Is Lincoln Riley really that good of a Coach?

[Thiefery]

I'm not saying he can't coach or can't develop. I think he is given too much credit for both. It would be like handing me Bama next year and letting me play it out for 4 years. Sure I could take what Nick has built and not screw it up too bad in that time. I think Riley has done the same, and his jumping ship kinda supports my thinking.

Too much credit? you know that the sooners weren't exactly a hot shot team offensively til Bob brought him in. I never liked him much either but the guy is being way underappreciated now that he went to SC. I get it though, the guy was ready to finally have a top 3 recruiting class in '23.. and he bailed.

No way you get this much heat and CFB divided if you aren't worth your salt.

Let's see how this plays out

 

[fordman84]

Too much credit? you know that the sooners weren't exactly a hot shot team offensively til Bob brought him in. I never liked him much either but the guy is being way underappreciated now that he went to SC. I get it though, the guy was ready to finally have a top 3 recruiting class in '23.. and he bailed.

No way you get this much heat and CFB divided if you aren't worth your salt.

Let's see how this plays out

Ok, appreciate him as an OC. There are lots of guys who are great coordinators but suck at HC. But he is going to be HC at USC, and that looks to be an issue.

 

[trojanfan12]

still good enough.. If you want to criticize LR for being offensive minded first, then sure. He did take too long to make the switch at DC, but I'm sure he was doing bob a huge favor there.

This will be a good look back in 3 seasons

So far, in his recruiting and in the portal, he hasn't ignored the defense and Grinch looks like he might be the best DC we've had since Pete Carroll. He also retained only 1 coach from Helton's staff. That was Donte Williams, who is the top recruiter in the PAC.

Obviously, none of this means anything if the team doesn't perform...but I have zero complaints so far.

 

[Thiefery]

Ok, appreciate him as an OC. There are lots of guys who are great coordinators but suck at HC. But he is going to be HC at USC, and that looks to be an issue.

So far, in his recruiting and in the portal, he hasn't ignored the defense and Grinch looks like he might be the best DC we've had since Pete Carroll. He also retained only 1 coach from Helton's staff. That was Donte Williams, who is the top recruiter in the PAC.

Obviously, none of this means anything if the team doesn't perform...but I have zero complaints so far.

This is why I say this will be a great thing to look back to in a few seasons. I don't think LR was as great as (ironically) some of the ou fans thought he was.. but he's not as bad as what they are saying today either.

His offense struggled this season for sure, but I always thought it was the play of the OL that took a step back. Also didn't help that Rattler had openings that he chose to ignore a lot. Texas seemed to figure him out, but that was because he was missing the open guy running in the secondary.

 

[trojanfan12]

This is why I say this will be a great thing to look back to in a few seasons. I don't think LR was as great as (ironically) some of the ou fans thought he was.. but he's not as bad as what they are saying today either.

His offense struggled this season for sure, but I always thought it was the play of the OL that took a step back. Also didn't help that Rattler had openings that he chose to ignore a lot. Texas seemed to figure him out, but that was because he was missing the open guy running in the secondary.

I've always said that to be a great head coach, you don't have to be near as good at X's and O's as you are in building a staff. Saban is great for the same reason Carroll was. They both did/do a great job of identifying and hiring very good assistants and letting them do their jobs.

On paper, Riley looks to have put together a very good staff.

 

[Thiefery]

I've always said that to be a great head coach, you don't have to be near as good at X's and O's as you are in building a staff. Saban is great for the same reason Carroll was. They both did/do a great job of identifying and hiring very good assistants and letting them do their jobs.

On paper, Riley looks to have put together a very good staff.

i really don't like Grinch tbh.. he likes recruiting sub 300 lb DL and man his takes in the secondary have been pretty bad. Reason why you see BV hitting the portal hard.

This is a reset for him too and I'm sure he'll recruit better being in LA

 

[ralphiewvu]

A good Coach wouldn't have waited a full 2 years to do anything about the Defense.

Dude, how many times every off-season did OU fans like occupant and Romeo and other retards try to tell the world how OUs D would be improved?

