To say that the defense has been a significant issue for USC’s football team this season would be an understatement. And after allowing 52 points to Washington in a loss on Saturday night, the Trojans are making a significant change to that defense.
News broke on Sunday afternoon that the Trojans are relieving defensive coordinator Alex Grinch of his duties.
Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported the news.
USC has dismissed defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 5, 2023
The general feeling on this decision was favorable but that it came well after it should have.
A year too late https://t.co/Q47qij5CH4
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) November 5, 2023
all after the Grinch stole all of USC’s CFP hopes https://t.co/ZdGjw8WCgG
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) November 5, 2023
https://t.co/aq8WJFxG93 pic.twitter.com/aaZFqBavRt
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 5, 2023
Reminder on the fact that Chris Fowler openly referred to the Alex Grinch USC defense last night as a “Bend then break defense” https://t.co/oEBq6rXAXO pic.twitter.com/Sgzo7wsa2X
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) November 5, 2023
Took way to long for USC and Lincoln Riley to make this move https://t.co/Bh4um48mBr
— Blain Crain (@Blain_Crain) November 5, 2023
"And what happened, then? Well, in Los Angeles they say – that USC's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of football came through, and the defense found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!" https://t.co/co0Zzx99P8
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) November 5, 2023
just in time to waste three years of having caleb williams as your QB https://t.co/GV7un8nYJ2
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) November 5, 2023
I wonder how many dismissed defensive coordinators it will take for people to see that the common denominator is the head coach. https://t.co/IdZBCWiBvP
— Travis J Davidson (@TravisSkol) November 5, 2023
The Trojans struggled defensively through several early-season games. USC, though, generally overcame those issues in the early part of the season. When the Trojans went into their game against Notre Dame on Oct. 14, they were realistic College Football Playoff contenders, sitting at 6-0 and ranked No. 10 in the country. Notre Dame, though, routed USC, handing the Trojans a 48-20 loss.
Interestingly, in that game, the USC defense wasn’t the issue. Notre Dame scored one touchdown on special teams, another on defense and scored three offensive touchdowns on drives that went a collective 64 yards as a result of a trio of interceptions. So, the Trojans didn’t have much of a chance defensively in that game. In the three subsequent games, though, it’s been a different story.
USC followed the Notre Dame loss with a 34-32 loss to Utah. And while the Trojans snapped a two-game losing streak in their next game against Cal, they needed every one of the 50 points they scored in a 50-49 win. Then, in Saturday’s loss to Washington, USC surrendered 52 points. The Huskies scored on eight of 10 possessions (eight of 11 if we count the two kneeldowns in victory formation to end the game) and in seven of those possessions, scored a touchdown.
So, it’s easy to see why Saturday’s loss was a final straw.
