Judge coach Lincoln Riley for what USC does now, moving forward

It can be something of a difficult sell for some USC fans. After a good first year for coach Lincoln Riley, things have not gotten better in terms of the win-loss record, and in many aspects the program has taken a step back since his coming to Los Angeles.

That is the case if solely looking at the win column. By all means, that is an important metric and is how all are judged in this sport. That does exclude nuance and room to look at what has transpired at the Trojans as a whole.

For years, USC has not been where it has needed to be. There is a reason that there was a vacancy and why coach Riley was hired to begin with. Granted, there are fair aspects to criticize the current head coach about.

Unlike many who are in coach Riley's position, however, he has met those criticisms head-on and acknowledged that there were some early missteps from him. What should be universally seen as a positive step and development for the program is how the coach has then responded and righted many of his own self-proclaimed earlier wrongs.

Certainly the previous seasons were not at the needed standard. Because of what has been happening and the people in position to affect the football team now, there is every reason to not only believe that the Trojans have turned a leaf but also that USC will be looking like USC again.

This has manifested in recruiting so far. The culture and approach from everyone as a whole can also be witnessed in how the Trojans are approaching the offseason.

Increasingly bright future at USC

Some will continue to be skeptical until it culminates in a double-digit win season. Perhaps that is reasonable at this point. Failing to appreciate how coach Riley is turning around a program that he took over and is now reshaping is inaccurate, however.

The work and effort have to come before winning in the right areas, and this USC staff is doing everything the right way to ensure that the win column will be filled up soon enough.