Lincoln Riley addresses USC's pass-rushing problem, but it's his own doing from

Lincoln Riley Addresses USC's Pass-Rushing Problem, Which He Himself Created

The Trojans' defense has struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Riley admits that his scheme is partly to blame.

USC's pass rush has been a major disappointment this season, and head coach Lincoln Riley has finally acknowledged that his own scheme is partly to blame. After the Trojans' loss to Utah on Saturday, Riley said that he needs to do a better job of putting his players in position to make plays.

"I think we've got to do a better job of scheming guys open," Riley said. "We've got to do a better job of getting pressure on the quarterback. We've got to do a better job of covering guys. It's all on me."

The Trojans have just 10 sacks this season, which is tied for last in the Pac-12. They have also allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 68.5% of their passes, which is 10th in the conference.

Riley's scheme has been criticized for being too passive, and he has been reluctant to blitz opposing quarterbacks. However, he said after the Utah game that he is willing to make changes if it will help the Trojans improve their pass rush.

"We've got to find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback," Riley said. "We've got to find a way to get more sacks. We've got to find a way to get more turnovers. We've got to find a way to get more stops. It's all on me."

The Trojans will have a chance to show what they can do with a new pass-rushing scheme when they face Arizona State on Saturday.

Here are some of the specific changes that Riley could make to his scheme:

Blitz more often.
Use more stunts and twists to create pressure.
Drop more players into coverage to force the quarterback to hold the ball longer.

It remains to be seen whether Riley will be willing to make these changes, but it is clear that he knows that something needs to be done. The Trojans' pass rush has been a major problem all season, and it is one of the main reasons why they are struggling to win games.

If Riley can find a way to improve the Trojans' pass rush, it will give the team a much better chance of success in the second half of the season.