The left tackle was cramping. The right guard was benched. The new right tackle was playing his first meaningful snaps, while the new right guard had played only a handful. All the while, 110,000 hostile fans roared with every missed block or botched assignment against the nation's most fearsome defensive front featuring two top-15 NFL draft prospects on the interior.
It was truly a nightmare scenario for USC's offensive line, which came completely unraveled during a 27-24 loss to Michigan, raising serious questions about the depth and development of a group Riley and his staff assured would be fine without offseason additions from the transfer portal.
Some of that responsibility in getting there, Riley did acknowledge, does fall on him and his staff. The coach admitted he could have done a better job preparing the offense for Michigan's defensive front.
The more pressing concern is whether the confidence of the linemen remains intact after such a demoralizing performance. That's an especially pertinent question for left tackle Elijah Paige, who looked totally overwhelmed.
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