 

[Deep Creek]

It was a smart move to go to the PAC because it's an easier path of conference championships and by the end of it that is probably what Riley is going to know for and not national championships. If can make some noise, put up some good records, win the PAC and make it to the playoffs here and there he should make it at least 6 to 7 years before USC gets frustrated. Won't matter he doesn't need another contract to be set for life and would probably make bank as a TV analyst.

I'm going to predict that Riley doesn't ever win a natty but I could be wrong.

Then Riley is one level below most then. Most coaches won't even fall into the "conference championships" category, much less the "national championships" one. But, if you can assemble enough talent you don't have to be a great coach to get a natty. As evidence I present............

 

[fordman84]

Then Riley is one level below most then. Most coaches won't even fall into the "conference championships" category, much less the "national championships" one. But, if you can assemble enough talent you don't have to be a great coach to get a natty. As evidence I present............
View attachment 57030

at least he hit all his loops there.

 

[Deep Creek]

Baker was a Stoops recruit and already there when Riley got there. Murray and Hurts he got from other schools. The one guy he did recruit and was the #1 qb in the Country Spencer Rattler got benched for the season. And the other #1 recruit he got Caleb Williams got benched against Baylor and lost 2 of his last 3 Big 12 games.

Baker was with Coach GQ prior to Stoops.

 

[outofyourmind]

Dude, how many times every off-season did OU fans like occupant and Romeo and other retards try to tell the world how OUs D would be improved?

We've followed each other for years.
I think you know my thoughts in LR.

 

[ralphiewvu]

We've followed each other for years.
I think you know my thoughts in LR.

Didn’t say you, just other OU fans. Every stinking year since about 14 someone chimed in on how OU D would be better.

 

[OlyDuck]

He sure as hell can't be worse than Helton.

that sounds like a challenge. Im sure he will accept it

 

[outofyourmind]

Didn’t say you, just other OU fans. Every stinking year since about 14 someone chimed in on how OU D would be better.

Hey
I listen to it too sometimes and wonder.

It's the Oklahoma Hype Machine
It's 75 years old.
People just get caught up in it.

 

[Wingsauce7]

It'll be interesting to see how Ryan Day does also. These unproven coaches without HC experience are groomed to take the reins when the old guy retires. Nobody really knows how well they'll stand on their own let alone react to adversity.

 

[Goldbug]

Didn’t say you, just other OU fans. Every stinking year since about 14 someone chimed in on how OU D would be better.

Wasn't me. Here's a sample post I made in 2020 about why OU's D sucked under Muleshoe/Grinch. OU spent about 65% of their scholarships on O players. That was NOT conducive to building any kind of defensive strength. And the D players we did sign were just too small or untalented to consistently stop anyone in the Big 12, let alone what was coming in the SEC.

Opposing Team's Players

TE 6'7" 250
WR 6'4" 230
WR 6'3" 220
TE 6'7" 254
TE 6'4" 252
WR6'2" 196
WR 6'4" 200
TE 6'6" 260
WR 6'2 210
WR 6'3" 220
TE 6'5" 255
WR 6'6" 215
WR 64" 205
WR 6'2 190
WR 6'5" 220
WR 6'2" 214

OU Defensive Starters
CB 5'10" 186
S 5'11" 204
DB 5'9" 180

 

[Mistaken4193]

It would be like handing me Bama next year and letting me play it out for 4 years. Sure I could take what Nick has built and not screw it up too bad in that time.

I mean Les Miles won a NC with Sabans leftovers(even though he tried to fuck it up)

 

[duckboy33]

yeah that state is a QB pipeline.. especially at Mater Dei

LR will always be able to recruit a good QB and there are plenty in California. The question is whether he can build a defense that is good enough to contend nationally. Either way, USC should improve

 

[We Are Decent]

If you flip the one score games he goes:
2017: 11-3 (not including hypothetical CFP final)
2018: 9-5
2019: 8-6
2020: 9-2
2021: 6-7

Yeah I'm going to say he was likely going to get exposed very soon.

 

[NinerSpartan]

Oklahoma held back Lincoln Riley