Tag: D’Anton Lynn

Lincoln Riley explains how USC is rebuilding its defense

Lincoln Riley adds layers of detail to the defensive coach hiring process at USC.

In a recent interview, Adam Breneman asked Lincoln Riley about the significant changes on USC’s defensive coaching staff. Riley explained the key criteria he used to select the new coaches. He emphasized the qualities he considered crucial for his ideal candidates. His goal: Develop players and restore dominance on defense to Troy.

At the end of last season, Lincoln Riley parted ways with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.  Grinch was one of the members of Riley’s Oklahoma staff who came over with him when he took the Trojan head coaching job in 2021. Riley made it clear there is a standard for defense at USC, and that the coaching staff on that side of the ball was not meeting it.

“Defensively we simply weren’t progressing the way we needed to and in these big jobs momentum is key and we were never quite able to capture that defensively,” he said.

Riley has often talked about vertical alignment at USC, from President Carol Folt, to Athletic Director Jennifer Cohen, on down to the football program.  That support allowed him to be “aggressive” in his search for the ideal candidates to fill the defensive staff.

“When you are going to make a change at a place like this I don’t think you can look at it with a small perspective, and we tried not to.” Riley told Breneman. “We tried to focus on development and people that were really proven in both their development of the individual positions and having a lot of people that had big picture oversight, responsibility, and had a lot of success.”

Riley did just that by retaining Shaun Nua, the sole holdover from the 2023 defensive staff, and adding D’Anton Lynn, Eric Henderson, Doug Belk and Matt Entz.

The Trojans made a strategic move by hiring D’Anton Lynn from rival UCLA, not only acquiring one of the brightest young defensive minds in football but also weakening a UCLA team that posed challenges to USC’s offense in 2023. The development of players is a priority for this coaching staff. Eric Henderson was brought in from the Los Angeles Rams to serve as the defensive line coach. Doug Belk, the newcomer as secondary coach, brings a winning pedigree gained through his time as a grad assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama. He also demonstrated leadership as the defensive coordinator for Houston before joining the Trojans. Speaking of winning culture and leadership, Matt Entz, now linebacker coach at USC, took a step down in title from head coach to gain experience in FBS organization and recruiting.  Entz continued North Dakota State’s FCS dominance by adding two national championships to NDSU’s trophy case.

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There is more to share on D’Anton Lynn’s defensive scheme installation

The same themes keep emerging with D’Anton Lynn, and they’re positive ones.

D’Anton Lynn is very process-oriented at USC. He was process-oriented before he came to USC. This is part of who he is and what he does as a defensive coach.

We noted something UCLA football beat writer Ben Bolch pointed out about Lynn’s methods:

“UCLA safety Kenny Churchwell loved his approach and how Lynn prefers to ‘go slow’ and wants to make sure things are ‘perfect.’ For Churchwell, this was an opportunity to learn from a person who knows not only how the NFL operates, but also how to find success in today’s NFL. Unlike a lot of coaches, Lynn seems to be content to take his time and make sure players are grasping the concepts he is using. If they aren’t, (LA Times UCLA beat writer Ben) Bolch highlighted how Lynn does something that few coaches will allow due to ego.

“’That approach led to several days in spring practice when D’Anton backed off his intention to cover new concepts because he didn’t feel like players had grasped what he already taught. Listening closely wasn’t the issue given their teacher’s credentials,’ wrote Bolch.

We had more to say about D’Anton Lynn on our recent USC show at The Voice of College Football:

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Lincoln Riley continues to be impressed by D’Anton Lynn at USC

Lincoln Riley remains a fan of D’Anton Lynn.

USC football needs to change impressions and reputations this season. One of the people centrally responsible for creating that transformation is defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. Lincoln Riley, in a recent interview with Steve Wiltfong of On3 Sports, expressed his respect for Lynn and how he goes about his business:

“I think when people get around him and see how he is as person he’s extremely genuine. He’s an outstanding teacher. I mean he can sit down with anybody and has the ability to make the game of football make sense. A really, really smart guy but can articulate it to people. And then you look back great history, both in the NFL and he authored the greatest defensive turnaround in college football last year. I think all that combined, he’s a pretty special guy.”

It’s easy to be excited about D’Anton Lynn and how dramatically he will improve the level of teaching — and by extension, the quality of technique — on the USC defense. If Lynn delivers the goods, USC’s chances of succeeding in 2024 will skyrocket.

