USC soccer head coach Lincoln Riley is aware of he has to get his defensive coordinator rent right if he desires to be at USC long-term after defenses meant two glorious offenses didn’t win something in his first two years in Los Angeles. And, he thinks the reply wasn’t too removed from house, as he poached crosstown rival UCLA defensive coordintator D’Anton Lynn from UCLA.
That’s based on ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
USC fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in early November after the USC protection by no means improved on their 2022 struggles, regardless of a bunch of portal additions that have been alleged to be an improve. They completed the common season a brutal a hundred and twentieth out of 130 in whole protection and scoring protection. Sure, there have been some superb offenses within the PAC 12, however a hundred and twentieth out of 130 for a group with as a lot expertise as USC is inexcusable.
In comes D’Anton Lynn, who spent 2023 because the defensive coordinator at UCLA. The Penn State alum served as a defensive backs coach within the NFL, most just lately with the Texans and the Ravens. He turned across the Bruins’ protection this yr, taking the unit from 89th in 2022 to eleventh this yr. That’s the type of enchancment Lincoln Riley and USC are in search of. At simply 34, he needs to be actually efficient on the recruiting path as nicely
And, they should get higher on that facet of the ball. Regardless of having the doubtless high choose within the 2024 NFL Draft in Caleb Williams at quarterback the final two years, they’ve eight video games whole the final two years with nearly the entire losses falling squarely on the protection. USC dedicated some huge cash to Lincoln Riley, however the Trojan devoted have been already rising stressed this yr with the frequent terrible defensive performances.
USC has the sources to hit the switch portal laborious, and they should, as a result of Coach Lynn has a whole lot of holes to fill.