Lincoln Riley stands by USC defense amid heavy criticism: ‘I like the job we are doing there’

USC comes into this week’s showdown towards rival Notre Dame with a 6-0 file, however many in the fanbase and media have expressed fear over doable crimson flags surrounding the crew’s defense after the Trojans surrendered 40-plus issues in back-to-back weeks towards convention foes. Following his crew’s apply Tuesday, Trojans trainer Lincoln Riley defended his defense and coordinator Alex Grinch, giving them credit for a 43-41 comeback win over Arizona ultimate weekend. 

“There’s a lot of great things happening here,” Riley mentioned. “We will own the things that need to get better. People need to make sure they’re seeing the other side of it as well. That’s what we have been trying to say for a long time. … we are venting a little bit of frustration with that to be completely honest. I like the job we are doing there. I think we are set up to play really well in the second half of the season.”

Riley introduced up a neglected Trojans box objective at the finish of law towards Arizona. He believes if USC had made the walk-off kick and gained the sport at that time, his defense would have gained the credit it deserved.

“You get to that point in games like that and somebody has to make a play to turn it around,” Riley mentioned on Tuesday. “(If) we (made) that field goal (at the end of regulation) we would be talking about how the defense only gave up 11 points the rest of the day and they started the run that got us back on the same page. But it’s one field goal that we don’t make that the defense has no control over. All everyone wants to do is look at the final score and it just doesn’t tell the entire story. … this is a much improved (defensive) unit. There’s no question about it.”

The Trojans defense ranks No. 10 in the Pac-12 in general yards allowed (421.3) and No. 7 in the convention in issues in keeping with sport (27). Despite a 3-0 get started in convention play and some other exceptional begin to the season for reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams, USC continues to slide in the AP Top 25 because of questions on that aspect of the ball. 

USC’s defense gets numerous probabilities to reply to all of the ones questions and turn out Riley proper. Five of the crew’s ultimate six fighters ranked. That stretch run begins this week with a travel to South Bend, Indiana to tackle quarterback Sam Hartman in what’s going to be the crew’s hardest problem to this point.