Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch Offers Thoughts on Concerns, Standouts for the USC Defense
As Thursday’s practice came to a close, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch sprinkled a dose of reality over the USC defense.
Late last week, head coach Lincoln Riley said the USC defense had been the dominant group over a three-practice stretch. He changed gears slightly following Sunday’s scrimmage, saying the offense probably got the upper hand there.
Grinch, as usual for him, didn’t hold back when discussing the defensive performance during Sunday’s scrimmage.
“I thank God it wasn’t a game, long story short,” Grinch said following Thursday’s practice. “Number one, it felt like a first scrimmage in terms of a tackling standpoint…It’s good, correctable stuff and stuff to look at on film. But obviously those moments become real gross if you picture a game day and some of those missed opportunities. That’s why you scrimmage though.”
Grinch seemed particularly put out by players not responding when injuries thrust them into positions to contribute.
“The biggest frustration is guys get opportunities because of that and they don’t take advantage of those opportunities,” Grinch said. “That happened as you go back and watch the scrimmage.”
This kind of critical evaluation is typical for Grinch, who preaches “strain” above all else, is constantly pushing for better performances and has not been shy when it comes to talking about how much improving the defense needed to do since his arrival. But Grinch also wasn’t going to overreact to the Sunday scrimmage.
“Other than the live piece, it’s kind of our norm,” Grinch said, adding they do scrimmage-like portions every day in practice. “You put it in the bank with the other eight practices.”
Familiar Names Are Standing Out For the USC Defense
While it sounds like the defense still has a ways to go before it’s ready to take on USC’s 2022 opponents, there are a few bright spots. And there were no surprises when Grinch called them out.
“The guy that continues to stand out every day is Tuli,” Grinch said of defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu. “All he does is lead from the front. All he does is play hard. Without question, he’s been a real standout.”
Tuipulotu is working at three different positions along the defensive line, including rush end. He’s likely to spend a huge majority of his time at defensive end, but his versatility allows the coaches to use him in several ways. The one guarantee is that he’s going to bring maximum effort on every snap.
The other specific highlights for Grinch have come in the secondary. Though, he made sure to include those aren’t the only ones.
“Calen Bullock has had some real flash moments through the course of camp, as well as Mekhi Blackmon,” Grinch said. “And there’s several others. We have to make sure the rest of the group kind of raises to their level.”
