New USC Football DC Keeps Cards Close to Chest Regarding Potential Defensive Changes

The USC Trojans defense will look slightly different, or at least we all think/hope so, for their Week 11 battle with the Oregon Ducks. The Trojans fired their defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch, after leading the defense to among the bottom in many major statistical categories.

Changes needed to be made, which was evident for the past year, but you know what they say, "better late than never." Now, with only two regular season games left, the Trojans will go with interim co-defensive coordinators in linebackers coach Brian Odom and defensive line coach Shaun Nua.

Things can't get any worse, right? Well, we sure hope so, but how will the defense look now? That's the million-dollar question, but Nua isn't giving out any secrets, as he said per his media availability.

How much can USC really change schematically on defense with Alex Grinch now gone and just two games remaining?

“That’s the million-dollar question,” USC interim co-DC Shuan Nua said.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) November 8, 2023

All hope is not lost just yet. If the Trojans take care of business in these next two games, a path to the Pac-12 championship is still in the cards.

However, all eyes will be on the defense and how improved it could be a week after giving up 52 points to the Washington Huskies. It will all be on Nua, Odom, and former Trojan Taylor Mays, who will work as an assistant coach for the safeties.

We expect changes, yes, but something this drastic doesn't change overnight or throughout a week. The blame doesn't just fall on Grinch; it was on the players as well. The missed tackles played a role in the horrendous defense and USC's terrible yards after contact with their opponents was not fully on Grinch.

The Grinch blame is now long gone, and we'll find out soon enough how much of the blame deserved to be on him. It doesn't get easier as they will head to face the No. 6 ranked Oregon Ducks.