1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the solid verbal hell. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 2: That for me, I'm a man, I'm forty. I've heard 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 2: so many players say, well, I want to be happy. 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 2: You want to be happy for Dake Edith Steak, is 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 2: that whoo whoo? And Dan and Tie. 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 3: Welcome back to the solid verbal boys and girls. My 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 3: name is Tie Hild, the brand that fine gentleman over 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 3: there as always, Dan Rubenstein stir, welcome back. 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: What's good? 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 2: Everything's good, Tie, Everything's good. We're talking together. We're talking football. 11 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: We're talking West Coast football. I can't even say Pac 12 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 2: twelve football anymore because it doesn't exist. Good job everybody 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: by talking West Coast football a little bit more specifically, 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: bringing on arguably our oldest not an age, but our 15 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: oldest in terms of tenure. I guess friend guest from 16 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: the show, I go back to two thousand sicks like 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: he was a You interviewed him for the original College 18 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 2: Football Tour Guide. I happened to come across him on 19 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: the USC campus. But he's been covering USC for a 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 2: long time, but it's still very young. Ryan Abraham quite 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: excited to have him on, and we do so every 22 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: so often because he is as thorough and I think 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: provides as much context and as complete a ten thousand 24 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: foot view of anybody, if not more, when it comes 25 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: to all things USC football, Upstowns and otherwise. 26 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 3: We're starting to dip our toes a little bit in 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 3: specific issues surrounding specific teams. It's no secret what USC's 28 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 3: issue is. USC's issue for the last couple of years 29 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 3: running has been defense. Everyone's been fixated on defense. This year, 30 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 3: I think it's right to fixate at least a little 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 3: bit on offense because Caleb Williams is leaving. 32 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: He's been a. 33 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: Generational talent for the last two years at USC. What 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 3: does the offense look like now, Well, without Caleb Williams, 35 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 3: with Miller Moss or Jadamiava, whoever it ends up being, 36 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: that is the trigger man. I have to imagine things 37 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: are going to look at least a little bit different 38 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 3: on the offensive side of the ball as well. So 39 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 3: hopefully Ryan can give us context for what that looks like. 40 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 3: You and I had kicked around this notion of what 41 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 3: will it take, what will it take to get to 42 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 3: the next level, What will it take to either win 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 3: a conference championship, get in the playoff, be a national 44 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 3: championship contender? I think that's a really good guide for 45 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: how we are approaching some of these team specific episodes 46 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: that we're going to do, because every team has its 47 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: own version of a hump that they need to get 48 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 3: over sure, and USC's maybe obvious at least in previous years. 49 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: This year it might be a little bit more complex. 50 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: But that's all to say. I'm very excited to have 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 3: Ryan from USC football dot com back on the soliverbl podcast. 52 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 2: It's by the way, and I'll ask Ryan about this. 53 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: This is something I'm curious about. It's been a spring 54 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: winter of USC catching basically nothing but strays by draft analysts. 55 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've noticed that. We're like, okay, 56 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: pros on Caleb Williams right, it's the arm angles, it's 57 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: the athleticism, it's creativity, it's the improvisation, it's the you know, 58 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: the once in a generation playmaking type quarterback back. There 59 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: downsides in they'll list, you know, timing, whatever it is. 60 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: But like context, for Caleb Williams, right, he was playing 61 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: with the team that didn't have much defense, so he 62 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 2: felt like he had to score a ton. Also trash 63 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: offensive line, trash skill talent trash scheme that got a 64 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: lot of. 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 3: I jotted down that exact question because we Innate Tyson 66 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 3: now from Yahoo congrat state if he's listening. We had 67 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 3: Nate on and we talked to him about Caleb Williams 68 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 3: and my question was, Caleb Williams plays hero ball. Do 69 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 3: we know that Caleb Williams will be better than justin fields? 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 3: And he went into a long explanation for why he 71 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: believes Caleb Williams is better and he mentioned some of 72 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: those things that you just brought up, the line across 73 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 3: the draft night right, the line, the receivers, the scheme. 74 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 3: Those three things I think in particular, we have heard 75 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: time and again. What's interesting about that? 76 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: Though? 77 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 3: If you post anything like that out across social media 78 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 3: anywhere where USC fans have a chance to dissect it, 79 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 3: the first thing they tell you is, what are you 80 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 3: talking about the line? What are you talking about the skill? 81 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: Talent? 82 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, there seems to be a bit of a disparity 83 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 3: between the scouts that watch the tape and the fans 84 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 3: that watch the game. And Ryan, I think is a 85 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 3: perfect guy who can give us a little bit more insight, 86 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 3: a little bit more context into what is actually going 87 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 3: on here. What is the root source of the problem. 88 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 3: What should we be observing this coming football season. 89 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and look, I think it's all relative to what 90 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: I think. Maybe those scouts are college football fans, NFL fans, whatever, 91 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 2: who are watching Lincoln Riley teams when you see the 92 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: types of game changers he's had on the line, especially 93 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: at Oklahoma, when you've seen the kind of game changing 94 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 2: receivers he's really had at both places. If you include 95 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 2: Jordan Addison from a couple of years ago, the best 96 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: Mario Williams and it wasn't on display last year, but 97 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: you know, Ceedee Lamb and Hollywood Brown guys like that, 98 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: where you're like Dede Westbrook, You're like, damn, like everything 99 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: is just firing on all cylinders with this Lincoln Riley offense, 100 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 2: whether it's Jalen Hurts, Kyler, Murray Baker Mayfield, whoever, Caleb 101 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 2: Williams most recently. And so it's relative to Okay, Now, 102 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 2: what is it that Caleb Williams is offering us? And 103 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: what is the context of Caleb Williams's time at USC. 104 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: And then when you compare you know, the Oklahoma offensive 105 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 2: lines to the last couple of USC ones, and you 106 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 2: compare the Oklahoma receivers to you know, especially last year's 107 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: USC receiving corps and good I thought the running game 108 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: was mostly really good last year. It was just protection 109 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: and communication stuff to me, to my dumb eyes. So yeah, 110 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: it's been a it's been a spring and a draft 111 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: process that has not been kind to the USC program. 112 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 3: Well, we'll see what Ryan has to say again, Ryan 113 00:05:56,120 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: Abraham USC football dot Com from also the Style new Hires. Yeah, 114 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 3: on defense, Ryan is doing a great job. Can fill 115 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 3: us in on what's going on with the USC defense 116 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 3: as well, which of course is not to be overshadowed 117 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: by any of this offensive talk that we speak of 118 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 3: here on the show. Hit follow, hit subscribe. Wherever it 119 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 3: is you are listening to this podcast, we greatly appreciate it. 120 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 3: You can also get an ad free version of this episode. 121 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 3: Also get a little bit early. If you're going out 122 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: to Verbulers dot com v E R B A L 123 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: L e r s dot com that is our Patreon, 124 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 3: you can sign up to support us for five to 125 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 3: ten bucks per month. 126 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: We offer various perks. 127 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 3: We would appreciate you stopping on by checking it out, 128 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 3: maybe wondering if it's for you or not. It's all 129 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: we can ask, right, That's that's everything. Yeah, that's all 130 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 3: I have. 131 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: Let's get to Ryan and with that we welcome on. 132 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: As Ty just mentioned, the legend, Ryan Abraham two four 133 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: seven sports, usc Football dot Com, The Paristyle Podcast catch 134 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: us his own bluefin tuna in international waters. What can do? 135 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: I've known Ryan for quite some time. He's been on 136 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: the show a million times. We have to get him 137 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 2: some sort of smoking jacket or something for being like 138 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: in an exclusive club. Ryan, how are you? 139 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 4: I'm good A verbal jacket, Yes, I like that. 140 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: Like a royal purple v right there. 141 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's great. So it's great to be on the show. 142 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,679 Speaker 5: Thank you so much. It's an honor. And just knowing 143 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 5: I think we both started our shows I think the 144 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 5: same year, like two thousand and eight, Yes, when it 145 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 5: was like early early podcasting worlds. And I mean for 146 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 5: different reasons like being in LA it's very pro town. 147 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 5: I wouldn't do a lot of local radio because they 148 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 5: wouldn't talk to us. They're talking Lakers, Dodgers or whatever. 