LOS ANGELES — In Alex Grinch’s defensive scheme, the edge rusher has always been an important position. Grinch’s philosophies rely on getting pressure on the quarterback to take pressure off of the defensive backs in the modern game of high-flying passing attacks.
And throughout Grinch’s history, from Washington State to Ohio State to Oklahoma, it’s been a productive position for the defensive coordinator. Now at USC, Grinch and the Trojans are still searching for the right man, or men, to fill the job.
That’s why veteran Nick Figueroa has been moved from defensive end, a more traditional hand-in-the-ground position, to edge rusher in recent weeks as USC looks for the right answer to the equation.
“We need the production to go up,” Grinch said after practice Wednesday. “There’s been times we’ve had and there’s been times we haven’t and what we don’t do is we don’t just sit there and say, ‘Let’s hope we have it this coming Saturday.’”
USC (6-1 overall, 4-1 Pac-12) went into the Utah game leading the nation in sacks (24), but the rush edge position has remained a bit of a dart throw all season.
Auburn transfer Romello Height was the starter from spring camp to the season opener, then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 2. Solomon Byrd moved up from off the depth chart to starter in the blink of an eye, but he has been unable to maintain the high level of play that got him there.
All the while, the frustration of Korey Foreman’s unrealized potential as a former No. 1 recruit has hung in the background like a thick haze.
Figueroa did not see much of the field during the first few weeks of the season, or at least not as much as he did as a starter the previous two years.
Against Utah, however, the senior had 65 snaps, his season high, and a big jump from the 14 he received in the previous game against Washington State.
“Nick’s one of those guys that as games were going on and he was playing more of a role situation, he was able to make plays and be very productive and we wanted to look to find ways to get him on the field a little bit more,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “I think we’re continuing to look for the most productive and consistent players (at edge rusher).”
Related Articles
Swanson: College Football Playoff expansion? Go for it!
USC football could have depth tested by injuries
Pac-12 power ratings: The Big Four, the potential for a tie and how to make the championship game matchup
USC’s humbled defense uses bye week to work on tackling
Pac-12 football midseason report: Best, worst and everything in between from the first half of 2022
Figueroa did provide some; in his 38 pass-rush opportunities he had one hit on Utes quarterback Cam Rising and three hurries. But he had several opportunities when he couldn’t get home on the QB, including on the game-winning two-point conversion.
So no one is running away with the job at edge rusher to this point. Byrd, Foreman and Figueroa have all had moments when they’ve satisfied the coaching staff, and others when they’ve left the coaches scratching their heads.
Until there is a clear answer, expect a rotation and maybe even new faces trying their hand at the job.
“We definitely want to get more production out of that position,” said Riley, whose 10th-ranked Trojans play at Arizona (3-4, 1-3) on Saturday. “So the combination of those guys – again, whether it’s all three or whether it’s one that steps up and separates himself – we feel like we have three good players there that really need to take off and play good for us.”