As we enter into Game week some final thoughts
August 30, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA YEAR 2 UNDER COACH BEAMER
2nd year brings excrement to the Carolina base. Reason one Rattler. QB Spencer Rattler set the college football world ablaze with a simple tweet and an affixed graphic. “Excited for the next chapter! #SpursUp,” he wrote at 9:06 p.m. Dec. 13, announcing his transfer to South Carolina. Landing a commitment from Rattler was a coup on multiple levels. For one, it offered a prime piece of evidence of Beamer and his staff’s ability to reach into the transfer portal for difference-makers. It also put the Gamecocks squarely in the middle of the national conversation overnight.
Along with the imports of tight end Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) and receivers, Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (James Madison) and Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) changed the face of the Gamecock's offense. Someway, somehow the Gamecocks pieced together seven wins with four different quarterbacks at the helm last fall. Rattler, for better or worse, will be under the microscope every week. That’s what happens when you’re a former Heisman Trophy candidate and a player once discussed as a possible No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. The reality, though, is Rattler doesn’t need to be the Heisman version of himself. Even a variation of somewhere between average and great will go miles in steadying an offense that ranked 13th in scoring, passing, and total offense in the SEC last year.
The Gamecocks’ have the weapons in the passing game that should help the cause. Last year’s leading receiver Josh Vann is back. Do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell is as big a breakout candidate as there is in Columbia. That’s not to mention returning receivers Ahmarean Brown, Xavier Legette, and Dakereon Joyner who all received rave reviews this offseason on top of adding Stogner, Wells, and Rucker. “These kids have not had the same offensive coaches in consecutive years for like four years,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. “They have the same coaches for two consecutive years. I think it’s only going to help them feel more in balance with what we’re doing on offense.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White also inherits a loaded unit in his second year calling the shots. The secondary is mature. Cornerback/nickel Cam Smith projects as a potential first-round pick. Defensive backs Darius Rush, Marcellas Dial Jr., David Spaulding, and R.J Roderick each have ample experience. South Carolina’s defensive line anchored likely by Alex “Boogie” Huntley and Zacch Pickens and a pair of seniors at linebacker in Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson give the Gamecocks the makings of the unit that can keep them in ball games.
Combine that with an offense that feels poised for a jump, and it’s not hard to see why the good-feeling vibes in Columbia this offseason.
BUT WAIT A MINUTE GAMECOCKS FANS PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Right or wrong, Rattler was supplanted at Oklahoma for a reason. His numbers suggest he was better than outside doubters might insist 140 of 187 for 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions but he needs to face SEC defenses in a new system before being anointed the second coming of Steve Taneyhill or Connor Shaw. South Carolina also brings back its entire offensive line. In theory, returning five starters and keeping continuity up front is a good thing. But the Gamecocks is trotting out a group that had just one player in 2021 among the top 40 graded linemen in the SEC, per Pro Football Focus.
Satterfield insists that group is hungry to prove doubters wrong. The offense has pieces to leap forward, but it has to be better up front for those skill position additions to matter. “We’ve got offensive linemen that are willing and ready to work,” center Eric Douglas said. “Doesn’t matter what the play call is. Get it done.” Defensively, the Gamecocks overachieved last fall. White deserves a ton of credit on that front. But this year, South Carolina has to find an answer against the run more consistently. The Gamecocks surrendered more than 180 yards in seven of its 12 games against FBS opponents last fall. That included five games in which it surrendered 230 yards or more.
The Gamecocks have options at defensive tackle, but defensive end remains a bit of a mystery. Jordan Strachan and Jordan Burch should take on featured roles at the end spots, in place of the since-departed Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare and Aaron Sterling. How effective they are with heavier snap counts remains to be seen. “It’s all about team defense and, obviously, how the game is flowing,” White said of how South Carolina can improve against the run. “But right now we’re working on it every single day and trying to improve. I think the most important thing is we have to understand that it takes all the levels to do those kinds of things.”
FINAL THOUGHTS: SHANE BEAMER ENTERING HIS SECOND YEAR AT THE HELM
Gamecocks caught some breaks. It took last-second heroics to beat East Carolina and Vanderbilt. A few late defensive stands against a reeling Auburn team helped the Gamecocks to that victory. Catching Florida just before it fired Dan Mullen didn’t hurt, either. “I know everybody expects us to just beat the teams that you’re supposed to be beat by certain margin and all,” Beamer said following the Florida win. “Well, they’ve got good players, too. And winning is hard.
