The Times of Troy: Michigan loss exposed these weaknesses on USC’s offensive line

Hello, everyone! Ryan Kartje, your USC beat writer at the L.A. Times, coming at you from my mom’s dinner table in Michigan, less than an hour south of the Big House, for another week of the Times of Troy newsletter.

A special welcome to those of you who joined the party this week, apparently clamoring for more of my Big Ten deli reviews. Or maybe you’ve come to hate-read about Lincoln Riley’s play-calling in USC’s disappointing Big Ten debut. Either way, there’s no better outlet for your rage — or your sandwich-related joy — than sharing it with your fellow readers of the Times of Troy newsletter. Hit me up at [email protected] with your thoughts, hopes and fears. Hopefully I can share the best ones here.

Saturday was definitely a day of many emotions, for me included. Being back in the Big House for the first time in a decade brought back a lot of memories of days spent at the stadium with my dad, Kirk, who loved Michigan football more than he loved most things. He passed away earlier this year to a heart attack. He was just 61.

After the game was long over and my story was sent, I went down to the Big House concourse alone. Besides a few people cleaning up on the field, there wasn’t a soul in the giant stadium. So I went to our old section, where my grandpa always got season tickets, and I sat in silence for a few minutes, thinking about my dad and how much those days together meant in retrospect.

It was hard not to have him there. But I know a part of him will always be with the Big House now. And I’m happy to know, with USC in the Big Ten, I’ll be back again to visit soon enough.

I’m not sure Josh Henson would like to make a return trip to Ann Arbor any time soon … or ever.

No one on USC’s staff comes out of the loss to Michigan looking worse than the Trojans offensive line coach, whose unit was terrorized from start to finish by Michigan’s fearsome front.

Redshirt freshman Elijah Paige, whose progress at left tackle was the talk of fall camp, was a turnstile on Miller Moss’ blindside, to the point that he had to be benched at halftime, in order for USC to even run its offense.

Paige struggled in pretty much every facet of protection, with speed rushers off the edge and bull rushes on the interior, and clearly lost confidence as the first half went along. For Paige, someone who’s need a push in the past to ignite his competitive fire, that confidence is crucial. I expect he’ll see Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart in his nightmares for a few days after allowing him four pressures over just 31 first-half snaps.

Will Paige be able to bounce back by next week? Or might Mason Murphy take his spot at left tackle? That’s a major question that needs answering from both Henson and Riley this week.

“I don’t want to pass a lot of judgment until I can sit there and study it,” Riley said. “I know those guys battled.”

Fortunately, it’s my job to pass judgment! And personally, I don’t see how USC could withstand sidelining Paige at a position that was already frighteningly thin. Tobias Raymond, who came to USC as a raw prospect, didn’t look like the answer to USC’s problems in his 45 snaps, even if Riley praised his performance. After Raymond, the only option would be to move Jonah Monheim back to left tackle, while redshirt senior Gino Quinones steps in at center when he’s deemed healthy enough.

Quinones could be needed elsewhere first. Right guard Alani Noa was actually the first USC lineman to be replaced Saturday, and his status as a starter is even more uncertain than Paige. Amos Talalele, who saw 24 snaps as Noa’s backup, could very well get a turn at starter next week.

The truth is no one looked good along USC’s offensive line Saturday. Michigan blitzed only 27% of the time — a particularly low rate for a Wink Martindale defense — but pressured Moss 22 times.

Look, I’m not one to give much credence to Pro Football Focus grades, especially for the offensive line. But against Michigan, USC earned a grade for its pass blocking of eight … out of 100! It was the lowest pass blocking grade PFF had ever recorded for a USC offensive line in its 10 years of grading.

Not exactly an ideal first impression for a team that arrives in a new conference with the reputation of not being physical up front.

That’s on Henson, who came into the season with plans to trust his young linemen’s development, as opposed to adding in the portal.

“At some point, you’re going to take young guys and say, it’s time for that guy to make the jump, make the leap to where he’s performing at a level that’s good enough for us to go win championships,” Henson said in August. “That’s why they call us coach.”

And now, it falls to the coach to figure it out. And fast.

Extra points

USC tight end Lake McRee during a game last season.

(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

—Lost in the aftermath of Michigan’s three big runs was a truly stellar performance from linebacker Eric Gentry, who has quickly established himself this season as the most disruptive player on USC’s defense. It’s a wonder what’s happened with a staff that actually understands him. Gentry had 12 tackles, three of which were for a loss, and even punched out a fumble that seemed, for a brief moment, to secure a win for USC. Working primarily off the edge, Gentry contributed four pressures on just 17 total Michigan dropbacks, a truly insane rate. It baffles me, to this day, that it took this long to figure him out. Maybe Riley should have read my story back in 2022.

—It was heartbreaking to see Lake McRee in tears on USC’s bench after a Michigan defender tackled him low in the second half Saturday, leaving him writhing on the field. McRee had just worked his way back from an ACL tear he suffered before last year’s Holiday Bowl, his second in four years. It wasn’t clear then he’d even make it back in time for the season. But he did, and through three games, McRee had emerged as Moss’ most trusted receiving option. We don’t know how serious his injury is, but his reaction certainly gives some pause. If he’s forced to miss time, USC would probably turn to Kade Eldridge as the starting tight end,

—Is it possible that Bear Alexander isn’t the game-wrecking force on the interior we thought he was? While the rest of USC’s defensive line has clearly leveled up, Alexander seems to have faded more into the background. He played the same amount as longtime reserve Kobe Pepe, while Gavin Meyer had another strong showing. Neither Riley nor Lynn have offered much on why Alexander’s role keeps shrinking, but his 21 snaps are his fewest in a game since coming to USC.

Big Ten deli review

I’m still learning the best the San Fernando Valley has to offer on the food front. But I’ve already got my Italian deli of choice locked down.

Cricca’s, off Topanga Canyon, has the best Italian sandwich in L.A. as far as I’m concerned. Apologies to Bay Cities, which I love, but the cold cut trio at Cricca’s is delicious, crusty magic. Be sure to get it on the Dutch crunch bread and thank me later.

Big Ten Best Bet, Week 5

Illinois +18 at Penn State

We’re 1-0 to start the season — better than I can say for my fantasy football teams! — after Illinois knocked off Nebraska. And who’s to say the Illini can’t keep the good vibes going? This spread is too big, even for a Penn State night game

In case you missed it

Hernández: USC’s loss to Michigan a reminder that Lincoln Riley falters under pressure

Michigan scores late to defeat USC in physical Big Ten opener

‘It was already written.’ How USC center Jonah Monheim became the Trojans’ leader

C.J. Stroud’s advice to Caleb Williams — ‘Learn from those mistakes’ — is met by blank stare

Lincoln Riley isn’t too bothered that Michigan has switched quarterbacks

Gavin Meyer’s portal patience has paid off for USC in its defensive makeover

CBS commentator Gary Danielson weighs in on USC-Michigan and the new-look Big 10

LA Times Today: Why USC sold Coliseum field space to DirecTV: It’s ‘an adapt-or-die scenario’

What I’m Watching This Week

I can’t quit “Only Murders in the Building,” mostly at this point for Martin Short. But if we’re all in a safe space now in this newsletter, I’ll be honest with you about my deep, unconditional love of reality TV.

Which brings me to “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” an insane thrill ride of a reality show on Hulu that my wife started watching, and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Feel free to send your judgment via email, but I’m in too deep with reality TV to care anymore! Time to live my truth!