149 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 5: Right Amaha, Nebraska would call me to talk about spring 150 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 5: football all the time. You're like, why, well, why don't 151 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 5: I just do my own show. So I just I 152 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 5: didn't even listen to a podcast before and I started one. 153 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 5: So I don't know if you guys were the same way. 154 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 2: But oh we are, And weirdly enough, we're all still 155 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: twenty eight despite having started this show in two thousand 156 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: and eight. It's crazy, Okay, So we're talking USC in 157 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four because one, they're always one of the 158 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: more fascinating teams in the country. They have a high 159 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,119 Speaker 2: profile coach, they're in a high profile place, they're moving 160 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,559 Speaker 2: to a high profile conference. We are in the midst 161 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: of this transition. And the theme that is not exclusive 162 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: to USC. We're doing this for a number of schools. 163 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: Is will it ever happen for Blank? And obviously it 164 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: is variable depending on the school. Will it ever happen 165 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: for Lincoln Riley? And USC? When you hear that question, 166 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: what is your gut reaction? 167 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 4: Yeah? 168 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 5: I think they always have the potential, you know, being 169 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 5: a high profile program and a high profile place. You know, 170 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 5: we'll see what the world of nil evolves into. But 171 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 5: if you are a superstar in Los Angeles, it does help, 172 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 5: you know. Kayleb Williams, I saw him court side at 173 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 5: a Laker game getting tapped up by Kevin Kevin Durant 174 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 5: after one of the games, I was like, okay, so 175 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 5: you can't do that everywhere. I think there's some unique 176 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 5: advantages and you know, there's probably some disadvantages too, But 177 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 5: to me, it was always about leadership and you need 178 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 5: good leadership, especially when the whole landscape of the sport 179 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 5: that you're in is changing like on an hourly basis. 180 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 5: And for you know, for decades, USC had really bad leadership, 181 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 5: kind of lucked into Pete Carroll and he was really 182 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 5: good and he you know, did good things. But you know, 183 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 5: after that with you know, bad athletic directors that didn't 184 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 5: know what they were doing making bad hires for years 185 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 5: and years, I think they needed to sort of like 186 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 5: come out of that. And you know, now the challenge 187 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 5: is it's definitely a lot different where money's involved in 188 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 5: the whole recruiting process and retention process. You're now in 189 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 5: an eighteen team league with you know, Michigan and Ohio 190 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 5: State and Oregon and Washington, you know, you know, Wisconsin 191 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 5: and Penn State and all these programs. So win the 192 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 5: conference is you know, significantly harder than it was in 193 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 5: the PAC twelve and US he's only done it once 194 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 5: in the last decade or so, so I think they 195 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 5: they have the potential, but you have to kind of bring, 196 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 5: you know, everything together. 197 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 4: But I think Jen Cohen is the f director. She's 198 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 4: doing a really good job. 199 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 5: I think Mike and Riley's proven that he can, you know, 200 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 5: be an elite head coach. Can he win a championship? 201 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 5: I don't know, but he's gone to the playoffs before 202 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 5: in a different environment. But we'll see if he's able 203 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 5: to do it with USC. So I think they have 204 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 5: the potential, but there's a lot of work to be done. 205 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 5: But for me, it's always about leadership for USC, and 206 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 5: they've just had a lot of bad leadership at presidential level, 207 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 5: ad level, coaching level for for a long time. 208 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 2: So that's it's an interesting term leadership because, as you mentioned, 209 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: it covers a lot of different people, and so obviously 210 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: people think Lincoln Riley immediately with USC for good reason. 211 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: But the word on Mike Boone was he's the stabilizing 212 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 2: force right after all sorts of ads who don't work out. 213 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 2: He's an outsider. He comes in, he makes these hires 214 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: and you know they have they have an adult in 215 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 2: the room finally, and they didn't right that that didn't 216 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 2: work out for Mike Bone they hire Jen Cohen from Washington. 217 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 2: But leadership, as you mentioned, right on the presidential level, 218 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: it also means like on the NIL level, right, how 219 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: any collectives are there? Is there one collective? Are there 220 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 2: three collectives? Are they communicating? Is everything structured in a 221 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 2: way that you know, the leadership is sort of broadcasting 222 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: a unified message to guys in the portal, recruits current 223 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: team members. What is the state of the alignment of 224 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: all of that moving forward in a universe that will 225 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 2: probably see more change with NIL and revenue sharing with 226 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:32,479 Speaker 2: TV deals. But where's USC in terms of hierarchy and success? 227 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's a great point. 228 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 5: I think when you look at what Mike Boone came 229 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 5: into after Pat Hayden and Len Swan, you know, the 230 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 5: two worst You could argue which one was worse athletic 231 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 5: directors in USC history. If you were just somewhat competent, 232 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 5: you would be a significant improvement. 233 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 4: I think he was. 234 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 5: I think he left the program in a better place 235 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 5: than when he found it, which you couldn't say really 236 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 5: to anyone else. The last you know, thirty years or whatever. 237 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 5: So I think that was a positive. But he, you know, 238 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 5: he ran out of steam. I think when Brandon Sauce 239 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 5: and his right hand man left, I think that's sort 240 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 5: of you know, he's with the Detroit Lions now and 241 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 5: they're doing really good. I feel like, you know, now 242 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 5: you needed to bring someone in that. Okay, you've elevated 243 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 5: a little bit. Now you get to the gen Cohen level, 244 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 5: and she seems like there's a really high ceiling with her. 245 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 5: I think she has embraced the NIL world, where I 246 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 5: think Mike Boone was a little hesitant to do that, 247 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 5: maybe a little more old school, you know. I think 248 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 5: a lot of athletic departments were struggling with, well, if 249 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 5: we tell people to donate to our collective, are they 250 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 5: going to donate to the department so we can build 251 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 5: new fountains or whatever you want to do. So I 252 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 5: feel like some athletic departments were struggling with that, and 253 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,599 Speaker 5: I think Mike Bone was one of them. And I 254 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 5: think Jen Cohen's embraced it. They've made a lot of 255 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 5: they're nowhere near like an Oregon or Ohio state or 256 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 5: something when it comes to NIL. But I feel like 257 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 5: they've made significant strides over the last year or so. 258 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 5: It's just it's kind of a different beast. But they've 259 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 5: got boosters on board. I think they're still trying to 260 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 5: get like the regular fans to realize, hey, this is 261 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 5: a thing that you need to contribute to. But they've 262 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,719 Speaker 5: just in the last year, I've seen the House of 263 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 5: Victory as their their main collective. Now you know, grow 264 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 5: a lot and uh you know, they've they've hired some 265 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 5: some good people, They've got some bigger boosters on board. 266 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 5: I think there it's been a slow build. They've they're 267 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 5: usually USC has never usually looked at one of those 268 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 5: early adapters, like I think Texas A and M was 269 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 5: like the first one to realize, hey, this is going 270 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 5: on boom collectives money is to you. 271 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 4: Know, I don't. 272 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 5: I think USC took a couple of years and it 273 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 5: really helped that that Tennessee Virginia, uh you know lawsuit 274 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 5: there where it basically said the NCAA doesn't have power 275 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 5: over nil and collectives because their collective wasn't even involved 276 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 5: in the recruiting process up until a couple of months ago. 277 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 5: So that was they were sort of on the more 278 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 5: conservative side of well, this is what the rules are, 279 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 5: we're not going to break them, where other you know, 280 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 5: programs were like, hey, it's okay, you can do this. 281 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 5: So I think it's probably leveled the playing field a 282 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 5: little bit now that some of these lawsuits and stuff 283 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 5: that come out there. But I would say they're sort 284 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 5: of they're they're getting better, but they're a little behind 285 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 5: the curve when it comes to that. I think they're 286 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 5: going in the right direction, but they haven't been on 287 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 5: the forefront of like being you know, we're in LA 288 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 5: they can do all this nil stuff coming along, and 289 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 5: I think Jen Cohen gets it. 290 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 4: Which is good. So it's kind of a slow build, 291 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 4: I guess. 