Alex Grinch describes progress of defense as ‘ongoing process’

On3 imageby:Nick Kosko03/29/23

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USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch called the Trojans’ defense an “ongoing process.” That came on the heels of Lincoln Riley revealing his expanded role on the other side of the ball.

Grinch took a lot of heat in 2022 for USC’s lack of consistent defense. He mentioned that was the biggest issue plaguing the team but one he vied to get fixed.

But this problem for USC is not unique to just the Trojans.

“I think it’s ongoing,” Grinch said. “It’s the lack of consistency. Where does that consistency come from? It comes from preparation. You gotta make sure you have the strength, you have to get off blocks and make tackles. Then you gotta make sure guys are doing the appropriate things. Are there calls youre gonna want back? Absolutely. Always happens.

“You can’t dumb it down to them either. It’s not like baseball where you throw a curveball and you say ‘well you should’ve thrown a fastball.’ Same thing for us. Three down, four down, rushing five or rushing four? Drop eight or two high (at safety)? It’s a difficult process, not one you want to go through but it’s not unique. It happens every single year … the work continues.”

USC notably gave up 47 and 46 points to Utah and Tulane in the final two losses of the season. It denied the Trojans a Pac-12 title and College Football Playoff appearance.

The latter loss prevented USC ending the year with a Cotton Bowl victory.

“And again, it’s been kind of fun to know what you have, in a lot of ways, and to be able to evaluate,” Riley said of his expanded role in the defense. “You will sit there with the guys and evaluate this player playing this position with this scheme and this technique. How does it all piece together, and how can we take the group we have and produce an elite-level defense? It’s a fun challenge, man. It’s a reason we love this job.

“We get in there with a great group. I think now, the familiarity with the defensive staff and kind of the combinations there, it’s been great to add Greg Brown to the mix. To add somebody with that experience level and the success he’s had has been great for our room.”

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