When USC hired former UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn last December, most people were not expecting the unit to become so formidable this quickly. The Trojans defense started the season with a surprise performance in Las Vegas, holding No. 13 LSU to 20 points. Since then, the defensive side of the ball has held its own against all of USC’s opponents thus far.
USC has surrendered only 17 points per game through the first four games of the season and earlier this year, the Trojans earned their first shutout since 2011 against Utah State. Of all the improvements made defensively, Lynn thinks USC’s pass rushers have taken the biggest leap so far.
“Edge guys have been getting better and better each week,” Lynn said. “There’s more than one way to affect the quarterback, it doesn’t just have to be sacks.”
Although he is not an edge rusher, one player that has found ways to affect opposing offenses is senior linebacker Eric Gentry. Through four games, Gentry leads the Trojans in tackles and sacks and has one forced fumble as well.
Along with Gentry, senior linebacker Mason Cobb has also been one of the standout players for the Trojans’ defense. Cobb has two interceptions on the season and got his first pick six of the year against Wisconsin. According to Cobb, digesting film differently this year has allowed the Trojans to see improved defensive play on the field.
“Lynn is very detail-oriented when it comes to film study,” Cobb said. “He likes to break stuff down in numbers, so for me it’s about taking all that in and understanding what teams want to do given their tendencies.”
USC’s secondary also struggled in previous seasons, but with players such as redshirt sophomore Kamari Ramsey following Lynn to USC, the Trojans’ back end has started to round into form.
USC’s defensive backs group could grow even stronger as redshirt safety Zion Branch continues to recover from a lower-body injury he suffered last season. So far, Branch has played in two games this season and has recorded five tackles. Prior to his injury last season, Branch had 22 tackles and one forced fumble.
“I’m going to go out here and go to work everyday, it’s what I do,” Branch said. “My coaches always tell me to stay the course and everything will work out how it should.”
As the Trojans work to get players such as Branch integrated into the lineup, many wonder how USC’s defense will hold up in the Big Ten. The Trojans have played two opponents in their new conference so far and split those games. Embracing a new defensive identity is what has helped USC thrive early in the season.
“Coach Riley calls us the fast ten rather than the Big Ten,” redshirt senior cornerback Greedy Vance Jr. said. “We worked on our mindset and physicality throughout the offseason and I think we’ve done a good job as a team playing up to that standard.”
Only time will tell if the Trojans can sustain this level of defensive prowess for an entire season, but it looks like USC fans have a defense to be excited about through the first five weeks of the season.