292 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: So we are now post spring practice, and there's a 293 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: lot new with everybody, you know, with transfer, portal stuff, 294 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 2: new conferences, whatever, but it feels like there's an especially 295 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: huge amount that's new with USC. When you look at 296 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 2: a new defensive coaching staff, new quarterback, new conference. There's 297 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: just I think the vibes seem to be pretty good. 298 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: I know it's sort of I'm sure USC fans are 299 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 2: sort of up and down on the portal season USC 300 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 2: has had, but it seemed like the vibes were good 301 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 2: coming out of spring, especially on defense. I'm an outsider, 302 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 2: but to you, how are the post spring vibes with 303 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 2: USC football? 304 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's funny. 305 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 5: After the bowl game they were actually pretty positive, you know, 306 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 5: beating Louisville and the the Holiday Bowl and Miller Moss 307 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 5: you know, throwing six touchdowns. And it was a weird 308 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 5: off season for USC. Like it's sort of like if 309 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 5: you look at like Michigan Ohio State offseason, like Michigan 310 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 5: won the national championship, Ohio State's kind of winning the 311 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 5: off season, like which would you rather do? USC has 312 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 5: won a lot of off seasons like oh, they're getting 313 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 5: these transfers or these players or you know, all these 314 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 5: things that off and then when you get to the field, 315 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 5: you know on Saturdays in the fall, they weren't doing 316 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 5: quite as well. And it feels like they're trying to 317 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 5: do the reverse here where maybe they're not getting the 318 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 5: splashy signings and transfers, especially on the defensive line. USC 319 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 5: fans or ask any one of us if we can 320 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 5: play defensive tackle. They want it, That's all they want 321 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 5: to know. But I think a lot of programs are 322 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 5: going through that. 323 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 2: Bear Alexander needs a friend. Yeah, he needs a friend 324 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 2: up there. 325 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 5: But I feel like they're doing the behind the scenes work, 326 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 5: the infrastructure work, the stuff that you need to do 327 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 5: to really be successful, instead of maybe the flashy off 328 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 5: season kind of stuff and you know, getting dead and 329 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 5: who doesn't have a lot of experience, but really turned 330 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 5: around that UCLA defense, and I was really impressed with him, 331 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 5: just because sometimes you come from the NFL and you 332 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 5: want to you know, three inch thick playbook, and he 333 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 5: seemed to get it right away that we only get 334 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 5: these guys twenty hours a week. We have to make 335 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 5: this simple, make it look complicated to the opponent, make 336 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 5: it simple. He seemed to get that right away. And 337 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 5: then sort of over hiring where your linebacker coach was 338 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 5: a national championship winning head coach in the FCS level, 339 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 5: or your secondary coach, you know, Doug Belk was a 340 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 5: defensive coordinator at a Power five program. So I feel 341 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 5: like Lick and Riley, if you didn't think he was 342 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 5: taking defense seriously, maybe he wasn't. 343 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 4: He seems to be doing that now. 344 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 5: So I feel like some of that infrastructure build hasn't 345 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 5: been a typical kind of USC offseason, it wasn't been 346 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 5: as flashy and you might not see the results until 347 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 5: are you going to be as excited like right now? 348 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 4: And may maybe not. 349 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 5: But I think USC fans know, like, hey, if this 350 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 5: coaching staff works out, you know, they were one of 351 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 5: the worst defenses in the country the last two years, 352 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 5: certainly in Power five, and if they can get into 353 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 5: the top half or whatever and still have a really 354 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 5: potent offense like they've had the last couple of years, 355 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 5: you can be a you know, a really significantly better program. 356 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 5: So I think there's some some optimism post spring, you know, 357 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 5: from that, But a lot of it's not maybe the 358 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 5: flashy stuff. It's more of the sort of behind the 359 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 5: scenes bill that maybe USC hadn't really done there, you know, 360 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 5: done a lot of in the last you know, couple decades, 361 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 5: I guess. 362 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 3: So look, Rian, I realize it plays better online to 363 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 3: reduce everything down to the lowest, common, snarkiest possible denominator. 364 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: I am desperate to not do that with the USC 365 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 3: defense because genuinely, I want to know your USC guru, 366 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,719 Speaker 3: take the nuance behind the USC defense and how it 367 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 3: got to where it is right now, What is the 368 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 3: root cause of all of this. Is it recruiting, is 369 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 3: it coaching? What is the root cause that as Danton 370 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 3: Lynn takes over this defense, he has focused most on 371 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 3: here in the offseason. 372 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I think you guys are both. It 373 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 5: has to be a combination of all that. But I 374 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 5: think at the top it's on the coaching side. I mean, 375 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 5: we've seen, you know, some talented defenders come through the program, 376 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 5: and still the overall defense hasn't been very good. I 377 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 5: think the linebacker spot, especially for the last you know, 378 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 5: five six years, it's like, oh, these looks like good 379 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 5: players and then they just aren't a very productive group. 380 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 5: And when your linebackers aren't productive, it's sort of like, 381 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 5: you know, the middle of that defense. You really want 382 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 5: that to those guys to be able to shine. They 383 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 5: can make up plays. They're running sideline to sideline, and 384 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 5: if they're sort of erased and you know, a guard 385 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 5: pulls and takes your dude out, there's no one there. 386 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 5: I mean, it's just things like that. It just for 387 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 5: years they just haven't seemed to get a lot of production, 388 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 5: especially from the linebacker spot. So I but so I 389 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 5: think the coaching part is a big issue there. I mean, 390 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 5: even when they had like Todd Orlando was coming in 391 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 5: as a defensive coordinator, he was like a linebacker specialists. 392 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 5: He was working. So I'm like, hey, you know they're 393 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 5: going to be better. He's going to work with the linebackers. No, 394 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 5: it didn't matter. And then even last year thought they 395 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 5: got a lot better talent on the defensive side, where 396 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 5: maybe in year one of Lincoln Riley they added superstars 397 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 5: on offense like Kayleb Williams and Jordan Atison, and then 398 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 5: last year I think they added more superstars on the 399 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 5: defensive side, and the defense was still pretty terrible. So 400 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 5: I think that's it's more on the coaching side and 401 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 5: having someone that sort of kind of gets the college game, 402 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 5: and you know, Alex Grinch, for whatever reason, it just 403 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 5: it didn't seem to work. And I feel like when 404 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 5: we saw something not work with Lincoln Riley's offense where 405 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 5: guys were confused or whatever, he made a change and 406 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 5: it was it was working like the next day. With 407 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 5: Alex Grinch, you saw players like looking at their wristbands, 408 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 5: confused before the play starting, and that just kept happening 409 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 5: for like two years, and it was almost like this 410 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 5: is how I do it and if the players can't 411 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 5: get it a well, and that just to me, that's 412 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 5: not how you're going to coach in college. So it's 413 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 5: dan Linn said, it's going to be kind of a slow, 414 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 5: you know, learning process. They're not going to install everything 415 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 5: you know in the spring and they're going to keep 416 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 5: building on it. But all the players we talked to, 417 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 5: they seem to be, you know, on board with it. 418 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 4: Even you know. 419 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 5: I asked Josh Hensen, the offensive line coach, about the differences, 420 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 5: and he was like, it was kind of funny quote 421 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 5: that sort of I don't want to say viral, but it 422 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 5: went around all the USC circles where he said, well, 423 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 5: before our offensive linemen were kind of going out to 424 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 5: you know, the defensive line, we're trying to run around us. 425 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 5: Now the guys are trying to run through us. And 426 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 5: they feel like it. You know, the guys are bigger 427 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 5: and more physical, and they're actually kind of challenging U 428 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 5: some of the players on offense, you know, head to 429 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 5: head as opposed to kind of like the speed defense 430 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 5: where you're trying to just make a big play. I 431 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 5: think that was more Alex Gritch's thing. So I think 432 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 5: the main thing is probably coaching. They probably still need 433 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 5: to add some, you know, defensive talent, especially on the line. 434 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 5: But I feel if you took the talent they had 435 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 5: the last two years, it was good enough to be 436 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 5: way better than what they were. So if the talent's there, 437 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 5: and I think the coaching is the thing that needs 438 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 5: to change the most. So that's what they're banking on now, 439 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 5: changing the lot the whole coaching staff. Basically getting dadon 440 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 5: Lennon there, who took a eighty or ninety rank defense 441 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 5: into the teams or whatever he did. You want something 442 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 5: kind of similar to that at USC, And you know 443 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 5: that's what I think they're being optimistic about. 