Paolo Uggetti, ESPN
BOULDER, Colo. — Later dominating the primary half of of Saturday’s much-anticipated matchup between USC and Colorado, the visiting Trojans noticed their comfy top just about evaporate in the second one half of as their protection as soon as once more struggled to comprise a dynamic offense in a 48-41 victory over the Buffaloes.
The outcome left head trainer Lincoln Riley and the remains of his group in a regular park: celebrating a win — their 5th of the season — future additionally bemoaning their shortcomings in the second one half of of a sport that are meant to had been a extra lopsided outcome upcoming they have been outscored 27-14 upcoming halftime. General, USC allowed over 500 yards of offense (greater than their very own offensive unit had), together with 371 passing yards and 4 touchdowns by means of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who excelled when transferring out of doors of the region and completed with 50 internet yards at the grassland.
“We didn’t play very good second half really on any of the three sides,” Riley stated upcoming the sport. “We’re going to own the win, we’re going to own the mistakes, we’re going to own the good, we’re going to go back to work.”
Riley’s chorus has been a usual one this season, and future there has a lot been consternation concerning the Trojans’ defensive struggles and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, Riley reiterated his loyalty in Grinch when requested whether or not he nonetheless had religion within the coordinator.
“Yes, I do,” Riley stated.
Protection Bryson Shaw went a step additional. The teenage was once adamant Grinch was once to not blame for any defensive disasters, announcing it was once in lieu the avid gamers who haven’t achieved as much as their usual in video games up to now this season.
“Coach Grinch, he’s doing a great job. I mean, we’re letting him down,” Shaw stated. “That’s point blank period. We’re letting him down. I don’t know what to tell y’all. As players, we are letting him down. I mean, he’s putting us in the right spot. We’re not making plays. We’re missing tackles. We’re not doing our job. I’m not doing my job. We’re letting him down.”
Shaw known as the second-half efficiency “embarrassing” and stated the protection must do no matter it might probably to healing it. One of the crucial problems the unit seems to have is coping with cell quarterbacks. Sanders thrived when he stepped out of the region and located perceivable grassland in entrance of him, gaining chunks of yards and conserving a number of of Colorado’s drives going.
“Coach Grinch, he’ll sit in the meeting room. He’ll preach it the whole time, ‘Can’t let the quarterback out the pocket, can’t let the quarterback out the pocket,'” Shaw stated. “What do we do? We let him out the pocket.”
Shaw remained satisfied the Trojans have the best avid gamers, coaches and scheme to healing issues sooner than it’s too past due. Linebacker Mason Cobb, echoed the sentiment, noting that what felt like an entire sport within the first half of isn’t moving to be just right plenty to win in the future, however that the protection is dedicated to solving issues and dedicated to Grinch as their trainer.
“There’s no other coach we’d ever have,” Shaw stated. “He’s doing his job. We’re not doing ours as players. That’s all there is to it.”
Riley, for his phase, praised his avid gamers for his or her efficiency in a frightening highway atmosphere and was once staunch in his trust that any disasters which can be taking place this season are other than they have been in his debut season with USC latter week.
“When something doesn’t go our way, it doesn’t look like last year. Not to the trained eye, not to a coach,” Riley stated. “Now, we still got plenty to correct. There’s a lot that’s improved and we’ve obviously got to put it all together.”
Hour the protection has allowed no less than 349 yards in each and every sport this season, any shortcomings haven’t come again to harm USC’s effects with the group at 5-0. However as more difficult combatants and extra explosive offenses anticipate at the horizon, the urgency to proper and toughen is prime.
