USC Football: How A Lack Of Trust Could Be Affecting Trojans' Defense

Trust is everything on a football team.

One of the biggest problems for the USC Trojans this season has been their play on the defensive end. It has caused trouble for them in games and has allowed teams to make games closer than should be.

Many believed that the issues USC faced on that side of the ball were in the past, but three straight poor performances have allowed them to creep back up. It held the Trojans back last season, and it seems that it could be the case once again.

One aspect of the issues that the Trojans have faced on defense is their lack of communication and trust. Without that, a defense can’t stop anyone, and we are seeing it play out for USC.

"I think some [of the early mistakes] are just a trust factor when we talk to the guys," he said. "We see periods of lack of trust.”

Per USCFootball.com

For the Trojans to get where they want to go, the defense will need to step up. They can’t keep playing these shootout-style games and hoping to win each week. It isn’t a sustainable way to play the games, but it has become a pattern for this program.

Head coach Lincoln Riley believes that the narrative around his defense is a little overblown, but the production on the field says otherwise. The Trojans have a slightly improved defense from last season, but that isn’t saying much.

They will need to find a solution for this problem, otherwise, it will see them fall short of their goals once again. USC is far too talented offensively to be held back by a defense that falls short each game, so something needs to change moving forward.

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