Say goodbye to coach Donte Williams, who could never fix USC’s woeful secondary
It was a long-running debate among USC fans: Was Donte Williams’ level of recruiting success worth his mediocre coaching in the secondary? Let’s remember that when Clay Helton was fired in 2021, Donte Williams took over. The USC defense that year was horrible, and actually worse than 2023. It has been really bad under Alex Grinch, but 2021 under Williams and Todd Orlando was worse, if you look at weekly scores and results.
Saturday night against Oregon, the USC secondary was atrocious. Oregon receivers had very soft cushions to work with. The USC defensive line was decent. It did not get ripped apart in the ground game as many had feared it would. The pass rush wasn’t great, but Bo Nix didn’t really need a lot of time in the pocket to find receivers who were five, eight, 10 yards open on a lot of plays. USC corners and safeties had no clue on Oregon’s early and quick touchdown strikes. Oregon repeatedly converted third and medium or third and long with easy pass plays.
Donte Williams’ level of coaching is nowhere close to his level of recruiting. When a new defensive coordinator is brought in, Williams will almost surely need to look for a new place to coach. He’s an elite recruiter, but coaching USC’s secondary was too big for him.
Reaction, as you can guess, was swift during the Oregon loss:
NOT A CB COACH
Donte Williams is not a CB Coach.
— LA (@LASportsFanatic) November 12, 2023
IT'S TIME
USC fans, is it time to have a conversation about Donte Williams?
— Founders Edits (@FoundersEdits) November 12, 2023
INEXCUSABLE
I can’t believe I’m saying this because Donte Williams stood up for USC at its lowest point. He is an elite recruiter and a good man.
Donte Williams needs to go. This DB play is inexcusable and frankly embarrassing.
— Nico (@USC_Nico) November 12, 2023
NEEDS TO GO...STILL
Deleted my shitty USC comments from last night. USC gave up 400+ passing, but not so much rushing as in past games. Maybe a new DC and scheme will correct things, but Donte Williams needs to go. Caleb Williams was running for his life. High school recruiting needs to improve,
— CR Smith (@CSC96_) November 12, 2023
MAKE CHANGES
Benny Wylie? Fired. Donte Williams? Fired. Brian Odom? Fired. Shaun Nua? Retained.
All of USC’s defensive backs need to be asked to hit the portal. They’re either not healthy or just sorry as hell. Keep the freshman. Let’s build.
— ✌🏽 (@DwaneRobinson4Q) November 12, 2023
MASTERCLASS...
Another Donte Williams masterclass tonight
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) November 12, 2023
NEEDS TO BE CANNED
Great coaching job Donte Williams… he really has his secondary well tuned… not!!! I told you he is doing a lousy job and needs to be canned too.
— Mike Morales (@mkmora67) November 12, 2023
OOF
Is #USC going to keep Donte Williams who can’t develop players and can only recruit?
— Conquest (@glsings) November 12, 2023
WEAK SAUCE
What has Donte Williams done for this program? DB play has been weak sauce
— Drew Krinsky 🇺🇸 (@DrewKrinsky_) November 12, 2023
RECRUITING COORDINATOR
Donte Williams needs to be a recruiting coordinator that’s it ….
— kris (@krisLC25) November 12, 2023
LOTS OF QUESTIONS
& if Donte Williams is such a great recruiter, then hire him specifically for that. We need new philosophy and scheme in the secondary.
There’s no reason why Domani Jackson or anyone from USC should be getting beat deep on the outside while in Cover 3. Why are you even pressing…
— ✌🏽 (@DwaneRobinson4Q) November 12, 2023
COOKED DBS
Love seeing Donte Williams defensive backs get cooked
— brian barger (@califresh4life) November 12, 2023
ASK
Please ask why Donte Williams is still employed.
Or at least what he teaches in practice.
— Sherman Oaks (@Dadfacts10) November 12, 2023
FIRE DONTE
Fire donte Williams
— Scottyd (@sdaloisio) November 12, 2023
OVERRATED
Donte Williams is so overrated
— Kody (Brock Purdy supporter) (@NotKodyYuh) November 12, 2023
FIRE THEM ALL
Fire Donte Williams / Nua / Odom / manning
— La Sports Fan For Life (@RaiderMatt5204) November 12, 2023
WHAT DOES HE DO
What does Donte Williams do again as a coach?
— Chris Fisher (@widgetfactoryco) November 12, 2023
WON'T BE HARD
USC getting a new defensive coordinator means Donte will no longer coach anyone on this defense.
It will not be hard to say goodbye.
Recruiting can only carry so much value when THIS is what the on-field product looks like. https://t.co/4hQeuwNGb1
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) November 12, 2023
MOVE ON
@LincolnRiley it’s time to move on from Donte Williams like NOW… https://t.co/5249gxPfM3
— Dominick Vigliotti-Sierra 🇵🇷🇮🇹 (@MrSierra2U) November 12, 2023
UGLY
The fact that I see SC fans blaming Donte Williams for blown coverages is crazy. #4 is a safety, and #7 is a safety. Donte coaches corners & the only corner to get beat for a TD was #17. An that was a coverage bust, and the receiver ran past 2 safeties IJS.
— Mr. Andrews (@skeet4thward) November 12, 2023
DISAPPOINTING
Nix is a legitimate Heisman front-runner, but he has completed simple intermediate routes and his WRs have run free for 100-120 RAC yards against a headless-horseman Trojan secondary. #Context 🙂 https://t.co/cbIdpGFXUq
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) November 12, 2023
BIGGER PICTURE
The only reason Oregon isn't up by more than 15 is that Oregon's receivers have either fallen down or lost the flight of the ball, plus that last holding penalty.
UO receivers are 5-8 yards open on virtually every play.
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) November 12, 2023
FALLING FLAT
Great job of coaching, Donte Williams.
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) November 12, 2023