Lincoln Riley addresses how he's gotten more involved on defense

USC head coach Lincoln Riley knew the defense was his team’s Achilles heel last season. Now, he revealed how he got more involved on that side of the ball.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch received a lot of criticism about USC’s defensive, particularly down the stretch. USC lost the Pac-12 title game and Cotton Bowl with below average play defensively.

But it’s a new offseason for Riley and company.

“Yeah, I think — one would just be this offseason,” Riley said. “I’ve used this analogy a lot, but I think it applies: What was I doing 12 months ago? Not a lot with the defense. It was program-wide stuff. You are trying to get an offense installed and build roster to compete and win a few games. It’s been great in Year 2 having a bit more time. 

“Things I do on a daily basis and spending a bit more time with our coaches and players, it’s been a real positive. I’ve been excited to spend a bit more time in the staff room with the guys.”

Riley is an offensive guru and a quarterback whisperer. He had another Heisman Trophy winner in Caleb Williams last season and the signal caller is back for at least one more year.

But Riley’s eyes wandered to the other side of the field.

“And again, it’s been kind of fun to know what you have, in a lot of ways, and to be able to evaluate,” Riley said. “You will sit there with the guys and evaluate this player playing this position with this scheme and this technique. How does it all piece together, and how can we take the group we have and produce an elite-level defense? It’s a fun challenge, man. It’s a reason we love this job.

“We get in there with a great group. I think now, the familiarity with the defensive staff and kind of the combinations there, it’s been great to add Greg Brown to the mix. To add somebody with that experience level and the success he’s had has been great for our room.”

It’s a different approach, but perhaps Riley getting involved a little more on defense could help the team’s national title aspirations.

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“I have really enjoyed it,” Riley said. “I have. And it’s been nice at practices to be able to get down with that group (on defense) a little bit more. It helps me evaluate and give feedback to them. So there is some of that. I have certainly been able to spend time with them, the defensive players, on the mentality side of that. 

“That is obviously a huge part of my job. You can have perfect scheme, perfect technique and perfect fundamentals all day. But if the mentality is not there for every individual player out there, the product is not going to look the way it needs to. Great discussions with these guys. I am excited with the edge we are competing with. We are going to make some big strides if we sustain that.”