444 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, you sort of stole my thunder a little bit 445 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 3: bringing up the personnel group. No, it's cool, perfect segue. 446 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 3: What is your level of confidence with the personnel that 447 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 3: they have on hand? I know you said they need 448 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 3: to add more bodies, need to try and beef up 449 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 3: the line defense as a whole. But given what's on 450 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 3: the roster right now, what's like the Ryan Abraham assessment 451 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 3: of how that compares to previous iterations of this defense? 452 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 5: The secondary I think they're really deep. They have a 453 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 5: lot of talent there, and you know, bringing in a 454 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 5: couple of guys that are familiar like John Humphrey and 455 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 5: Kamari Ramsey from UCLA that are familiar with det and 456 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 5: Lyn's you know defense, I think that helps a lot. 457 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 5: They brought a couple of Oregon State transfers down easton Mascaranas. 458 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 5: Arnold is going to be probably the middle linebacker. We 459 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 5: talked to him last week as the headsets on, you 460 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 5: know where they're you know, with in the in helmet 461 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 5: communication kind of running the defense. And I feel like 462 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 5: the back seven they're gonna be in a good place. 463 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,439 Speaker 5: I like Eric Gentry a lot. He's kind of a 464 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 5: weird they call him like the giraffe. He's got this 465 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 5: six foot six frame, which what are you going to 466 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 5: do with them? He's going to move around and play 467 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 5: different positions, and you know, and the defensive line, I 468 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 5: think is where the big sort of question uh is 469 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 5: going to be. You know, they got some some big 470 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 5: bodies like a Bear Alexander in there. But you know, 471 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 5: can you you know, can you work everyone else in 472 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 5: and and and be effective as far you know, stopping 473 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 5: the run and getting after the passer. 474 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 4: There's some veterans there. 475 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 5: You know, Jamil Muhammad I thought had some up and 476 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 5: down moments last year after he transferred in. They're just 477 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 5: not going to be as deep on the defensive line, 478 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 5: but I think as a whole, they they have the 479 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 5: personnel to be successful. Maybe a little thin at the 480 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 5: defensive line, but you know, on the other spots, I 481 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 5: think they're they're doing a pretty good job, especially in 482 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 5: the secondary. Can they put it all together and make 483 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,239 Speaker 5: it work on Saturdays? Can they tackle better? You know, 484 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 5: not giving up thirty and twelves in that kind of stuff. 485 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 5: Just a lot of things that we saw in the 486 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 5: last couple of years. That's you know, that's kind of 487 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 5: the big question. But I think personnel wise, I think 488 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 5: they're pretty close. They would let you know, USC fans 489 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 5: have just been asking every time we say something like, 490 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 5: oh USC signed a punter or something like cond he 491 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 5: play defensive tackle? 492 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 4: Like that's just what comes up all the time. 493 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 3: It's interesting now as USC makes this move into the 494 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 3: Big Ten, because I think the next logical question is 495 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 3: which teams are which style of teams in the new 496 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 3: conference scary the most. You've got a team like a Michigan, 497 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 3: who you know, if the trends continue, would be more 498 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 3: of a ground and pound team that would attack that 499 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: defensive line. Penn State almost said Notre Dame. 500 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: I got. 501 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 3: Penn State obviously has a stable. USC plays Notre Dame too, 502 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 3: Notre Dame and they also like the ground and pound 503 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 3: to some extent. So is that the style of team 504 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 3: that scares you the most going into a new conference? 505 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 3: Are there other deficiencies that you think could be exploited? 506 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 3: What when you look out across this USC schedule this 507 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 3: coming season, which are the land mines that you're fearful 508 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 3: of the most? 509 00:23:58,600 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 4: Yeah? 510 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 5: I think the physicality is what everyone's going to be 511 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 5: talking about going into the Big Ten. And for USC, 512 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 5: I think they you know, I don't think they were 513 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 5: I think I think the short yardage stuff, they were 514 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 5: just sort of more of a finesse team. And I 515 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 5: think this offseason they've tried to, you know, remedy some 516 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 5: of that. And you're seeing the strength gains and everyone 517 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 5: does that every off season, but you're like, oh, the 518 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 5: defensive line gate three hundred pounds or all that kind 519 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 5: of stuff. But I think that's where at least that's 520 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 5: what they're focusing on. I think that would be probably 521 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 5: the biggest concern. It's it's interesting though, because I mean, 522 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 5: they have a really tough schedule. If you have LSU 523 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 5: to start the season, you got Notre Dame UH, and 524 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 5: then the big the Big Ten schedule. But if they're 525 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 5: like you know, if they can take care of their 526 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 5: own business, there's a lot of teams that they can 527 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 5: beat on the schedule, and maybe the two toughest Big 528 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 5: Ten teams you know where they were in the National 529 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 5: Championship Game last year was Washington and Michigan. But they 530 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,479 Speaker 5: both you know, new coaches, their whole you know, they're 531 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 5: gonna be completely different teams this year, and probably the 532 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 5: two most talented teams. They don't play Ohio State in Oregon, 533 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 5: so it could be, you know, it could be an 534 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 5: interesting first year in the Big Ten. But they you know, 535 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 5: it's for me, it's more about us. He kind of 536 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 5: taking care of their business because you could go on 537 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 5: the road and lose to Maryland or lose to UH, 538 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 5: you know, Wisconsin at home. But you know, those teams 539 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 5: you're probably more talented then you're you know, you're probably 540 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 5: gonna be favoring those games. If you can take care 541 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 5: of those there's some you know, there's some tough ones. 542 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 5: Of course, Elis you Notre Dame. You know, Michigan and Washington, 543 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 5: like I said, but you know a couple of those 544 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 5: you're talking about complete rebuilds and stuff. So I mean 545 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,159 Speaker 5: they have a puncher's chance, but it's going to be 546 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 5: a lot. You know, the schedule is going to be, 547 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 5: you know, significantly tougher than what they saw the last 548 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 5: couple of years. So to me, it's more just about, hey, 549 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 5: can you take care of stuff you know in house 550 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 5: and kind of take it to the next level. But 551 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 5: I would say those physical teams are probably the ones 552 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 5: that they're going to be worried about the most to Lincoln. 553 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 2: To Lincoln Riley's credit, excuse me, he did look inward 554 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 2: with the defensive coaching staff, and he was quite loyal 555 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 2: to Alex Grinch for a long time, realized it wasn't 556 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 2: working and made the moves. I'm sure he had the 557 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 2: support of you know, money behind the program sort of, 558 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 2: you know, telling him, this is what you're going to do. 559 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,120 Speaker 2: You're going to make some changes on the defensive staff, 560 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 2: and he did, and it seems quite promising for usc 561 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 2: that that there are new voices in the room. What 562 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 2: else has Lincoln Riley done, if anything, to sort of 563 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: look inward and say, look, we're not going to lose 564 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 2: five games or whatever. Again at USC, that's unacceptable. Is 565 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: it how they practice? Is it culture behind the scenes? 566 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 4: Is it? 567 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 2: You know a lot of people will criticize offensive coaches 568 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 2: for not letting the defense run wild in practice and tackling. 569 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 2: I don't think we saw much tackling in the spring 570 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 2: game for instance this year. Like, is there anything that 571 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 2: Lincoln Riley has looked at himself and like I have 572 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 2: to do X, Y and Z different the way this 573 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 2: team has run for us to sort of hit that 574 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 2: ten to eleven win threshold. 