Lincoln Riley wants continued improvement from Caleb Williams after strong stretch
USC quarterback Caleb Williams has been on an electric three-game stretch for the Trojans, throwing for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns in their last three contests. With three games left in the season, head coach Lincoln Riley was asked how his quarterback could potentially improve even more down the stretch for the Trojans.
“He’s had a good stretch of games but it’s not one continuous game, right? Each one is kind of its own deal, it’s like it’s own world, so there will be new challenges this week and then in the coming weeks,” Riley said.
The Trojan’s next new challenge is against a one-win Colorado team that gives up the most points per game in the Pac-12 with 40.2, but then they faced two ranked squads in UCLA and Notre Dame to close out the regular season. And in order for Williams and the USC offense to finish the season strong, Riley believes his quarterback simply needs to keep doing what he’s been doing.
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“And I just think continuing to prepare at a high level. Go play at a high level and understand what we’re seeing, understand how we’re trying to attack,” Riley said. “He’s done a nice job I think operating with some of the different lineup changes, really the front and obviously the at the skill positions, we played a lot of different people the last few weeks and he’s done a good job handling that.”
Williams has been missing his top two receiving targets in USC’s last two games in Jordan Addison and Mario Williams due to injury but hasn’t skipped a beat, completing passes to 13 different targets in his last three games. His offensive heroics have propelled the Trojans to a No. 7 ranking in the latest College Football Playoff poll, and his play down the stretch could be the key factor in the Trojan’s Pac-12 Championship and College Football Playoff aspirations.
“There’s gonna be new challenges, I’m glad how he’s responded the last few weeks, but we’re obviously gonna need him to keep doing it,” Riley said.
Lincoln Riley: Mario Williams, Jordan Addison are ‘getting close’
As USC heads into their next matchup against Colorado, head coach Lincoln Riley gave an injury update on his two star wide receivers Jordan Addison and Mario Williams who have missed their last two games with injuries.
“They’re better, they’re participating more. Neither one of them have been full participants, but they’re very very close. I don’t know that I would for sure say yes, but we’re a lot closer to saying yes with several of those guys which is good,” Riley said.
Addison has missed the last two games for the Trojans after suffering a leg injury, and Williams was a late scratch in their game against Arizona with an undisclosed injury and hasn’t returned to the lineup since. The duo of pass catchers are the Trojan’s top two wide receivers, combining for 65 catches, 1,078 yards, and 11 touchdown catches on the season.
Wideouts Michael Jackson and Tahj Washington have stepped up for the Trojan’s offense and asserted themselves as USC’s number one and two receivers during the absence of Williams and Addison. Both are fresh off of 100-plus yard receiving outings in their latest matchup against Cal, and have scored a combined five touchdowns in the last two weeks.
It’s nice to see the Trojan’s wide receiver room pick up the slack and show no falloff, but they’re hoping to get their top two receivers back soon as the regular season nears the end.