USC Football: Lincoln Riley Looking To Take Major Leap On This Side Of The Field

It's no secret that USC football needs to improve defensively. For a team that had Caleb Williams at quarterback, defense was a main factor holding the Trojans back a season ago.

The team fired former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch following another struggling defensive performance for the Trojans in 2023.

The Trojans have already shown their intentions at improving their defense by hiring former UCLA defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. Lynn schemed one of the best defenses in college football a season ago, with the Bruins ranking 10th in yards allowed per game, eighth in yards allowed per play, sixth in sacks and third in team tackles for loss.

Beyond luring Lynn over, the Trojans are looking to improve defensively through player development, and not just relying on the transfer portal.

This desire played a big part in hiring Lynn and the other defensive coaching staff moves they've made, per Keely Eure of USC Athletics.

"In the long run, we wanted developers," head coach Lincoln Riley said.

Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged that USC "wanted to push away" from relying on the transfer portal as heavily as they have in the last two years.

He pointed to the new defensive staff as a reflection of a change in strategy, "In the long run, we wanted developers."
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) February 15, 2024

Having a coach and coaching staff that is strong in player development truly is key for a top defense. Good coaches and teachers don't just create good schemes, but get the best out of all their players, even the ones who may not be as talented. They also get even more out of the most talented players on a roster.

This is especially in college football, with players only staying on their teams for a limited amount of time before transferring, graduating or leaving for the NFL. With a regularly rotating roster, having quality coaches is a consistency good teams need.