Brief
Lincoln Riley slams poor tackling on Washington’s game‑winning drive
Riley said the missed tackles were uncharacteristic and warned his players not to repeat the play.
By Felo News Desk · Published
USC head coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday that two missed tackles on Washington’s final touchdown were "zero excuse" and not reflective of his team’s usual play.
What happened
In the third quarter, Washington tight end Decker DeGraaf caught a short pass from Demond Williams Jr. and broke toward the sideline. USC safety Brian Urlacher attempted a two‑handed shove near the 30‑yard line, but DeGraaf continued up the sideline. Cornerback Elbert “Rock” Hill IV made a second two‑handed push inside the 20‑yard line, yet DeGraaf still reached the end zone for a Washington touchdown.
What the reports add
The New York Post article notes that the play produced “two really just poor attempts at a tackle,” and Riley added that Hill was “face‑masked like crazy” yet still failed to stop the receiver. Riley also said the missed tackles were “out of character” for both players, who have been “pretty good football players for us” this season.
What was said
Riley told reporters, “It was just, I think, two really just poor attempts at a tackle… It’s still zero excuse to not get the guy out of bounds.” He confirmed he spoke with Urlacher and Hill afterward, saying, “Message received loud and clear and it was a bad play by our standards.”
How it came about
The criticism follows USC’s 25‑21 victory over Washington on Oct. 4, a game that temporarily quieted fan chants to fire Riley. The win gave the Trojans a 5‑1 overall record and highlighted linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson’s strong performance after Desman Stephens II’s suspension.
Key facts
- Washington scored a touchdown on a short pass to Decker DeGraaf after two missed tackles by USC players. (nypost.com)
- Lincoln Riley called the missed tackles "zero excuse" and said they were uncharacteristic. (nypost.com)
- Riley confirmed he spoke with Brian Urlacher and Elbert Hill after the play. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “USC’s Lincoln Riley decries poor tackling against Washington: ‘zero excuse’”
