USC Football: Lincoln Riley Sees Promise in Defense After Season-Opener

It's Week 0... Should we start panicking?

The USC Trojans didn't exactly burst out of the gates in their Week 0 clash with the San Jose State Spartans. While they eventually clinched a convincing 56-28 victory, the journey to get there was no cakewalk.

This win marks just the start of what promises to be a triumphant season for the Trojans. Despite the seemingly comfortable score, let's not sugarcoat it—it wasn't a walk in the park. 

The recurring issue that just won't fade into the background was, well, none other than the defense. To put it bluntly, the defensive performance left much to be desired, and this sentiment wasn't lost on head coach Lincoln Riley.

After the win, Riley spoke with the media and had his defenses back, stating it will only get better after this week, and is bullish about it, too. 

#USC HC Lincoln Riley on the defensive struggles, said it will be a climb, but the ceiling is a lot higher than it was last year.

"Lot of work to do and we're the right people to get it done."

— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) August 27, 2023

This "improved" defense didn't leave a vote of confidence in the hearts of USC fans. The offense did its thing, and that's no surprise, considering their head coach leading the way and superstar Caleb Williams. 

But let's face it, the spotlight remains squarely on the defense. The future trajectory of USC's season hinges on the defense stepping up to the plate.

It will be an uphill battle from here, no doubt. The defense, under the guidance of Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch, is in the spotlight. A crucial truth must be acknowledged: raw talent alone isn't enough. 

It must be better if they even want a chance at sniffing out a college football playoff berth. Time will tell how the defense rallies and responds to the call for improvement.