575 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 5: Again, Yeah, I don't think losing five games set very 576 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,239 Speaker 5: well now with him. Like you mentioned, it was not 577 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,199 Speaker 5: was not pleasant, and I feel like, yeah, he probably 578 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 5: loyal to a fault with with Alex Grinch. And I 579 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 5: think the weird aspect was that I feel like he 580 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 5: gave Alex Grinch sort of like a little more power 581 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 5: than even he needed because some of the players that 582 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 5: could have been bigger were like smaller on purpose. So 583 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 5: I think some of those gains from these offseason workouts, 584 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 5: That's what I was kind of questioning, like you still 585 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 5: have the same head coach, you still have Benny Wiley, 586 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 5: the strength and conditioning coach, and now they're all all 587 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 5: these guys are putting on weight and everything, and you're like, well, 588 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 5: I mean what the only thing to changed with the 589 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 5: defensive coordinator? So did you give did Alex Grinch say 590 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 5: I want smaller, faster guys, so don't get too big. 591 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 5: And now they're like, now you have dead to limbs, 592 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 5: like no, we want we want some bulk here. So 593 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 5: I think maybe that was one of the things too, 594 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 5: where it wasn't just you kept them on board, but 595 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 5: you actually gave him a lot of say and how 596 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 5: like the makeup of the physical makeup of what these 597 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 5: defenders were. So I think that and on the practice side, 598 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 5: we don't get to watch a lot where or just 599 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 5: watching the kind of beginnings of stuff, but you know, 600 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 5: talking to players, it did seem things like they were 601 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 5: a little different. We know that Lincoln Riley was going to, 602 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,640 Speaker 5: you know, giving up the quarterback coaching duty, so Luke 603 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 5: Heward's going to do that now, giving him a little 604 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 5: bit more kind of rome, you know, privileges. I guess 605 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 5: where you can go around and be in defensive meetings, 606 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 5: and he talked about that going into twenty twenty three, 607 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 5: that he was going to be more involved on the 608 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,479 Speaker 5: defensive side, but it didn't seem like that was really 609 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 5: the case, and now I think he is. I think 610 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 5: that's it's more of you know, embracing that you know, 611 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 5: it's his baby, and even not being able to be 612 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 5: the quarterbacks coach. When we were asking about it, it was 613 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 5: sort of like, I got to do it, but like, 614 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 5: you know, that's his thing. You know, he's really good 615 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 5: at it, so you don't really want to give up 616 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 5: something that you're great. I don't know if he'll ever 617 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 5: give up the play calling duties because that's sort of 618 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 5: what makes him, you know, the kind of coach that 619 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 5: he is. But I do like that he's more involved, 620 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 5: maybe in the rest of the team, and you know, 621 00:28:58,320 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 5: I think on the special team's aspect as well. 622 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 4: Have been kind of bad with that. 623 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 5: But you've got these problem areas and you're the head man, 624 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 5: you have to address him head on. I think he 625 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 5: intended to do that last year and it just didn't work. 626 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 5: And I think this was like a full rebuy into 627 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 5: we have to do this just go get the best 628 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 5: coaches you can possibly get, put them in right position, 629 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 5: oversee them. And I think that's kind of been the 630 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 5: biggest difference this offseason. 631 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 2: Glad you mentioned quarterback, because we're in like weird uncharted 632 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 2: territory at quarterback with Lincoln Riley, where it always seemed 633 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 2: like he either had an obvious five star freshman coming 634 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,239 Speaker 2: in or he had a five star caliber transfer coming in. 635 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 2: You Kyler, Murray, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams at USC and 636 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 2: now it's Miller Moss, who has been a career backup. 637 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 2: It is Jade Mayava transferring in from UNLV, losing what 638 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: at one time we thought was going to be the 639 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 2: future of USC at quarterback in Malachai Nelson, who didn't 640 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 2: work out at USC is at Boise State. And do 641 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 2: you get the sense that the ceiling on I of 642 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 2: these guys competing for the job. And I know this 643 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 2: sounds like a leading question and it's not meant to 644 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 2: be like answer yes if you believe yes, is Miller 645 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 2: Moss's ceiling of the Lincoln Riley caliber quarterback tree. Is 646 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 2: Jade Mayova's ceiling of that caliber ceiling? Do you get 647 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 2: that sense or is just going to be a different 648 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 2: way that USC and Lincoln Riley are going to win 649 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 2: this year. 650 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 4: I think it's probably going to be a different way. 651 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 5: I think with Jade Mayava when talking, you know, he 652 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 5: was you know whatever, Mountain West Freshman of the Year there. 653 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 5: You know, it looked really good. I think he does 654 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 5: have a high ceiling. I think with Miller Moss it's 655 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 5: going to be a very different look. I did like 656 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 5: what he did. I guess a pretty good Louisville defense. 657 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 5: You know, Bowl games don't mean a whole lot, but 658 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 5: you know, six touchdown passes and they weren't like dump 659 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 5: off there. Five of them were thrown into the end zone. 660 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 5: And he really bonded with this young group. They got 661 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 5: four sophomore wide receivers that have all been I've looked 662 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 5: really spectacular at different points of the time. So I 663 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 5: think that's a pretty core group. With Caleb Williams, you know, 664 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 5: number one pick in the NFL draft, the Heisman Trophy, 665 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 5: you know, comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. Albert Breer wrote a 666 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 5: really good story about the if you got to check 667 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 5: it out on what went into the Bear's mindset when 668 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:11,959 Speaker 5: you pick him and if you read that story as 669 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 5: even more impressive of everything that kind of Caleb Williams does. 670 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 5: But you feel like with Miller Moss, he's going to 671 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 5: like work within the constraints of whatever the offense is. 672 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 5: So sort of like what Sean Payton really wanted, like 673 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 5: you know, Russell Wilson to do in Denver, it wasn't 674 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 5: really working out. 675 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 4: He's more of an improv guy. And you know, it worked. 676 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 4: The improv thing worked. 677 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 5: But I think with Miller Moss, it's going to be 678 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 5: here's what the plays are, and then you're probably going 679 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 5: to be running pretty close to exactly what that is. 680 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:39,719 Speaker 5: And then you know, if you have to do some 681 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 5: improv stuff, you can. So I think it's gonna be different. 682 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 5: I think he's you know, he's got a high IQ 683 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 5: football IQ. I think he's shown he can execute what 684 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 5: you know, Lincoln Rally is asking for. So it'll be 685 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 5: interesting to see Lincoln Rally short of shift from man 686 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 5: I call that play and then Caleb did this, but 687 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 5: then it was a touchdown. It didn't matter anyway too Like, hey, 688 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 5: if but my play good, it's going to be you know, 689 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 5: executed well by Miller Moss. For the future, I mean 690 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 5: mav I think he could be more of that guy 691 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 5: that there's improvincive going on. But I think he's I 692 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 5: don't think he's ready to be a starting quarterback in 693 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 5: the in the Big ten quite yet just from what 694 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 5: we've seen. 695 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 4: But yeah, it'll be different. I think with with Miller Moss. 696 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 5: We'll see, you know, if he's able to keep that up, 697 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 5: you know, a week after week and execute what's going on. 698 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 5: But I feel like it's gonna be a different way 699 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 5: to win linco In. Riley's one with a lot of 700 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 5: different kind of quarterbacks and we'll see if I don't 701 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 5: know if there's been one like Miller Moss, we'll see 702 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:32,960 Speaker 5: if he can be the next one in the long 703 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 5: line of whatever. Whatever Riley, whoever quarterback Riley touch, it 704 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 5: seems to work out pretty good. 705 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 2: What is the state of USC's high school recruiting right now? 706 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 2: Obviously they have two hugely high profile commitments from players 707 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 2: from across the country. Is their belief that they're going 708 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 2: to hold on to those guys? Is their belief that 709 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: they're going to continue to grow their national recruiting footprint, 710 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 2: which US sorely needs, especially on the West Coast. If 711 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 2: you want to you know, string together top ten classes. 