USC fires defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after Trojans allow 52 points in loss to Washington

USC has fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after lower than two years with this system. The Trojans fell 52-42 to Washington on Saturday with Grinch’s protection permitting 44.2 points in line with recreation over the past six contests.

Defensive line trainer Shaun Nua and inside of linebackers trainer Brian Odom will function meantime defensive coordinators for the remainder of the season. Defensive analyst Taylor Mays, a former USC All-American defensive again, has been promoted to an on-field position as safeties trainer to substitute Grinch. 

Grinch joined trainer Lincoln Riley in shifting from Oklahoma to USC after the 2021 season in spite of primary grievance of his Sooners defenses. The unit has been scrutinized even additional in Los Angeles remaining season after USC gave up a blended 136 points in 3 losses right through an 11-3 marketing campaign that ended with a loss in the Cotton Bowl. 

However, the unit tanked right through a disappointing 2023 marketing campaign. Despite including 9 transfers on protection, the protection has regressed, falling 14 spots to No. 119 in general protection and just about 30 spots to No. 121 in scoring protection. His protection has allowed 265 points over the past six video games and held just one staff (Utah) to fewer than 40 points. The Trojans went 3-3 over the stretch ensuing in first three-loss common season of Riley’s profession. Life does no longer get more uncomplicated for the Trojans subsequent week after they consult with Oregon.

Grinch comes from the highly-regarded Mount Union and Gary Pinkel training bushes, and he were given his first probability to name performs below Mike Leach at Washington State the place he took the Cougars from 84th to sixteenth in general protection over simply two years to grow to be certainly one of the most up to date younger coordinator applicants in the country. Grinch led Oklahoma to a top-30 protection in 2020, however the Sooners fell to 76th in 2021 sooner than collapsing at USC. 

Wasting a Heisman Trophy run

Riley has again and again defended Grinch’s efficiency right through his tenure, in spite of lackluster effects. On Oct. 10, Riley called USC’s defense a “much-improved unit” and blamed the media for the entire consideration on it. However, the Trojans have ranked a few of the worst defensive gadgets in the rustic — backside 15 nationally in general protection, scoring protection, rush protection and performs of 10+ yards allowed, in line with the Los Angeles Times. 

Perhaps maximum troubling, USC’s defenses have wasted any other Heisman Trophy caliber season from quarterback Caleb Williams. The junior is averaging the next of completion proportion and extra yards in line with try whilst being on tempo to rating extra touchdowns than he did in his Heisman marketing campaign a 12 months in the past. This in spite of dropping a number of key offensive linemen. USC has averaged 31.3 points in line with recreation in losses. 

While Riley has a ability for locating elite QBs, Williams is arguably the most efficient of his profession thus far. There’s no ensure that long term sign callers will probably be ready to play at a in a similar fashion excessive stage. Failing to succeed in the College Football Playoff with this sort of prodigious ability is a black mark on Riley’s report. 

Career-defining rent to come

After dropping 52-42 in opposition to Washington, Riley instructed newshounds that now wasn’t the time to assessment big-picture coordinator choices. However, whether or not it used to be Riley or drive from above, Grinch used to be in the long run fired sooner than midday native time Sunday morning. 

In some ways, the firing mirrors Riley’s 2d 12 months at Oklahoma. Embattled defensive coordinator Mike Stoops remained on his personnel after Bob Stoops retired, and the Sooners regressed. Ultimately, Mike Stoops used to be additionally fired midseason, clearing the way in which for Grinch to sign up for OU after 12 months as a co-defensive coordinator subsequent to Greg Schiano at Ohio State. The unit stepped forward, however this system fell again, in the long run snapping a streak of CFP appearances in 2020 sooner than Riley left for USC in 2021. 

Riley ranks a few of the peak offensive minds in soccer at any stage, however his high-powered gadgets put his personal defenses in precarious positions. It’s unclear at this level how a lot Riley’s program and apply construction is to blame for his porous defenses, however he’ll have to discover a coordinator who can paintings across the headaches and to find tactics to compete on the best stage.

With a transfer to the Big Ten at the horizon, Riley’s groups can now not break out with successful thru finesse by myself.  USC’s subsequent defensive coordinator will open their profession with a nonconference matchup in opposition to Brian Kelly’s LSU. The Big Ten opener comes to a street shuttle for a heavyweight fight in opposition to Michigan.