On The Riley Files, Oklahoma insider Kegan Reneau looked at USC’s offense and unpacked the specific idea that a Lincoln Riley offense has built-in options to help the quarterback and everyone else in the offensive unit.
“You look at the way that roster’s constructed for this upcoming season. That offense, they’re relying upon two newcomers. You have a guy like Justin Dedich at right guard. That offense is gonna be fun. Will they throw it a ton? I think they’re about to throw it a ton. That 2015 (Oklahoma) offense, whenever I mention that Air Raid-y offense, there was the screen game, the running back screen game, a ton of mesh concepts, a ton of stuff which was quick, easy out throws for Baker Mayfield.
“It was not nearly as complex as the 2016 and 2017 offense. It also helps when you got a guy named Joe Mixon and, and another guy named Samaje Perine that run the football. They (OU/Riley) ran the football in 2015 as well as anybody. I don’t envision that being the case (at USC). I expect them to throw the football a ton. The Air Raid part of Graham Harrell’s system meant they didn’t have answers for when teams brought tons of pressure, like on 3rd and 8. And when you don’t leave safety valves for Kedon Slovis behind an offensive line that was cratering in front of him, there’s gonna be problems and there’s gonna be problems when you’re not running.”
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