USC Football News: How The Success of The Trojans Defense is Tied to USC's Backup QB

USC defense will be key for the growth of their backup QB

The USC Trojans don't have many question marks going into the 2023 season, especially from the quarterback perspective. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams will be under center once again, he's established himself as the best college football QB going into 2023, and it's not even close. 

Williams is primed to lead the Trojans to another great season and give them a chance for a College Football Playoff berth. 

However, one major question mark, and probably the only one worth talking about, is the defense. The 2022 USC defense was atrocious, among the worst, for being considered one of the top teams in the country. 

The defense must be better if the Trojans want to compete against the rest of the nation's elite. Not only will it help guide the team to new heights, but it could help their backup quarterback Miller Moss. 

Shotgun Spratiling from 247Sports examined how it will be up to the defense on the growth of Miller going forward. 

“While gaining tutelage from one of the top offensive minds in football is great, learning from game experience is even more valuable, and that’s not something Moss got much of last year despite USC’s prolific offense putting up 41.4 points per game. Williams stayed healthy (until the hamstring injury he played through in the Pac-12 Championship) and Moss only got real action in two games. He played 16 snaps against Rice and 17 snaps versus Colorado. Because of the Trojans’ defensive deficiencies, they weren’t able to blow out any other opponents, meaning Moss and the rest of the reserves didn’t get extra opportunities to gain the irreplaceable game experience.

There's no better teacher than experience, and if the defnese does their job, we could see Moss in the latter half of games. 

We all know the offense will put up the points led by Williams and Lincoln Riley, but can they put the clamps to let the other guys show what they got? 

Williams will be gone after the 2023 season, and if Moss can showcase his talent, he can secure the QB1 spot for the 2024 season if all goes well. 

It's never too early to start thinking about next season, especially in the quarterback position. We'll see if the defense can help their teammate out in 2023.