712 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,600 Speaker 2: It's not going to strictly come from California. And there 713 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: was you know, a quote that I think raised some 714 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 2: eyebrows from Lincoln Riley. That's saying, you know, everybody wants 715 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 2: us to recruit California. That's sorry, we're not doing that. 716 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 2: What is the state of USC's recruiting and ceiling for 717 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 2: USC's recruiting right now? 718 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 4: Yeah. 719 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 5: I think it helped that they brought in Eric Henderson 720 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 5: from the Rams, who coached Aaron Donald, and he just 721 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 5: seems to be for an NFL guy, He's you know, 722 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 5: been like an ACE recruiter for USC. And I think 723 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 5: having like Aaron Donald on campus for one of the 724 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 5: big recruiting weekends and they got some defensive linemen from 725 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 5: Georgia and stuff to commit, I think that's helped. That 726 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 5: was sort of the high water mark a month or 727 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 5: so ago, and then you know, it's been kind of 728 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 5: like okay since then, but that was a big one. 729 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 5: I think all that did come after when the NCAA 730 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 5: backed off the nil rules that you were supposed to follow, 731 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 5: the you know, the Collective House of Victory was able 732 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 5: to get involved in the recruiting process, and I think 733 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 5: that's helped a lot. But again that USC was a 734 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 5: little be behind in that where it wasn't a big 735 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 5: part of you know, the recruiting weekend. 736 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 4: You weren't meeting. 737 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 5: With the head of the collective to tell you, like 738 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 5: what you could possibly do when you when you got here. 739 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 5: So they're doing that now. So I think they're I 740 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,120 Speaker 5: think it's on the upswing a little bit. I mean, 741 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:15,839 Speaker 5: and I think they've done a pretty good job with evaluations. 742 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 5: Even the players they've brought in for the class of 743 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 5: twenty twenty four, You're like, Okay, these guys look like, 744 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:22,399 Speaker 5: you know, they can play. Maybe he was a high 745 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 5: three star, but he looks like he can, you know, 746 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:26,800 Speaker 5: be a player there and things like that. So I 747 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 5: think they're doing okay, but they're not. It's not gangbusters 748 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,319 Speaker 5: like a lot of people thought when Lincoln Riley sort 749 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 5: of came in that you were just going to be, 750 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 5: you know, bringing in all this five star talent all 751 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 5: the time. I think they can, you know, they can 752 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 5: get there, but especially on the defensive side, they needed 753 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 5: to kind of prove something on the field in the 754 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 5: last two years. 755 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 4: It just they didn't really do anything. But I think 756 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 4: the new. 757 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 5: Staff has got some good energy on the defensive side 758 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 5: and he'll always be able to get offensive players. To me, 759 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:55,840 Speaker 5: it's more like the linemen. California. You can recruit a 760 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:57,919 Speaker 5: lot of skill guys, quarterbacks come out of here. 761 00:34:58,320 --> 00:34:58,840 Speaker 4: The linemen. 762 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 5: It's just we've seen be more of a developmental thing 763 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,840 Speaker 5: where you're getting a two ordan and fifty five pound 764 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:06,799 Speaker 5: offensive lineman that three zero five by his sophomore year 765 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 5: and he's, you know, can potentially all conference, where if 766 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 5: you're getting from the South, like you're getting guys that 767 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 5: look like NFL bodies already. It's it's just been a 768 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 5: little different. So I think that's why you have to 769 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 5: be able to recruit nationally. It's just we're not seeing 770 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 5: the same, you know, level of ready made lineman on 771 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,240 Speaker 5: the West Coast that we were maybe you know, fifteen 772 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 5: years ago, like in the peak Carroll era. 773 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 2: So I'm curious because you bring up offense. When you 774 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 2: watched ESPN, when you watched whatever draft shows anybody or 775 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,839 Speaker 2: mock drafts that people were evaluating Caleb Williams, they had, 776 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,719 Speaker 2: you know, an overflowing number of things positive to say 777 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,759 Speaker 2: about Caleb Williams. But something that came up over and 778 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,840 Speaker 2: over and over again, it seemed, was USC's offensive line, 779 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 2: USC's receivers and really USC's scheme catching strays saying this 780 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:58,280 Speaker 2: is Caleb Williams didn't have much to work with upfront, 781 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 2: didn't you know? His receivers there was ap off after 782 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 2: having Jordan Addison in twenty twenty two, and scheme wise, 783 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:06,399 Speaker 2: it was very confusing what USC was trying to do, 784 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 2: and you know, was was sort of leaving points on 785 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 2: the board. To what degree do you think that was 786 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 2: a fair evaluation of USC's offense last year? And I 787 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 2: think to spin it positively, add any sort of context, 788 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 2: and give the people coast to coast around the globe 789 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 2: reasons to believe that the offensive line, the skill talents 790 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:31,439 Speaker 2: was for whatever reason, in a weird place last year, 791 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 2: but will be better this year. 792 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think the offensive line criticism is you know, warranted. 793 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 5: I think you know, they move some guys around, and 794 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:45,440 Speaker 5: you had some veterans like Jonah Manheim playing left tackle, 795 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 5: you know, maybe. 796 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 4: Not his best position. Justin died Itch moved. 797 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 5: Into center and you know he did fine there. Now 798 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 5: you're they're moving Mannheim back to center and he's probably 799 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 5: going to be a you know, interior offensive lineman at 800 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 5: the NFL level. They had some transfers that kind of 801 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 5: missed on and it just didn't quite work where I 802 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 5: thought their first year they did a nice job with 803 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,719 Speaker 5: a group of veterans and some transfers they brought in 804 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 5: and the chemistry worked. You know, the offensive line is 805 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:12,360 Speaker 5: kind of one of those like if you talk to 806 00:37:12,440 --> 00:37:14,839 Speaker 5: offensive linement, it's like five fingers on hand. They all 807 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,399 Speaker 5: have to work together. I think that hand worked pretty 808 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 5: well twenty twenty two. It just wasn't quite working in 809 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:22,839 Speaker 5: twenty twenty three. And I think that put a lot 810 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 5: more pressure on Caleb Williams and him trying to make plays. 811 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 5: And you know, he's got the he can be a hero. 812 00:37:29,239 --> 00:37:31,400 Speaker 5: You know, he can go out there and do crazy things. 813 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 5: And it was weird though, how the skill positions didn't 814 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 5: quite work. I mean, we saw I think, you know, 815 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 5: you've had for a couple of years in a row. 816 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 5: They bringing Travis Dye, who was a really good leader 817 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 5: from Oregon. And for the culture part of it, I 818 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:51,319 Speaker 5: give Lincoln Riley credit because there was a whole lot 819 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 5: of transfers and somehow it was a you know, the 820 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 5: locker room was cohesive, and you got guys like Die 821 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:00,479 Speaker 5: coming in as new players and being leaders in there. 822 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 5: And Austin Jones from Stanford was kind of the number 823 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 5: two guy the last two years. 824 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:05,719 Speaker 4: I thought he did well. 825 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:08,360 Speaker 5: And they bring in Marshawn Lloyd from South Carolina and 826 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 5: he was drafted fairly high, and you know, he was 827 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:13,359 Speaker 5: a you know, a fan favorite and someone that could 828 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:14,960 Speaker 5: be a leader in the locker room too. So I 829 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:16,840 Speaker 5: felt like they were good at the running back spot. 830 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 5: You know, Jordan Addison year one and he was amazing. 831 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 5: And they bring in Dorian Singer last year from you know, 832 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 5: he his number two receiver in the in the Pac 833 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 5: twelve out of Arizona, and it just didn't click for 834 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:31,879 Speaker 5: whatever reason. And you know, they had some good individual 835 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 5: players there, like Brendan Rice led the team in touchdowns. 836 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 5: He was drafted. You know late Tosh Washington was just steady, 837 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 5: maybe not you know, the superstar kind of guy, but 838 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 5: always made plays, have had over a thousand yards and 839 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:48,600 Speaker 5: he ended up getting drafted too. So those are kind 840 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 5: of the guys that Caleb Williams rely on. But you 841 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,239 Speaker 5: thought Singer could be that number one guy. They just 842 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,239 Speaker 5: never really had one of those, So I feel like 843 00:38:56,280 --> 00:39:00,320 Speaker 5: they were pretty good and the younger players, those freshmen. 