man, I’ve been surrounded with elite (offensive) coaches. I assume I don’t know what it might really feel prefer to not have irritating spring soccer and fall camps. We’ve all the time tried to flip the script."
That’s one thing Grinch did in his first stint as defensive coordinator up in Pullman, taking WSU from the 117th scoring protection to 74th in his first season, shaving 11 full factors per sport off what the Cougars allowed.
The same leap adopted upon taking on in Norman, the place the highlight was even brighter on the coordinator after the Sooners' struggles on that facet of the ball. OU went from being within the backside third within the nation in most classes and permitting at the least 5.8 yards per play within the three seasons pre-Grinch, to a top-30 unit that allowed 5.19 yards per play simply two years later.
As well as, Grinch coached 5 top-100 draft picks on the defensive facet of the ball throughout his time at Oklahoma. His boss, Riley, managed simply three in the identical time-frame.
Now the main target is totally on the Trojans, who've taken their greatest preseason concern and turned it right into a full-on energy that has helped them by way of powerful spots in every of their first 4 Pac-12 video games. The 4 turnovers they pressured towards Stanford led to 17 factors, they usually carried the offense on an off-night in Corvallis by grabbing 4 interceptions, together with one on a game-winning stand on the ultimate drive towards Oregon State.
USC additionally ranks sixth nationally in red-zone protection, leads the nation in sacks at 4 per sport and managed to stress or hurry Washington State quarterback Cam Ward on greater than a 3rd of his dropbacks final week on the Coliseum. Defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu has been significantly disruptive, including three sacks on Saturday to elevate his FBS-leading complete to seven.
"The entrance is the plain factor, they’ve purchased into the notion that if we’re not within the backfield, we’re not enjoying the best way we need to play," Riley mentioned after follow on Tuesday. "We’ve been in a position to get manufacturing from a number of folks. Tuli has clearly been a drive for us, but it surely hasn’t been simply Tuli."
Coaches rave about Tuipulotu’s skill to get upfield no matter what the play name is. He’s been in a position to line up inside along with kicking outdoors off the sting to create optimum matchups to get to the quarterback, releasing up others corresponding to Nick Figueroa and Tyrone Taleni to get into the backfield. The power to maneuver the pocket with only a handful of defensive linemen permits for extra flexibility on the again finish, one thing that’s important given the variety of completely different offensive kinds the workforce faces within the Pac-12.
Somewhat extra stress right here or an sudden hand on the quarterback in flip has induced opponents to hurry issues up or throw off their timing — enjoying proper right into a prolonged protection’s arms that all the time appear to be across the soccer when it’s within the air.
"Soccer has made us adapt defensively, whether or not it’s by way of the cross sport, the RPO, the quarterback run or tempo," Grinch mentioned. "You’re simply in fixed battle. We’ve received to flip the story and ensure our guys have a confidence stage that we get them some conflicts as nicely."
The Trojans have been in a position to do this partially by merely upgrading the gamers concerned. Whereas offensive gamers like Williams and Addison garnered a lot of the offseason consideration, the protection went by way of the same overhaul with a batch of contemporary faces introduced in by way of the switch portal.
Upon going over the roster on the preliminary airplane trip to Los Angeles and ultimately settling into the brand new workplaces to look at movie of a workforce that went 4-8 final yr, Grinch agreed with Riley that there was not one place group that USC wouldn't be out there to improve with transfers. A few of that got here right down to upping the expertise stage among the many front-line starters, but additionally when it got here to depth at sure positions.
That’s proven up in who has suited up for the cardinal and gold this season. Along with Tuipulotu, nostril deal with Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and security Calen Bullock kind the workforce’s lone returning starters from final yr.
Whereas that may usually make for loads of points studying a brand new system for a rash of gamers settling into a brand new program, Grinch has tried to maintain issues so simple as potential in order that his gamers can't solely play at full velocity, however play with that most effort as nicely.
Eric Gentry has been one to learn from the method. The previous Arizona State freshman All-American picked issues up so rapidly that he’s led the Trojans in tackles 5 occasions already this season. The 6-foot-6 linebacker has been challenged by the coaches to maintain pushing himself even additional, they usually suppose he’s able to being considered one of school soccer’s elite defenders.
Gentry nonetheless must fill out a bit if he’s going to get to that time, however till then, he can maintain making performs together with his 7-foot-1 wingspan that has created havoc in the course of passing lanes up to now this season.
If a ball does find yourself making it by way of, quarterbacks will even should be conscious of what awaits on the again finish. Colorado switch Mekhi Blackmon rapidly established himself as a starter at nook, whereas Latrell McCutchin has added to the depth after arriving with Grinch from Oklahoma. Kids Jaylin Smith and Ceyair Wright have injected extra velocity to the lineup, whereas Max Williams has been stellar in his return from a knee damage in 2021. All have allowed Bullock to roam freely towards the cross whereas additionally offering a drive within the center for run assist.
"The secondary's all the time athletic at S.C. You possibly can take a look at any yr for the final 50 years, they usually've received nice athletes again there," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham mentioned this week forward of their assembly Saturday. "Between the secondary and the best way the entrance's enjoying, that is actually the rationale they have been having success."
A lot in order that Grinch’s identify continues to come back up on the teaching carousel as a possible head coach, not shocking given his résumé and apparent on-field ends in making the Trojans protection a gaggle to be feared as soon as once more in convention play. It’s not the primary time the 42-year-old has been related with numerous openings, and it certainly gained’t be the final.
The standard knowledge should still maintain true that it’s Riley’s offense that would be the root reason for USC’s return to being the flagship program on the West Coast, however as his time at Oklahoma persistently proved, you continue to have to play a little bit protection to win championships.
Because of his reverse quantity on the opposite facet of the ball and a outstanding inflow of expertise being put in the suitable place, that could be the case now for the Trojans as they purpose their sights past only a Pac-12 title and eye an look within the School Soccer Playoff with every successive, defensive-fueled victory.
Learn extra:
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- UCLA's Chip Kelly amongst coaches thriving in second act
- Are Texas Longhorns a top-15 workforce?
- School soccer rankings: Ohio State tightens grip on No. 1
- Heisman Watch: C.J. Stroud dominates with six-TD outing
Bryan Fischer is a school soccer author for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying school athletics for practically 20 years at retailers corresponding to NBC Sports activities, CBS Sports activities, Yahoo! Sports activities and NFL.com amongst others. Comply with him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
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