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Former USC linebacker Su’a Cravens discusses Trojans’ improved defense

Su’a Cravens loves what D’Anton Lynn brings to USC.

Su’a Cravens was an All-American and two-time first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker at USC playing from 2013 through 2015.  Currently he is a sports analyst for CBS 2 Sports Central with Jim Hill. He is a current member of the USC radio broadcast team. In a recent ESPN radio interview Cravens explained the differences he sees on defense that USC’s new defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn, has brought to the Trojans.

“At the spring game I saw upgrades on the defensive side. (Defensive backs) actually playing the hands of a wide receiver and not looking lost,” he said. “Guys lining up pre-snap showing coverage shells and not necessarily giving away the defensive call. Those are things we didn’t see a lot last year. Coach Lynn brings confusion; he has a special way of lining up in three, to four, five different formations a game.  He runs a multiple defense, but you never know what coverage he’s in or what zone blitz he’s bringing.”

Lynn joined Chip Kelly’s staff as the defensive coordinator for the Bruins last year and turned around a defense that was near the bottom of the Pac-12. Lynn turned UCLA into one of the top defenses in the country.  He did so even after getting a late start and joining the team in the spring.  He explained after one practice during the Trojans’ spring camp that he was able to get the defense ready by following a very slow and methodical install of the core concepts of the scheme before adding wrinkles in fall camp and throughout the season.

Too often over the past two seasons, poor coaching and the defensive scheme left players not knowing coverages or assignments, making elite players look lost and producing some of the worst defenses in Trojan history.

Lynn’s keys:

-Keep offenses honest and off balance

-play fast

-let players make plays

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LSU and USC enter 2024 clash with uncanny similarities

USC and LSU are dealing with a lot of the same challenges.

USC and LSU football fans have had very similar conversations this offseason. It’s uncanny how many parallels there are between the Trojans and the Tigers on the football field.

We have made note of this:

The USC-LSU game is fascinating for a number of reasons. One is that the two programs have a lot in common. They both had terrible defenses last season and completely revamped their defensive coaching staffs. They both had Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback the past two seasons. They both have coaches who left elite programs for other elite programs. They both underachieved last year. They both have failed to win conference championships this decade. They both have inadequate depth on their defensive lines. They both have uncertain quarterback situations entering the 2024 season.

Mark Rogers, Matt Zemek and I talked to Matt Moscona of ESPN Baton Rouge and the YouTube channel “After Further Review” about the numerous parallels between LSU and USC in 2024. (Insert Spiderman meme here.)

Our discussion is at 5:50 in the video:

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D’Anton Lynn gets nice payday from USC after leaving UCLA

Former UCLA DC D’Anton Lynn left for USC this offseason and is now making $2 million with the Trojans.

In a shocking turn of events, UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left Westwood to take the same job across town at USC. He took over for Alex Grinch, whose time at USC was far from a good one. Lynn even circulated as a UCLA head coaching option after Chip Kelly left for Ohio State, but nothing ever materialized on that front.

As such, Pro Football Focus released the list of the highest-paid defensive coordinators, and Lynn is on the list making $2 million to call the defense under Lincoln Riley.

Lynn is tied for 4th on the list alongside Adam Fuller, Glenn Schumann, and Al Golden. The highest-paid DC is LSU’s Blake Baker, making $2.5 million and Michigan’s Wink Martindale, making $2.3 million.

Lynn has a tough task ahead of him after the dysfunction of Grinch calling the defense with the Trojans, and UCLA fans might take a while to get used to seeing Lynn on the USC sideline.

UCLA anger at D’Anton Lynn has subsided after switch to USC football

UCLA fans have — for now — been able to let go of D’Anton Lynn on an emotional level.

The UCLA Bruins had a much-improved defense in 2023, thanks to defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. UCLA football took a big step forward thanks to Lynn, so it hurt very deeply when Lynn bolted for USC football and Lincoln Riley.

We asked UCLA Wire editor Matt Wadleigh if emotions are still very raw in Westwood, or if the Bruins and their fans have fundamentally moved on after this big coaching change in the offseason.

Wadleigh told us that after the initial surge of fiery and intense anger at Lynn, emotions have cooled down at UCLA due to the reality that DeShaun Foster has been a powerfully unifying force within the university and its athletic department. Everyone loves and trusts Foster to do the right thing and to fight tooth and nail for UCLA football and UCLA athletics. Foster, Wadleigh told us, has assembled a good coaching staff and minimized transfer portal damage. These positive developments are making it easier for UCLA fans to forget about D’Anton Lynn’s departure … at least until UCLA faces USC this year.