844 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 5: There were four freshmen that you know, have all looked 845 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 5: really good and I think they're going to be the 846 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 5: core of that receiving group now. And they all have 847 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:11,000 Speaker 5: like superstar you know, potential with Deuce Robinson and Jacoby 848 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 5: Lane and Mackay Lemon and zachar Ryah Branch. They're all 849 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 5: like potential superstars. But last year there was like this 850 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:21,400 Speaker 5: kind of void of a number one guy, and they 851 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 5: thought it was gonna be singer and it just never 852 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 5: kind of worked out. So I think some of the 853 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,840 Speaker 5: criticism is warranted, but I feel like, you know, it's 854 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 5: really more about the offensive line. That's they had some 855 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,320 Speaker 5: good players there, but for whatever reason, it just didn't 856 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 5: They didn't gel and it didn't work together. And then 857 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,720 Speaker 5: not having a number one receiver like a Jordan Natison, 858 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:41,080 Speaker 5: I think that kind of hurt them as well. 859 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 3: Just a few more for you, Ryan. We've talked about 860 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:46,439 Speaker 3: vibes on offense and defense. What are the vibes about 861 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:49,360 Speaker 3: joining the Big ten as a whole, both in terms 862 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:52,759 Speaker 3: of the people that are running the USC program and 863 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 3: the people such as yourself who are covering the program, Like, 864 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,319 Speaker 3: what's it done to the travel budget? Ryan, how do 865 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:00,479 Speaker 3: you feel about how do you feel about the huge 866 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 3: transition that you're about. 867 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 2: To abandoned the East Coast and now he's being forced 868 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 2: to go back time. Yeah he's from I think Massachusetts, right, Yeah, Yeah, 869 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:09,600 Speaker 2: I went. 870 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 4: To high school in Massachusetts. Yeah. 871 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 5: One of my writers is from Maryland, Maryland, so he's 872 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 5: excited for that trip. But yeah, the travel budgets going up, 873 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 5: for sure, that's okay, you know whatever. I think there'll 874 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:23,640 Speaker 5: be some some fun trips. Usually it's the Notre Dame game, 875 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:25,799 Speaker 5: you going to Chicago and everything, and how you got 876 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 5: like four of those a year, So that'll be a 877 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:29,839 Speaker 5: little bit different, but you know, we'll see. I think 878 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:32,600 Speaker 5: there's I think there's a potential for a lot more 879 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:36,480 Speaker 5: listeners to your podcast. If you know USC's hosting Washington 880 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 5: State versus like Wisconsin, probably you know a little bit 881 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:43,120 Speaker 5: different feel for what's going on there. But I still 882 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:46,359 Speaker 5: it's hard to kind of wrap your arms around. Even 883 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:49,840 Speaker 5: when we were talking about the twenty twenty four recruiting 884 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,800 Speaker 5: class and they're like they're never going to play a 885 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,839 Speaker 5: PAC twelve game. They're going into the Big ten, and 886 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 5: that was just hard to kind of wrap your mind around, 887 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 5: like they're never this is a Big ten class already, 888 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:03,239 Speaker 5: and I think it's it's hard for people to sort 889 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 5: of grasp and for you know, USC and Ucla they 890 00:41:05,080 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 5: were kind of the first to go over Oregon and 891 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,279 Speaker 5: Washington coming in there. But like if you're Cal fan 892 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 5: and you're like you're going to the ACC, like what 893 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 5: like this a lot of this stuff is really weird. 894 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 5: I think the fans are on board. I think, you know, 895 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:19,680 Speaker 5: USC fans probably more than UCLA fans are. They're happy 896 00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:21,600 Speaker 5: with that. You know, they've been in the rose ball 897 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:23,919 Speaker 5: a lot, They've played a lot of those teams. There's 898 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,800 Speaker 5: a lot of tradition there between some of the bigger brands, 899 00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:29,719 Speaker 5: you know, Michigan and Ohio State and some Penn State 900 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,399 Speaker 5: games and things, and you know for us to meet, 901 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:35,480 Speaker 5: I don't know, it's still hard to sort of grasp. 902 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 5: I mean, I'm still doing a PAC twelve podcast. It's like, 903 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,320 Speaker 5: now we've got to figure out what we're going to 904 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 5: do going forward, because it was a lot of fun 905 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:43,520 Speaker 5: to kind of you know, we still talk about these teams. 906 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:45,360 Speaker 5: It's like all the teams that used to be together 907 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:48,960 Speaker 5: and now they're not, And so I don't. 908 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:51,600 Speaker 2: They didn't move like there, Utah is still located in 909 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 2: Salt Lake City, but yeah. 910 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 5: Yeah, like a Utah radio show tomorrow, I'm like, what why, 911 00:41:57,560 --> 00:41:59,239 Speaker 5: Like we're not the USC is not playing. 912 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 2: I don't know, but I right in your deep Texas 913 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,640 Speaker 2: tech thoughts and Utah how they match up right right right? 914 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:08,279 Speaker 5: It's it's weird, and it's it's it's just hard to 915 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:11,160 Speaker 5: sort of come to terms like this is going to 916 00:42:11,239 --> 00:42:15,200 Speaker 5: be the reality. But I think USC and and you know, 917 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:17,279 Speaker 5: I'm I can't speak for like Oregon or Washington fans. 918 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 5: I think they're excited too, it's just UCLA there. I 919 00:42:20,239 --> 00:42:22,520 Speaker 5: think they wanted to be, you know, on the West 920 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 5: coast more and I think I think most fans would 921 00:42:24,719 --> 00:42:27,319 Speaker 5: love to still have these regional games and everything, but 922 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,000 Speaker 5: knowing just the landscape, you kind of have to do it. 923 00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,200 Speaker 5: And I think they've did a pretty good job of 924 00:42:32,239 --> 00:42:33,640 Speaker 5: kind of buying in to be like, hey, you know, 925 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:35,920 Speaker 5: are they happy they're not going to play callin Stafford 926 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,120 Speaker 5: every year like they have for one hundred years or whatever. 927 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:39,480 Speaker 5: Like I think they would love to be able to 928 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:42,879 Speaker 5: do that. But you know, when you got some fun 929 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:45,200 Speaker 5: games on the schedule, you're like, you're going to the 930 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,719 Speaker 5: big House, Like okay, Like that's going to be a 931 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 5: good time, you know, Like you know, as you see, 932 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:50,920 Speaker 5: like going to Rutgers is going to be a lot 933 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:53,160 Speaker 5: of fun. Probably not, but there's a lot of cool games. 934 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:55,760 Speaker 5: You know that you're going to be able to embrace. 935 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:56,960 Speaker 3: A lot a lot of new combinations. 936 00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:57,279 Speaker 1: For sure. 937 00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 3: Let's bring it full circle. Let's bring it right back 938 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:02,520 Speaker 3: to the top. We started this whole conversation for the 939 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:07,320 Speaker 3: USC fans listening. Full disclosure, I am playing Devil's advocate 940 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:10,160 Speaker 3: with this thought experiment, so I don't want to catch 941 00:43:10,160 --> 00:43:12,000 Speaker 3: the strays. It just got to got to complete the 942 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 3: cycle here, Ryan, Okay, sure. Caleb Williams, as you described, 943 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:19,919 Speaker 3: arguably the most decorated USC quarterback at a good long time, 944 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:24,319 Speaker 3: certainly since Matt Winer. Now he's gone. There is a 945 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:27,360 Speaker 3: case to be made that if Lincoln Riley couldn't do 946 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 3: it with him, it's never going to happen. So to 947 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:34,360 Speaker 3: bring this whole thing full circle, will it ever happen 948 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:35,640 Speaker 3: for Lincoln Riley at USC? 949 00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 5: You know, it's it's you cover the team and you're 950 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:42,879 Speaker 5: around it. Sometimes I think you can be overly pessimistic. 951 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:44,920 Speaker 5: Sometimes you can. I try to just be sort of 952 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:47,640 Speaker 5: even keel, and sometimes you're wrong and the fans will 953 00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:49,080 Speaker 5: get mad at you. Like I said, Hey, the defense 954 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,279 Speaker 5: is gonna better last year, and they were. They were worse, 955 00:43:51,320 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 5: they were awful, and they're like, you know what you're 956 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:57,040 Speaker 5: talking about. I'm like, fair enough. My feeling is that 957 00:43:57,120 --> 00:44:00,600 Speaker 5: they can get it right, that they win. It works 958 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:05,319 Speaker 5: at USC. There are just some inherent advantages that you 959 00:44:05,480 --> 00:44:09,720 Speaker 5: probably don't get other places. And the game has changed, 960 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:12,719 Speaker 5: and I think you could make a bunch of bad 961 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:15,280 Speaker 5: decisions before at USC and just it sort of didn't 962 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,120 Speaker 5: matter as much. You could make some bad hires, but 963 00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 5: it was still us. 964 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:19,520 Speaker 4: Were kind of like you. 965 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:21,759 Speaker 5: Were Alabama on the West coast and there wasn't a 966 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:24,239 Speaker 5: Georgia or an LSU or Florida anywhere near you. So 967 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:26,680 Speaker 5: even if you didn't do it perfect, you could do Okay, 968 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:29,400 Speaker 5: that's not the case anymore. You're going to have to 969 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:31,160 Speaker 5: play you know, you have to do things kind of perfectly. 970 00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:33,319 Speaker 5: But with the leadership they have in place, I do 971 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:36,120 Speaker 5: feel that you know, if things work out right, they 972 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:39,880 Speaker 5: have the potential to make this work and go to 973 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 5: the play They've never been to a playoff before, go 974 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:44,200 Speaker 5: to the first time. You know, I feel like they 975 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:48,359 Speaker 5: can do that. And it's not just about you know, 976 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:51,239 Speaker 5: how good was Caleb Williams, because he was amazing. We've 977 00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:54,279 Speaker 5: seen Lincoln rather have a lot of amazing quarterbacks. But 978 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:57,120 Speaker 5: it's hard to have a really good team with only 979 00:44:57,320 --> 00:45:00,319 Speaker 5: a great offense. So it's to me now it's more about, hey, 980 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:03,799 Speaker 5: you got a pretty good defense, just average defense. But 981 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:06,319 Speaker 5: if you get a pretty good defense with a top five, 982 00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:08,800 Speaker 5: top ten sort of offense that doesn't maybe have the 983 00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:12,080 Speaker 5: Caleb william heights, but still puts up a ton of points, 984 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:14,400 Speaker 5: then yeah, you're going to beat a lot of teams 985 00:45:14,520 --> 00:45:15,120 Speaker 5: on your schedule. 