USC coach Lincoln Riley said his team has to be “ready for everybody” on Michigan. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lincoln Riley is not the type of coach to divulge more information than is absolutely necessary. Especially when that information might offer an upcoming opponent even a sliver of a hint about USC’s plans or personnel. Specifics are regularly side-stepped. Injury inquiries are stiff-armed away.
Sherrone Moore, his coaching counterpart at Michigan, appeared to share similar feelings about protecting state secrets. That is, until this week, when Moore decided to share with the world, three games into his tenure at Michigan, that he was making a change at quarterback.
Moore made it official in a news conference Monday that Michigan would replace Davis Warren, a former walk-on who struggled through three starts, with Alex Orji, a running threat with limited experience as a passer. Why Moore decided to do so publicly, squandering the element of surprise with Riley and his defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, has yet to be explained.
That information was certainly welcomed with open arms by USC and its coaching staff. But Riley said he understood Moore’s rationale behind announcing the move, even if he wouldn’t speculate as to why he announced it five days ahead of Saturday’s big-time Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor.
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“I can understand where they’re coming from on it,” Riley said. “There’s two trains of thought. They both have relevance. But I’m not going to sit here and guess why they did or why they made that choice. That’s their decision. We gotta be ready for everybody they have. Very multiple offense. Very good on the offensive line. Backs are good. Tight ends elite. Lot of really gifted coaches over there. So, a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lincoln-riley-isnt-too-bothered-035934549.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-09-18 03:59:34
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