Alex Grinch comes under serious scrutiny as USC trails Cal at halftime
Alex Grinch said earlier this week that the USC defense was not where it needed to be in Year 2.
That was painfully evident on Saturday in the first half against Cal, which had 318 yards in the first 30 minutes of the game. Cal went into the locker room at the break with a 28-17 lead after averaging 9.6 yards a play.
USC went up 10-0. Then Jaydn Ott went off.
He broke the century mark on the ground before the first quarter ended and went into the locker room with 153 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza went 11-for-15 for 141 yards and a touchdown through the air.
The defense was a disaster for USC. Considering the context — the Trojans are coming off consecutive losses — it was a worst-case kind of first half for USC.
Fans have been unhappy with Lincoln Riley and Grinch, the team’s defensive coordinator, for weeks. Grinch faced intense scrutiny a year ago down the stretch, but Riley stuck by his coordinator and expressed confidence Year 2 would bring improvement.
That has technically happened. USC ranked 124th in defensive efficiency a year ago, giving up 6.5 yards per play. Entering Saturday’s game against Cal, USC was yielding 5.8 yards per play. The issue? That’s only good for 89th.
The Trojans haven’t made up enough ground to matter, and fans and media members called for Grinch’s job before Saturday’s game even reached halftime:
It's scary to think about how many points Oregon will put on this defense in a few weeks.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 28, 2023
If todays performance from Alex Grinch isn’t fireable, nothing will be.
— Diante Lee (@DianteLeeFB) October 28, 2023
“We didn’t see the Jayden Ott handoff on film.” – Alex Grinch, after 49-45 SC loss to Cal@daviddavidwoods
— Matt Yee (@mcyee) October 28, 2023
When does Alex Grinch get fired? During the game or after?
— Nico (@USC_Nico) October 28, 2023
Yeah, Lincoln Riley and USC have to fire Alex Grinch this week. There’s no excuse for this defense. None.
— Ryan Phillips (@RumorsandRants) October 28, 2023
We interrupt this Miami coverage to ask …. how the hell does Alex Grinch still have a job?
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) October 28, 2023
My untrained eye tells me Lincoln Riley owes USC fans an apology
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 28, 2023
Cal scores again: Mendoza to Trond Grizzell. #USC trails Cal, 28-17, with 8:58 to go in the second quarter. Don't really know what there's left to say about Alex Grinch at this point.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 28, 2023
I don’t care if Southern Cal comes back to win by 50, the level of unseriousness happening with Lincoln Riley‘s program is truly impressive
(hat tip to @alex_kirshner for hammering it early)
— Ben Breiner (@ben_breiner) October 28, 2023
USC defense was displaying unserious tendencies as far back as WEEK ZERO against San Jose State. There's never been more than a flicker of a reason to believe in improvement https://t.co/2hZGGsCZnM
— Split Zone Duo (@SplitZoneDuo) October 28, 2023
USC still paying Alex Grinch to coach defense is just getting odd now.
He's one of the worst coordinators in the history of football.
— Thomas Casale (@TheTomCasale) October 28, 2023
Alex Grinch Linkedin Challenge pic.twitter.com/pOy7PwNvIR
— 🦍BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL🦍 (@edsbs) October 28, 2023
It's over for Alex Grinch. Someone tell Lincoln Riley
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) October 28, 2023
is USC serious?
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) October 28, 2023