Riley is blamed over playcalling, but coaches face a balancing act

I can’t imagine there was much relaxing for Lincoln Riley during his bye week.

- By RYAN KARTJE

Once again, USC is at risk of falling out of the College Football Playoff picture by the first week of November. And once again, fans have turned their ire to Riley and his playcalling.

I'd say poor execution on defense was probably more to blame at Notre Dame. But objectively, it was not a good night for Riley in South Bend. The NBC announcers openly questioned his decision making on the broadcast. Even Snoop Dogg called him out.

"Who calls a reverse pass to a non-quarterback in the rain?" the rapper and USC fan wrote on social media. “Damn coach, what you smoking?”

After the game, Riley did take accountability for some of his worst playcalls, including the reverse pass. “I've gotta be way better for our guys,” he said.

This was supposed to be the strongest tool in Riley’s arsenal. And while he has had his share of dazzling moments as a playcaller, he’s also had other days like this one, when late-game management gets the best of him. By his fourth season at Oklahoma, Sooner fans were also wondering whether it was best if he continued calling the offense.

But maybe that fact has less to do with Riley than the actual degree of difficulty in balancing the two roles. Should any head coach also be counted on to call plays?