USC Football: Lincoln Riley Clarifies Defensive Coordinator Hierarchy
USC head coach Lincoln Riley was brought in a few years ago to re-establish the winning culture that the Trojans have been known for. So far, he has yet to make his magic happen, but there is still time for him to turn things around.
After a disappointing 2023 season, the Trojans are looking ahead to 2024 with bright eyes. They brought in D'Anton Lynn to take over the defensive coordinator position and believe that he is the right person for the job.
Lynn helped transform the UCLA Bruins defense into one of the best in the nation a season ago, and the Trojans believe he can do the same for them. However, there has been some confusion about who will call the shots this year.
USC also brought in Eric Henderson to run the defense, providing some mixed signals about who is in charge. Riley put all that to bed and clarified the hierarchy of the team, saying Lynn was in charge.
"There's no split ... he's gonna set the direction, he'll be the ultimate decision-maker in that room."
With Lynn now calling the shots, the Trojans' defense should be much better this year. He puts guys into strong positions for success, and all he needs to do to be successful is get them to be an average defense at a minimum.
USC has had trouble for a while on the defensive side of the football, which has caused issues mixing with their strong offense. But with Lynn now running the show, Riley may be able to fulfill his plan to restore USC football to its former glory.
