Lincoln Riley defends USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson
“Trust me, nobody takes it more personal than him or takes more responsibility than he does.”
USC head coach Lincoln Riley offered a sharp defense of coordinator Gary Patterson, backing his assistant as the Trojans head into a critical home game against Washington. Despite a defense currently ranked 115th nationally in yards allowed per play, Riley insists the unit is nearing its potential.
A Statistical Crisis on Defense
The Trojans are surrendering 6.14 yards per play, a figure that has defined the team’s struggles midway through the season. Scrutiny has fallen heavily on the secondary, which is yielding 8.4 yards per pass play—a mark that surpasses the defensive metrics recorded under former coordinator Alex Grinch.
The defense has proven unable to limit explosive plays, allowing 23 gains of 20 yards or more. That puts USC in the bottom three nationally for that category, a failure that has persisted despite a schedule that featured four opponents initially expected to be outmatched by the Trojans’ roster talent.
Riley Rejects Calls for Staff Changes
During his Thursday media availability, Riley attributed the ongoing failures to a lack of cohesion, arguing that the team does not need a “massive jump” in performance, but rather incremental improvements across all three levels of the defense.
Patterson, a College Football Hall of Fame inductee, has not spoken to the press since the preseason, leaving Riley to defend his coordinator’s record alone. Riley emphasized that Patterson’s deep history in the sport remains a vital asset to the program.
Communication Breakdowns on the Field
Discipline issues have plagued the secondary, leaving players frequently out of position. Former USC defensive back Max Williams noted on social media that the team’s communication appeared delayed, with defensive calls reaching the field too close to the snap. Former quarterback Max Browne observed similar failures, noting that defensive backs were often misaligned before the ball was even put into play.
These breakdowns were stark during recent Big Ten matchups. Rutgers and Oregon combined for 964 yards of total offense against the Trojans. Oregon proved particularly effective, as backup quarterback Dylan Raiola converted all seven of his third- and fourth-down pass attempts.
The Road to the Playoff
The defensive unit faces a significant test this week against Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a dual-threat player who mirrors the challenges USC encountered during their Week 2 victory over Louisiana. The team’s path to the College Football Playoff remains narrow, with a difficult road schedule ahead that includes matchups at Penn State, Indiana, and Ohio State.
With the season nearing its climax, the Trojans must find the consistency Riley claims exists to remain competitive against higher-ranked conference opponents.