On The Riley Files, Oklahoma insider Kegan Reneau noted that Alex Grinch struggled to put the best 11 defensive players on the field in the 2021 season at Oklahoma. It’s a point which merits examination as USC’s defense tries to evolve.
“When I ask myself after the 2021 season, has Alex Grinch earned the job at USC? Has he proven himself to warrant not just a being the DC at Oklahoma, but being the DC at another Power Five blue-blood program? It’s something that I struggle and fight with,” Reneau said. “I like Alex Grinch, I got to cover him for two seasons, I really like dealing with him. He is very candid, genuine, honest, and always tells it how it is. His defense wasn’t very good in 2021. They completely plummeted. There was some schematic things within their defense that teams really attacked. If you go to the West Virginia game, there’s a certain concept that West Virginia always was going to on key downs and they were always finding success.
When it came to Oklahoma State and Baylor, they (OU) couldn’t slow down the QB run game, specifically any split zone read. There’s a lot of red flags in the 2021 Oklahoma defense. It wasn’t just because they weren’t talented. It wasn’t because they weren’t playing hard. It wasn’t because they weren’t physical by any means. Their linebackers got worse. The rotations on defense, there’d be plays and big moments and big games where the best 11 wasn’t on the field because they’re rotating so much.”