Joel Klatt: Lincoln Riley gives his quarterbacks 'answers and options'

Lincoln Riley has coached three quarterbacks to Heisman Trophys since 2017. That includes Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, with others like Jalen Hurts finding their footing in the NFL just as quick.

This season, the USC head coach was tasked with replacing one of his Heisman Trophy winners with a longtime Trojan with little starting experience. Defeating LSU 27-20, Miller Moss shined during the season opener having passed for 378 yards and a touchdown. His efforts were capped by him conducting the Trojans’ game-winning drive in the waning moments of regulation.

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“Do you know what he gives this quarterback? Answers,” Klatt said during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “Answers and options. That’s what Lincoln Riley, and [Steve Sarkisian] for that matter, we can lump them into this and Lane [Kiffin]. All the great play callers, even Ryan day, will do this to a certain extent. They give their quarterback answers and options.

“‘What is the defense doing? What are they trying to do to me? What do I have in my toolbox that I can combat that with on every play?’ And Lincoln Riley does this as good or better than anybody. He trusts his quarterback to put the football where the defense tells him to put the football, not where Lincoln wants him to throw it.”

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Cowherd pointed out the fact that USC is littered with young players on the offensive line and at the wide receiver position. Still, Moss “looked like a four-year starter,” to him as the Trojans won a matchup that many counted them out of heading in.

Before Moss’ start in Week 1, he threw for 542 yards and three touchdowns across his three-year career at USC dating back before Riley arrived in LA. He also logged two rushing touchdowns for the Trojans in 2023. Week 1’s showing may have proved that Moss is a more-than-capable full-time starter despite question marks at the position coming into the season.

USC moves on to face Utah State in the Trojans’ home opener before heading to Ann Arbor for an interested test against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 4 after a bye the previous week. The meeting against the regining national champion will be the first Big Ten game in USC program history.