You think coaching is easy? Try this scenario within the USC football program as the 2022 season approaches its midway point.
Per Shotgun Spratling of 247Sports, USC’s yards per play average was 8.2 against Arizona State when a tight end was not on the field, just 6.1 when a tight end was on the field.
On the other hand, Lake McRee has been a good player for USC this season at the tight end spot. Run blocking and safety-valve pass catching have helped Travis Dye, Caleb Williams, and the rest of the USC offense. McRee has made himself a useful player, and he is in line to play against Washington State in Week 6.
So, Lincoln Riley: How often are you going to put McRee and other tight ends on the field against Wazzu? This is the kind of decision a coach has to handle the right way. Obviously a tight end is going to be shown to an opposing defense so that it has to account for that position. Obviously, yards per play doesn’t mean everything, because if a 3rd and 1 play gets two yards, it is a successful play. Nevertheless, if one position affects yards per play over several dozen snaps, it forces Riley to pick his spots in terms of tight end usage, and to get Washington State to focus on the tight end in ways which could open up the field for other skill position players.
The other obvious point here: Arizona State was one game with a banged up offensive line. We’re still early in the season. What’s real and what’s false about this statistic? Lincoln Riley needs to answer that question in formulating his play sequences and overall line of attack.
This is what he gets paid for.
5. Once again, #USC's offense was better per play when it did not have a tight end on the field.
Against the Sun Devils, USC averaged 8.2 yards per play without a TE on the field and 6.1 yards per play with a TE on the field. pic.twitter.com/wXI7mvZlXx
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 6, 2022
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