Here’s our full conversation with Matt Wadleigh of UCLA Wire:

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D’Anton Lynn teaching style is an undeniable plus for USC football

D’Anton Lynn’s maturity and football knowledge are a winning combination.

The USC football season might not be a resounding success, but it should be a lot better than 2023 because of D’Anton Lynn. The new defensive coordinator is clearly a lot more competent than Alex Grinch. Low bar? Yes. Still: Lynn has a humility and a big-picture perspective which should give USC football a huge upgrade over Grinch and the previous defensive coaching staff.

USC analyst Josh Webb wrote this about Lynn:

“UCLA safety Kenny Churchwell loved his approach and how Lynn prefers to ‘go slow’ and wants to make sure things are ‘perfect.’ For Churchwell, this was an opportunity to learn from a person who knows not only how the NFL operates, but also how to find success in today’s NFL. Unlike a lot of coaches, Lynn seems to be content to take his time and make sure players are grasping the concepts he is using. If they aren’t, (LA Times UCLA beat writer Ben) Bolch highlighted how Lynn does something that few coaches will allow due to ego.

“’That approach led to several days in spring practice when D’Anton backed off his intention to cover new concepts because he didn’t feel like players had grasped what he already taught. Listening closely wasn’t the issue given their teacher’s credentials,’ wrote Bolch.

“Read that again and soak it in. A coach decided his players weren’t comfortable enough with the new concepts, so he did not put them in a position to fail. Alex Grinch could learn a lesson or two from this quote, and it’s stuff like this that gives me a true gut feeling that Lynn is going to be a revelation for USC going forward. This is a coach that’s not afraid to stand up to a head coach and say ‘we are changing everything if you hire me,’ while at the same time being humble enough to tell his players, ‘we can put this concept on hold until we, as a team, grasp it better.’”

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D’Anton Lynn doesn’t shy away from tough challenges

D’Anton Lynn’s attitude, not just his knowledge, should help USC.

D’Anton Lynn of USC appears to be a football coach who knows his Xs and Os inside and out, forward and back. His raw football acumen is undeniable, and that’s the main reason Lincoln Riley hired him away from the UCLA Bruins. However, there’s something else about Lynn which stands out.

USC football analyst Josh Webb explained this to us:

“There’s something Lynn told L.A. Times reporter Ben Bolch that really stood out to me. When talking about his relative lack of experience in college football and how UCLA head coach Chip Kelly hiring him as the Bruins’ defensive coordinator truly ‘came out of the blue’ and was a huge but daunting opportunity. Lynn knew it was something far beyond anything he’d done, but that wasn’t a deterrent. It was a motivation. 

“’I just felt like I was ready to take that step, and I needed to get uncomfortable. No matter what’s going to happen after this, I’m only going to grow,’ Lynn said to Bolch. 

“That mentality is exactly the position he’s putting his players in as we speak. Lynn’s scheme relies on big bodies up front to apply pressure while the secondary is given a bit more leeway with their zone coverage. It’s that same healthy mix of absurd pressure and quality coverage that took UCLA to the top of the NCAA in many defensive stats under Lynn. USC is hoping he can perform the same magic with them. USC hiring him despite a relative lack of credentials says a lot.”

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Kamari Ramsey opens up on decision to leave UCLA for D’Anton Lynn, USC

Kamari Ramsey on leaving UCLA.

The UCLA Bruins saw a number of players leave their football program prior to the hire of DeShaun Foster. One of the biggest departures was Kamari Ramsey, who left UCLA to join the USC Trojans and D’Anton Lynn, who was the Bruins DC this past season.

With Spring football underway, Ramsey opened up and discussed his decision to join the Trojans, and it is all because of Lynn’s defense (h/t Erik McKinney of On3.)

“First things first, coach Lynn leaving. That was a big loss. After playing with him for one year, I loved his defense, NFL-style defense. I’ve always watched the Ravens play and that’s where a lot of his scheme came from. That played a major factor…It’s very aggressive and for my play style as a versatile safety, he puts me in many different positions to make plays, and he’s always playing to my strengths. As far as his scheme, he’s always going to put you in the best position to make plays.”

There have been a lot of changes for both LA schools this offseason. But, D’Anton Lynn going from UCLA to USC sure caused a ripple effect for some players.