Riley on Grinch shooting: USC has ‘lot to bet’

• Paolo Uggetti, ESPNNov 6, 2023, 08:44 PM ET

LOS ANGELES– USC head coach Lincoln Riley said Monday that the choice to fire protective planner Alex Grinch with two games left in USC’s regular season was made in big part because the Trojans still have “a lot to bet” this year.

“We just weren’t making the development I think we all expected to make,” Riley said. “It simply seemed like it was in the best interest of our program.”

At 7-3 and 5-2 in conference play, USC would need to beat Oregon and UCLA in its last two matchups and get some significant assistance from its conference counterparts to make it to the Pac-12 title game for the 2nd straight season under Riley. But, as the second-year coach expressed a belief that the Trojans are “2 snaps” from being undefeated, he stayed determined that they still have a shot at turning the season around.

“If we remained in a circumstance where we didn’t have a lot delegated play for in regards to a championship game, [I] might feel a little bit different,” Riley stated of the decision. “But we are extremely laser focused on these chances ahead, and after that whatever comes next after that, we’ll handle it at the appropriate time.”

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One source near to the program informed ESPN that pressure from 2 of USC’s greatest donors also played a factor in the timing of the move. However when asked Monday if anybody else had any input on the choice to fire Grinch, Riley shot the notion down.

“It was my choice,” he said.Riley said that he rewatched USC’s 52-42 loss to Washington Saturday night and lost sleep over the decision before reaching a conclusion on Sunday and relieving Grinch of his duties. Grinch, who was Oklahoma’s protective coordinator from 2019 to 2021 before leaving for USC together with Riley, led a system that permitted an average of 34.5 points per game this season and was in the bottom 30 in the country in almost every analytical classification, including 120th in hurrying defense and 107th against the pass.” I knew it was a choice that was the best decision at this time and point, but definitely

didn’t make it simple,”Riley stated.” But I am that dedicated, and we are all that dedicated to playing terrific defense here, and whatever it requires to get that done, that’s what we’re going to do.”Going back to last season, when USC finished the year allowing 47 indicate Utah

in the Pac-12 title-game loss and 46 indicate Tulane in the Cotton Bowl defeat, Grinch had been the subject of much criticism surrounding his and the system’s performance. Throughout the offseason, USC, Grinch and Riley specifically preached patience and offered a positive outlook on the progress the defense would make with more time and more talent.Yet even as USC utilized the transfer website to generate protective players such as former Georgia lineman

Bear Alexander and ex-Oklahoma State linebacker Mason Cobb, the performance of the system did not improve. USC finished last season as the 87th-ranked group in defensive SP+. This season, it once again is ranked 87th. Until this weekend, Riley had actually stood by Grinch, whom he called”a buddy”on Monday and praised for being the very first assistant to accept

follow him from Oklahoma to USC.” [We’re] not laying all the blame at Alex since the reality is I have a role in that,” Riley said.

” The other defensive assistants have a role in that. Our players have a function in that. Our other staff members, everybody has a role in it. Therefore if it goes well, that’s fantastic, and if it does not increase to the expectations then modifications are going to be made, adjustments are going to be made, which’s simply part of the business.” As the Trojans head to the Big 10 next season, likely without ruling Heisman winner Caleb Williams, the job at hand to revamp and enhance the defense will be no little feat. On Monday, Riley did not want to dive into exactly what he will be searching for in a brand-new defensive coordinator, however he was staunch in his belief that the program will get the very best individual for the task.”Nothing will surpass getting the right person in here because we’re going to play fantastic defense here, duration. It’s going to take place. It’s going to take place quickly,”Riley stated.

“There’s not a factor on the planet it can’t. We’ll continue to take the actions we need to do it, and we’re going to be very aggressive that way.”