Kiel McDonald details how much better USC's run game can be

USC obviously posted one of the nation’s best offenses last season under Lincoln Riley and with Caleb Williams. With that said, much of that production came through the air with their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback throwing for nearly 325 yards per game.

In order to even things out offensively, Kiel McDonald’s running back room in Los Angeles will have to pull their weight too. From what he said last week, he expects them to do exactly that with another year of transition and improvement from their players and the offensive line.

“I think, any year, you can make strides. You bring in new guys, look at new schemes. We just try to become better,” said McDonald. “We’ve got new guys up front. I think it can take a considerable jump this upcoming year.”

The Trojans rushed for 171.1 yards per game a year ago for 30 touchdowns. Travis Dye led the way with 884 yards and nine scores on 145 attempts while Austin Jones came in a close second with 705 yards and five scores on 135 attempts.

Jones will be back in the fold this season but, with Dye gone, one player who will receive a fair share of the carries for USC is Marshawn Lloyd. The transfer rusher from South Carolina had over 110 attempts for the Gamecocks last fall for 573 yards and nine touchdowns as their leader in the run game.

Williams is going to get his in the air when it comes to USC’s offense. If McDonald can make that other aspect of their offense even more dynamic, though, the country’s third-best offense from a season ago will only be that much more of a headache to stifle.

Williams analyzes play of USC offensive line

The USC Trojans are putting the final touches on the team and roster for the 2023 season at their fall training camp. The Trojans have revamped some key areas on the team in order to build off of their 11-3 2022 season. One of the units that underwent an overhaul was the offensive line.

The offensive line has looked up to par at USC’s fall camp during drills and team activities. But that perspective is mainly from the outside looking in. In order to get a true idea of how USC’s offensive line is progressing, it would have to be looked at through the eyes of the individual they are protecting: the quarterback. And according to USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, the perspective from the outside matches what he’s seeing inside the pocket.

“Yeah, they’ve been good. It’s been fun. They’ve been giving me a lot of space; a lot of room to do what I need to do. I’ve been feeling real comfortable back there. And it’s been fun, like I said,” said Williams.