986 00:45:15,160 --> 00:45:16,960 Speaker 4: So I think they can do it. We'll see. 987 00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:20,399 Speaker 5: You know, Lincoln Riley took over a great situation with 988 00:45:20,680 --> 00:45:24,080 Speaker 5: Bob Stoops, and this is rebuild. Maybe year one was 989 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:26,640 Speaker 5: ahead of schedule and then year two sort of drop behind. 990 00:45:27,040 --> 00:45:28,920 Speaker 5: Can he kind of put it all together and build 991 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 5: it up and do it. I think he can. You know, 992 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:33,919 Speaker 5: pers would be in the pudding. But I really feel 993 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:36,200 Speaker 5: ti that they have the potential to do that if 994 00:45:36,239 --> 00:45:37,080 Speaker 5: they can, you know, get. 995 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:37,560 Speaker 4: It all work it. 996 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 2: Final question, you are the expert, you are the local. 997 00:45:41,960 --> 00:45:44,520 Speaker 2: I'm a former local. If you're a fan of a 998 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,840 Speaker 2: Big ten team visiting downtown Los Angeles, so that includes 999 00:45:47,880 --> 00:45:53,839 Speaker 2: Wisconsin fans, Penn State fans, Rutgers fans, Nebraska fans, where 1000 00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:57,520 Speaker 2: should somebody eat Los Angeles food in downtown? 1001 00:45:58,040 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 4: Oh my god, there's so many. 1002 00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:01,680 Speaker 2: I have my answer, but I want you're there every day. 1003 00:46:01,840 --> 00:46:05,959 Speaker 4: I'm gonna go. I say, let's do Philips good answer. 1004 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:09,120 Speaker 5: Apecial, you know, potentially the home of the French dip sandwich. 1005 00:46:09,160 --> 00:46:11,800 Speaker 5: I think there's some argument there, but it's a really 1006 00:46:11,840 --> 00:46:16,080 Speaker 5: good sort of downtown place that you can go to. 1007 00:46:16,160 --> 00:46:16,960 Speaker 4: There'll be a line. 1008 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 5: It's like you know, deli counter kind of stuff. It's 1009 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:21,799 Speaker 5: a great That was a great one. There's a lot 1010 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:23,319 Speaker 5: of good options down there. 1011 00:46:24,719 --> 00:46:25,000 Speaker 4: I got. 1012 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:26,360 Speaker 5: I don't know if I told you, Dan, there was 1013 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:27,759 Speaker 5: this I can't even remember the name of it, but 1014 00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:30,640 Speaker 5: there was like a Michelin's not Michelin Star, but a 1015 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:34,840 Speaker 5: Michelin raided Okay taco place near USC's campus that I 1016 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:36,840 Speaker 5: a friend took me to the other day and it 1017 00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 5: was like big long line. But it was it was 1018 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:41,799 Speaker 5: I figure what it's called Michelin raided or one of those. 1019 00:46:41,880 --> 00:46:43,440 Speaker 5: The chef was there. I'll find it out for you 1020 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:44,719 Speaker 5: to send it to you, but you don't. 1021 00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:45,239 Speaker 4: It was it? 1022 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:46,759 Speaker 2: Okay, So I had my answer, and it's a taco 1023 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:49,839 Speaker 2: place that's excellent near the USC's campus called Sonora Town. 1024 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:53,879 Speaker 2: Oh okay, that that would be my recommendation. Phillips is great. 1025 00:46:53,960 --> 00:46:57,759 Speaker 2: Tie Phillips, as he mentioned, French dip. Take it easy 1026 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:00,360 Speaker 2: on the spicy mustard. It's a little bit more hoton 1027 00:47:00,440 --> 00:47:03,640 Speaker 2: then you think, right, start slow with the spicy mustard. 1028 00:47:03,640 --> 00:47:04,479 Speaker 2: That's all I'm gonna say. 1029 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:07,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a great one too. Yeah, I'll give you 1030 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:09,600 Speaker 5: I forget the other name, but I'll give you that one. 1031 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,359 Speaker 5: But Phillips is like a mainstay. And then you know, 1032 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:15,800 Speaker 5: there's a lot of good stuff in La but Phillips 1033 00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:17,799 Speaker 5: is one you wouldn't regret going to. 1034 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:21,440 Speaker 2: All right, Ryan Abraham two four seven USC Football The 1035 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:25,480 Speaker 2: Parastyle Podcast. It's just such a no brainer to subscribe 1036 00:47:25,480 --> 00:47:28,120 Speaker 2: to The Parastyle if you're at all interested in USC football, 1037 00:47:28,239 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 2: and to check out USC football dot com. Thank you, 1038 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,080 Speaker 2: as always for all of your time and insight. 1039 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:36,440 Speaker 4: Thank you guys so much. Honor again and appreciate all 1040 00:47:36,440 --> 00:47:36,640 Speaker 4: you do. 1041 00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:37,879 Speaker 2: All right, there you go. 1042 00:47:38,320 --> 00:47:42,160 Speaker 3: Ryan Abraham back on the show for the umpteenth time, 1043 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:45,960 Speaker 3: always giving us insight on USC football again. Check him 1044 00:47:45,960 --> 00:47:49,200 Speaker 3: out at USC football dot com, the Parastyle Podcast. As 1045 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:51,759 Speaker 3: we said at the top, Ryan is a luminary in 1046 00:47:51,840 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 3: the USC digital media space. He has been here forever 1047 00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:58,359 Speaker 3: doing this forever. Nobody knows more about this than him, 1048 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:00,600 Speaker 3: and as always were grateful for his time. 1049 00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:03,200 Speaker 2: Who would we be sending? You know, SNL has the 1050 00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:05,719 Speaker 2: like five Timers club thing where they have like the 1051 00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:10,360 Speaker 2: velvet smoking jacks jackets or whatever, and like Paul Rudd 1052 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:14,439 Speaker 2: and Tina Fey and Steve Martin. I guess what we've 1053 00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:17,680 Speaker 2: got Bruce Feldman and Bruce. 1054 00:48:17,480 --> 00:48:22,359 Speaker 3: Andy, probably ari Ari at this point. Obviously Ryan, he's 1055 00:48:22,360 --> 00:48:23,840 Speaker 3: been a bunch of horse. 1056 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:27,839 Speaker 2: Jed Williams back in the day. 1057 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:32,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chip Patterson probably gets one of those 1058 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:33,920 Speaker 3: jackets as well. 1059 00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:36,359 Speaker 1: Show up, got them multitude of times. 1060 00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:38,920 Speaker 3: I don't know how long it's been, but Chip's been 1061 00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:40,840 Speaker 3: on this show a gazillion times. 1062 00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:41,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1063 00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:42,920 Speaker 3: Stu Mandel has been on the show. 1064 00:48:43,080 --> 00:48:46,320 Speaker 2: Sure, it's been on a bunch, a bunch of Pete. 1065 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:50,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, we've had Pete. Any organ guys other than you. 1066 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:54,359 Speaker 2: That we've had on the show recently, we've had Matt 1067 00:48:54,400 --> 00:48:56,319 Speaker 2: Primont I think a couple of times. I don't think 1068 00:48:56,320 --> 00:48:58,920 Speaker 2: he gets the jacket two four seven quite, he's not 1069 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:01,719 Speaker 2: quite at that level yet. Spencer probably gets a jack 1070 00:49:01,760 --> 00:49:03,400 Speaker 2: Spencer Hall, sure, he's. 1071 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:05,280 Speaker 1: Been on the show multitude of times. 1072 00:49:05,840 --> 00:49:08,919 Speaker 2: We're getting somebody stupid, I'm sure, but yeah, had butt 1073 00:49:08,960 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 2: on a bunch, yeah, Bud, Yeah, all right, so let's 1074 00:49:12,560 --> 00:49:15,520 Speaker 2: get those smoking jackets going. Come on, ty in all 1075 00:49:15,520 --> 00:49:17,960 Speaker 2: these years, it's a lot of jackets to give out. 1076 00:49:17,960 --> 00:49:19,200 Speaker 1: But maybe we can look into that. 1077 00:49:19,480 --> 00:49:23,640 Speaker 3: Richard. We had Richard on a bunch of times. Nicole, Nicole, 1078 00:49:24,080 --> 00:49:26,520 Speaker 3: Michael hour back a ton. Yeah, we could probably go 1079 00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:28,000 Speaker 3: through and figure this out. It would take all a 1080 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:31,360 Speaker 3: lot of jackets, damn it. Okay, definitely blows the budget. 1081 00:49:31,719 --> 00:49:35,200 Speaker 2: Adam Amine has been on a tome Adam explaining the 1082 00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:37,920 Speaker 2: broadcast industry. Yep, that's great, Okay. 1083 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:39,879 Speaker 3: Nate Tye is getting closed too. 1084 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:41,319 Speaker 2: Nate Tys is getting up there. 1085 00:49:41,320 --> 00:49:42,040 Speaker 1: I don't think it's. 1086 00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:46,200 Speaker 3: Been five appearances quite yet, but maybe next year we'll 1087 00:49:46,239 --> 00:49:49,000 Speaker 3: adding up all right, all right, usc football dot Com 1088 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:52,480 Speaker 3: Parastyle Podcast. Hope y'all learn something I know we did. 1089 00:49:52,920 --> 00:49:55,560 Speaker 3: We'll continue doing this now through the month of May, 1090 00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:59,080 Speaker 3: throughout the off season as time permits. Look, there are 1091 00:49:59,120 --> 00:50:00,520 Speaker 3: a bunch of teams. We've I had a bunch of 1092 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:03,520 Speaker 3: questions about those teams, and we're going to do our 1093 00:50:03,520 --> 00:50:05,480 Speaker 3: best to try and answer them and give you a 1094 00:50:05,480 --> 00:50:08,480 Speaker 3: little bit more insight as we begin this slow build 1095 00:50:08,600 --> 00:50:11,480 Speaker 3: into the college football preseason. We're not in the preseason yet. 1096 00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:14,400 Speaker 3: It's the lead off season. Give it like two months 1097 00:50:14,560 --> 00:50:16,640 Speaker 3: then we're gonna start calling it the preseason. So we're 1098 00:50:17,040 --> 00:50:19,960 Speaker 3: kind of revving the engines up here, getting into position 1099 00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:22,920 Speaker 3: and hopefully getting off on the right foot. 1100 00:50:23,280 --> 00:50:25,480 Speaker 2: This is when you are working on your deadlift pr 1101 00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:30,319 Speaker 2: right correct. You're sort of in that gym grinding as 1102 00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:34,120 Speaker 2: a soft season because you got to improve something. And 1103 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:36,800 Speaker 2: Ties squatting and deadlifting like you cannot. 1104 00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:37,359 Speaker 1: He can't. 1105 00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:39,400 Speaker 2: He can barely fit through a door. If you're watching this, 1106 00:50:39,560 --> 00:50:42,200 Speaker 2: you can see If if you're not watching this, get 1107 00:50:42,239 --> 00:50:45,160 Speaker 2: on YouTube and subscribes, you can see just Tie is 1108 00:50:45,719 --> 00:50:46,719 Speaker 2: bursting through shirt. 1109 00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:46,960 Speaker 4: Now. 1110 00:50:46,960 --> 00:50:49,680 Speaker 3: We talk every morning about activating the glut stand you 1111 00:50:49,719 --> 00:50:50,080 Speaker 3: know this. 1112 00:50:50,960 --> 00:50:54,240 Speaker 2: You joke, Tie. My life has been so much better 1113 00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:58,359 Speaker 2: since I started paying attention to activating my clues. When 1114 00:50:58,400 --> 00:51:01,160 Speaker 2: you have lower back pain and hamstring issues, you got 1115 00:51:01,160 --> 00:51:02,320 Speaker 2: to focus on what's important. 1116 00:51:02,600 --> 00:51:03,720 Speaker 1: That's active glutes. 1117 00:51:03,760 --> 00:51:03,960 Speaker 4: Tie. 1118 00:51:04,080 --> 00:51:06,160 Speaker 3: Activating the glutes is important when you sit at desk 1119 00:51:06,200 --> 00:51:06,560 Speaker 3: all day. 1120 00:51:06,960 --> 00:51:11,200 Speaker 2: Keep true. I joke not I know it's huge, that's 1121 00:51:11,239 --> 00:51:11,760 Speaker 2: all Hit. 1122 00:51:11,640 --> 00:51:14,080 Speaker 3: Follow, hit, subscribe wherever it is you get this podcast. 1123 00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:16,600 Speaker 3: We appreciate you hanging with us here learning a little 1124 00:51:16,600 --> 00:51:19,520 Speaker 3: bit about USC big. Thanks again to Ryan Abraham Er 1125 00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:22,840 Speaker 3: guest of honor today. We will be back next week 1126 00:51:23,120 --> 00:51:27,040 Speaker 3: talking you know, more college football again. Follow, subscribe, going 1127 00:51:27,080 --> 00:51:29,120 Speaker 3: out to overballers dot com. Check out what we have 1128 00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:32,600 Speaker 3: to offer on Patreon for that guy over there, My 1129 00:51:32,719 --> 00:51:37,280 Speaker 3: beloved glute activated co host sir myself, Tie hilden Brandt. 1130 00:51:37,640 --> 00:51:40,319 Speaker 3: Thanks again for tuning in as always, face soft, get 1131 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:42,120 Speaker 3: yourself lacrosseball pee