USC realized that in order to get better results, the process must also improve

One of the things we wrote last year about Alex Grinch at USC was that the Trojans were not Georgia. They had not arrived. They were still in a building phase on defense. They couldn’t rise to Georgia’s standard in one year. They had to develop an identity. They couldn’t think they were more advanced than they actually were.

Here’s what we said after the 2023 season opener against San Jose State:

“It stands to reason that at a program which has established an elite national championship standard on defense, it’s a lot more reasonable to teach concepts at a high level. Players have demonstrated they can absorb information, process it, and execute the plan on Saturdays.

“USC isn’t nearly as advanced in its ability to process defensive concepts. One could say USC isn’t advanced at all. Why would Alex Grinch try to include so much complexity in the equation this early in the season, instead of developing a steady, slowly escalating build?

“This could be intentional, but even if it is intentional, it just doesn’t come across as the right sequencing for USC.”

It seems Lincoln Riley learned a lot about improving process and not thinking solely about results. We’ll explain this point below:

GRINCH AS ONE GUY

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Grinch had a lot of authority over the 2023 USC defense, and in retrospect, it was too much authority. Riley’s 2024 approach is manifested in a collaborative model with the new defensive coaches working together. Putting too much power in one person’s hands did not serve USC well last year. Riley adjusted.

COLLABORATION

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive coaches coming together on personnel and scheme decisions should put the best players on the field in the best positions to make plays. Grinch’s personnel decisions, most notably with Tackett Curtis, did not…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-realized-order-better-results-203328052.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-02-21 20:33:28

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