University Southern California Trojans
Practice Report: Lincoln Riley Says USC Football is Hungry to Improve in All Areas
November 08, 2022 | Football
USC Football failed to play a complete game against Cal on Saturday and head coach Lincoln Riley is not shy about it.
"We all feel the same way," Riley said following the Trojans' Tuesday practice. "We stunk offensively in the first half, we stunk defensively in the second half."
It was a microcosm of a trend that has developed over the course of the season for the Trojans. One side of the ball is playing lights out during a game, while the other has yet to find its footing. While that's not ideal, Riley highlighted the benefit of that situation.
"The thing this team has done is a phenomenal job of up to this point, it's why we've gotten a chance to win every single game, is we've rarely had stretches where we didn't play well on both sides," Riley said. "We've done a great job of covering up for each other and that's why we've had chances to win."
Given the recent uptick in yards per game allowed by Alex Grinch's defense, Riley was asked to evaluate his defensive coordinator. The head coach did not waver in his support.
"Ah man, Alex is a pro," Riley said with a smile. "This is not Alex's first rodeo. We're not gonna back off of the high expectations that we have on all parts of this [team] and Alex feels the same way."
USC will have a ripe opportunity to put it all together on Friday, as it faces an opponent that has struggled throughout this season. Statistically, Colorado ranks largely at the bottom of the FBS. Some teams could lose focus in light of that, especially on a 6-day practice schedule, but Riley noted that it hasn't been a challenge.
"None. Honestly, it's great that it's a short week. You're doing everything in 24 hours less," Riley said. "You've got to pack it in, you've got to prepare. There's zero talk of anything like that. Right now it's just a race - that's what short weeks feel like. It's just an absolute race the entire week to try to get ready for Colorado."
Notes from USC's Tuesday practice of Colorado Week:
-
Quarterback Caleb Williams echoed Riley's sentiment about Colorado, sharing how the team is taking its preparation seriously:
-
"Their record might not show it, but they haven't given up on the season yet," Williams said. "Those guys are still out there fighting and so we're not going to take anyone lightly. No, we're going to give that team respect and we're going to go out there and play our game. Regardless of how they're feeling or what they're thinking or how they think they're going to come out or anything like that. We're gonna play our game. Like I said, they're not a team that has given up. They're still playing hard. They're still fighting."
-
-
Captain and inside linebacker Shane Lee was asked how he keeps his defensive teammates from getting discouraged when they don't play up to their standard. Lee countered that negative emotions are actually needed in order to improve.
-
"You've got to be a competitor right? I mean, that's part of it," Lee said. "It's not always going to be good things. You've got to take the bad things and, it can be, it should be discouraging. I don't think it shouldn't be. I think that's the reality of it, right? We're not playing the way that we want to play. We have to figure out how to fix that, we have to look at ourselves, be critical of ourselves and say, 'What are we not doing that we need to do?' Or, 'What are we doing that we don't need to do?' or whatever it is. It should be discouraging that we're not playing the way we want to play."
-
-
Wide receivers Mario Williams and Jordan Addison both dressed out on Tuesday. Riley shared the latest on their health.
-
"They're better," Riley said. "They're participating more. Neither one of them have been full participants, but they're very, very close. I don't know if I would for sure say yes, but we're a lot closer to saying yes with several of those guys, which is good."
-
-
Riley praised wide receiver Michael Jackson III for staying prepared this season despite challenges with injuries and placement on USC's depth chart:
-
"I don't think we're surprised by how well he's played, but it's been good to see that after missing all that time, he's mentally stayed into it," Riley said. "The one thing he's really done a good job of, and sometimes young guys don't do this as well at the beginning of their careers, is taking what you do on the practice field and that shows up [in games]. He is the same player on Saturdays that he is out here. It sounds easy, it's not easy."
-
Tuesday's media availability:
