When the lead singer of a band is bailed out by the backup vocalists, the only thing that matters is the group finding the perfect harmony. After USC backup quarterback Miller Moss carved up Louisville's defense less than a week ago -- setting a Holiday Bowl record with six passing touchdowns -- there should be increased questions about Caleb Williams' ability to succeed in the NFL.
If there was a factor to build up quarterbacks, USC head coach Lincoln Riley would be the chief engineer. His proteges at Oklahoma have translated their college success into positive NFL results, as Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance last season and Baker Mayfield has found a second act with the Buccaneers after a four-year tenure with the Browns.
The doubt surrounding Williams isn't about preparedness, but rather number inflation due to a plethora of playmakers around -- which came at a program that's struggled to produce talent at the quarterback position.
The concerns about Williams received considerable confirmation bias when Moss hopped in the driver's seat and seamlessly operated the Lamborghini that is the Trojan's high-prized offense. It didn't even matter that the cast of characters changed with offensive playmakers Brenden Rice and Marshawn Lloyd opting out.
The presence of Pac-12 first-teamer Zachariah Branch was barely noticeable, as he finished the Holiday Bowl with a pair of catches for just nine yards. The depth and read-friendly Air Raid scheme enabled Moss, Williams' understudy, to sound like Mick Jagger from the moment he stepped up to the mic.
It's not like Moss is talentless -- he was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and performed well in his rare cameo appearances. College football's pundits should still question how easy the transition was from one guy to the next, however. "We had a really positive experience working together," Moss told reporters about Williams. "I'll always appreciate Caleb for what he did for me and this program. He was a great leader for us, obviously a great player."
Perhaps Moss did gain something from osmosis and rightfully so, as he was around two of the game's brightest minds for two years. However, Riley still has to debunk the perceived shortcomings of the Trojans, even though he's proven he can build NFL-caliber players.
It begins with Williams entering the NFL and outperforming USC quarterback alums Cody Kessler, Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, and Sam Darnold. The four players in this group either were or have been career clipboard holders after chances to establish themselves as NFL starters. While the stable of talented Trojan quarterbacks that struggled to become starters in the league shouldn't necessarily reflect poorly on Riley or Williams, it does speaks volumes about the program's poor track record in recent years.
The NFL has always been a 'see it to believe it' league. Just like Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski had to prove they could change the trajectory of the Browns, the duo of Williams and Riley needs to show they can groom top high school talent into bona fide superstars at the highest levels. While the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner in Williams is different from, say, Darnold and Barkley, his ability to play in the NFL will validate or invalidate the quality of Riley's operation.
Play well at the next level, and Riley will forever be remembered as one of the offensive geniuses in college football. So much so, he could ultimately make the jump to the NFL. But, if Williams struggles, then all of a sudden, everyone will question the validity of USC and Riley's status as a quarterback whisperer.
It's not like Moss' coming-out party had a profound impact on Williams' stock. He's still projected to go first overall in most mock drafts. But, Moss' showing was enough to make everyone wonder about the plug-and-play nature of the current system.
On one hand, the quarterbacks deserve credit for executing the gameplan to perfection. On the other hand, though, the ease of it should also leave many pondering the degree to which quality coaching and recruiting is involved. When that's the horse pulling the wagon, how well are quarterbacks actually set up for success in the NFL?