Joel Klatt on why USC will improve on defense: 'All you have to do is line up properly'

Joel Klatt anticipates success for USC in the 2024 campaign. During an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” the FOX Sports analyst explained his optimism for the Trojans’ upcoming season.

“I’m bullish on USC this year,” Klatt said. “Everyone can roll their eyes on their defense being better. Their defense is going to be better. All you have to do is line up properly. I’m not joking. Like, I know that that sounds bad but the schematics were so bad last year.”

USC’s defense was its weak point last season. The team allowed 432.8 yards per game, ranking No. 116 out of 130 FBS teams. In turn, USC fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in November. Only one month later, head coach Lincoln Riley hired D’Anton Lynn to be his next DC.

Lynn should bring much-needed change to the Trojans’ defense. In the 2023 campaign, Lynn guided UCLA’s defense to only give up 299 yards per outing, the 11th-least in the nation.

Perhaps Lynn made his greatest impression on USC when the Bruins dominated the Trojans in a 38-20 blowout victory in Week 12. In the win, UCLA squeezed three turnovers out of USC, including a rare interception out of 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

UCLA wasn’t only successful defending USC’s air raid. The Bruins only allowed the Trojans to pick up three rushing yards in the game on 22 carries. USC’s defense isn’t the only unit that Klatt expects to excel.

Joel Klatt claims USC offense won’t take a step back

“This notion that their offense will take a step back is false. It’s false, and the record bears that out,” Klatt said. “Lincoln Riley’s offenses since 2017 have been first, first, first, 11th, third [and] sixth. They’re not going anywhere.

“It hasn’t mattered what quarterback he has had. And in fact, whatever quarterback he has, as long as that quarterback stays within the system, is generally a Heisman Trophy candidate. So, their offense should be just fine.”

On Monday, USC named Miller Moss its starting quarterback for its Week 1 matchup against LSU. He is entering his redshirt junior season with the Trojans.

Moss showed off his comfort with Riley’s schemes in USC’s win over Louisville in the Holiday Bowl last year. In his lone start of the season, Moss erupted for 372 passing yards and six touchdowns, the most TD passes ever thrown by a USC QB is his first Trojan start.

If Moss can consistently replicate this success in 2024, Klatt’s faith in USC is well-founded. USC will kick off its 2024 season in a showdown against LSU at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 1. The game will be broadcast on ABC.