USC coach Lincoln Riley talks with quarterback Miller Moss (7) during the Trojans’ spring game on April 20.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
During nine seasons as a head coach, Riley has gone from one Pro Bowl quarterback (Baker Mayfield) to another (Kyler Murray) to another (Jalen Hurts). After that, he had Spencer Rattler, now a third-round rookie with the Saints, and Caleb Williams, his third Heisman winner and the No. 1 overall pick of the Bears.
Where Miller Moss fits into that succession plan is still to be determined. But his profile stands in stark contrast to the Riley-coached quarterbacks who came before him, which, one might think, could mean USC’s passing attack could look markedly different with Moss at the helm.
Unlike Williams, who was at his best when making something out of nothing, Moss is at his best when operating on time, within a system. He’s capable of processing his reads quickly, making split-second decisions and getting the ball out accurately. Chances are you’ll hear the word “cerebral” used to describe him often this season.
Moss knows as well as anyone that he’s not Williams. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For all his talent, Williams freelanced too often last season in an effort to make big plays behind a leaky offensive line. Moss won’t be able to get away with that. Nor will he try.
Within the right framework, Moss should theoretically thrive. There’s a reason he threw six touchdowns in the Holiday Bowl. But after just one full game in four years, we may not even know what that looks like yet for Moss, after months of Riley scheming up ways for him to succeed.