Bruce Feldman’s defensive coordinator candidates to switch Alex Grinch at USC

On Sunday, USC coach Lincoln Riley made the transfer Trojans followers had been calling for all season, dismissing defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after falling 52-42 to Washington, the staff’s third loss previously 4 video games. The Trojans protection has struggled mightily in Riley’s two seasons at USC, and the unit has been tormented by poor tackling and protection busts. USC ranks No. 109 in yards per play allowed, No. 126 in pink zone protection and No. 132 in performs of 20-plus yards allowed. It has allowed 42 factors per recreation over its previous six video games.

Grinch had performed very nicely in his prior cease within the Pac-12 as Mike Leach’s defensive coordinator at Washington State earlier than being employed by Riley at Oklahoma to repair what had been an atrocious Sooners protection. Grinch bought OU to make some strides, nevertheless it was removed from an elite group. Being an Air Raid defensive coordinator brings some challenges, as we detailed this summer time. A number of outdated defensive coordinators who’ve labored in Air Raid packages say it’s not a coincidence that most of the prime statistical defenses within the nation occur to be at Huge Ten packages with underwhelming offenses, most notably Iowa.

The place will USC flip for its subsequent defensive coordinator?

Jim Leonhard, Illinois, senior defensive analyst

The most important title USC may goal is a coach who isn’t working as a defensive coordinator this yr. Leonhard’s subsequent transfer will likely be fascinating. The previous Wisconsin star did a tremendous job operating the protection at his alma mater, however after turning into the interim head coach final season, he ended up on Bret Bielema’s Illinois employees. The 41-year-old produced defenses that ranked among the many nation’s prime 5 in complete protection and prime 10 in scoring protection 4 occasions at Wisconsin. He additionally helped developed a ton of expertise there. This may be a home-run rent primarily based on his monitor file if Riley may get him to USC, though he’d be working reverse a dramatically completely different offensive system.

D’Anton Lynn, UCLA, defensive coordinator

One choice Riley will seemingly contemplate is throughout city. Lynn, the 33-year-old rookie defensive coordinator of the Bruins, has taken a bunch that ranked No. 72 final yr and turned it right into a protection that ranks No. 9 within the nation. Due to a gifted defensive entrance, UCLA leads the Pac-12 in run protection and in sacks and is No. 6 in pink zone landing protection. It’s additionally allowed the fewest performs of 20-plus yards (22) within the Pac-12 — 40 fewer than the Trojans. Would the Penn State grad make the transfer? It’s unknown, however the former NFL assistant’s inventory has risen considerably since he got here to Westwood.

Tony White, Nebraska, defensive coordinator

There’s one other man with UCLA roots who could possibly be in play. White is a former Bruins linebacker who discovered below Rocky Lengthy as a younger coach. The 44-year-old has had a robust first season in Lincoln, turning what had been the Huge Ten’s Thirteenth-ranked run protection earlier than he arrived into the No. 2 unit this season. The Huskers have gone from No. 10 in sacks to No. 2. They’ve additionally gone from No. 11 in pink zone landing share protection to No. 4. At Syracuse, his protection ranked within the prime 25 in 2021 and 2022 (and No. 2 and No. 4 within the ACC in these years) earlier than he joined Matt Rhule at Nebraska. He spent two seasons teaching within the Pac-12 at Arizona State, the place he improved the Solar Devils considerably in 2018 and 2019. This would appear like an choice USC needs to be contemplating.

Tony Gibson, NC State, defensive coordinator

Gibson is aware of all about life as an Air Raid defensive coordinator from his days working for present Houston coach Dana Holgorsen. The 51-year-old Gibson is absolutely good and could possibly be in line for a Group of 5 head teaching job this winter. NC State is No. 9 in third-down protection, No. 5 in interceptions and No. 40 within the nation in yards per play allowed this season. NC State was No. 22 final yr and No. 16 in 2021. Final yr, the Wolfpack D ranked first within the ACC in scoring protection, third in complete protection, third in dashing protection, first in defensive passing effectivity and first in interceptions. He’s paid very nicely at NC State, making $1.3 million a yr, however he’s confirmed to be the most effective within the enterprise.

Tim DeRuyter, Texas Tech, defensive coordinator

The Southern California native is aware of the Pac-12 nicely from his time at Oregon and Cal. His protection is No. 3 within the Huge 12 in yards per play allowed and No. 44 within the nation. In 2022, the Crimson Raiders allowed solely 29.2 factors per recreation in DeRuyter’s debut season, making it the primary time Texas Tech had surrendered fewer than 30 factors since 2009.

Joe Rossi, Minnesota, defensive coordinator

Rossi has been excellent for the Gophers since he took over a protection that ranked No. 86 within the nation in 2018. Previously two years, they ranked within the prime 10. The 44-year-old from Pittsburgh has been persistently good, having allowed just one opponent (UNC this yr) to provide greater than 500 yards in a recreation since 2020. The Gophers rank No. 39 in complete protection this season. They’re No. 24 in run protection and No. 11 in turnovers gained. In three of the previous 4 seasons, the Gophers have ranked within the prime 10 in fewest performs of 20-plus yards allowed.

Joe Harasymiak, Rutgers, defensive coordinator

One other Huge Ten choice to look at is Harasymiak. The Scarlet Knights are a lot improved this season and rank No. 10 within the nation in complete protection and No. 2 in fewest performs of 20 yards or extra allowed (behind Iowa). In 2022, Rutgers had its finest statistical season in a decade. The 37-year-old had additionally performed an excellent job as a head coach at Maine previous to taking an assistant job at Minnesota below Rossi.

Don’t depend on:

Morgan Scalley, Utah, defensive coordinator

Scalley has persistently produced terrific defenses, however I don’t see him leaving the Utes at this level to come back to USC. The 44-year-old Salt Lake Metropolis native and former Utes standout will seemingly be Utah’s subsequent head coach every time Kyle Whittingham decides he’s performed teaching.

One wild card:

Zach Arnett, Mississippi State, head coach

In his three seasons because the defensive coordinator for Mike Leach, he had top-five rankings within the SEC in in complete protection, dashing protection and takeaways. The 37-year-old spent nearly a decade at San Diego State, rising up the teaching ladder below Rocky Lengthy. Arnett has been the pinnacle coach in Starkville for lower than one season, and his staff is 4-5. He has an uphill climb to succeed in bowl eligibility and he’s working for an athletic director who didn’t rent him and who I hear could possibly be available in the market to rent his personal man.

 (Photograph of Jim Leonhard: John Fisher / Getty Photos)