So I think tonight was a great testament for our kids and how much they love each other how much they love playing for each other and the staff.” Beamer is right, the better team doesn’t always win. That’s why, to me, South Carolina feels like one of the hardest teams in the country to predict. (For what it’s worth, national betting experts set the over-under for the Gamecocks in 2022 near six wins.) If Rattler and the offense click, though, Backstreets might just need to add overflow seating by season’s end.
August 30, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA YEAR 2 UNDER COACH BEAMER
2nd year brings excrement to the Carolina base. Reason one Rattler. QB Spencer Rattler set the college football world ablaze with a simple tweet and an affixed graphic. “Excited for the next chapter! #SpursUp,” he wrote at 9:06 p.m. Dec. 13, announcing his transfer to South Carolina. Landing a commitment from Rattler was a coup on multiple levels. For one, it offered a prime piece of evidence of Beamer and his staff’s ability to reach into the transfer portal for difference-makers. It also put the Gamecocks squarely in the middle of the national conversation overnight.
Along with the imports of tight end Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) and receivers, Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (James Madison) and Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) changed the face of the Gamecock's offense. Someway, somehow the Gamecocks pieced together seven wins with four different quarterbacks at the helm last fall. Rattler, for better or worse, will be under the microscope every week. That’s what happens when you’re a former Heisman Trophy candidate and a player once discussed as a possible No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. The reality, though, is Rattler doesn’t need to be the Heisman version of himself. Even a variation of somewhere between average and great will go miles in steadying an offense that ranked 13th in scoring, passing, and total offense in the SEC last year.
The Gamecocks’ have the weapons in the passing game that should help the cause. Last year’s leading receiver Josh Vann is back. Do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell is as big a breakout candidate as there is in Columbia. That’s not to mention returning receivers Ahmarean Brown, Xavier Legette, and Dakereon Joyner who all received rave reviews this offseason on top of adding Stogner, Wells, and Rucker. “These kids have not had the same offensive coaches in consecutive years for like four years,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. “They have the same coaches for two consecutive years. I think it’s only going to help them feel more in balance with what we’re doing on offense.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White also inherits a loaded unit in his second year calling the shots. The secondary is mature. Cornerback/nickel Cam Smith projects as a potential first-round pick. Defensive backs Darius Rush, Marcellas Dial Jr., David Spaulding, and R.J Roderick each have ample experience. South Carolina’s defensive line anchored likely by Alex “Boogie” Huntley and Zacch Pickens and a pair of seniors at linebacker in Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson give the Gamecocks the makings of the unit that can keep them in ball games.
Combine that with an offense that feels poised for a jump, and it’s not hard to see why the good-feeling vibes in Columbia this offseason.
BUT WAIT A MINUTE GAMECOCKS FANS PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Right or wrong, Rattler was supplanted at Oklahoma for a reason. His numbers suggest he was better than outside doubters might insist 140 of 187 for 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions but he needs to face SEC defenses in a new system before being anointed the second coming of Steve Taneyhill or Connor Shaw. South Carolina also brings back its entire offensive line. In theory, returning five starters and keeping continuity up front is a good thing. But the Gamecocks is trotting out a group that had just one player in 2021 among the top 40 graded linemen in the SEC, per Pro Football Focus.
Satterfield insists that group is hungry to prove doubters wrong. The offense has pieces to leap forward, but it has to be better up front for those skill position additions to matter. “We’ve got offensive linemen that are willing and ready to work,” center Eric Douglas said. “Doesn’t matter what the play call is. Get it done.” Defensively, the Gamecocks overachieved last fall. White deserves a ton of credit on that front. But this year, South Carolina has to find an answer against the run more consistently. The Gamecocks surrendered more than 180 yards in seven of its 12 games against FBS opponents last fall. That included five games in which it surrendered 230 yards or more.
The Gamecocks have options at defensive tackle, but defensive end remains a bit of a mystery. Jordan Strachan and Jordan Burch should take on featured roles at the end spots, in place of the since-departed Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare and Aaron Sterling. How effective they are with heavier snap counts remains to be seen. “It’s all about team defense and, obviously, how the game is flowing,” White said of how South Carolina can improve against the run. “But right now we’re working on it every single day and trying to improve. I think the most important thing is we have to understand that it takes all the levels to do those kinds of things.”
FINAL THOUGHTS: SHANE BEAMER ENTERING HIS SECOND YEAR AT THE HELM
Gamecocks caught some breaks. It took last-second heroics to beat East Carolina and Vanderbilt. A few late defensive stands against a reeling Auburn team helped the Gamecocks to that victory. Catching Florida just before it fired Dan Mullen didn’t hurt, either. “I know everybody expects us to just beat the teams that you’re supposed to be beat by certain margin and all,” Beamer said following the Florida win. “Well, they’ve got good players, too. And winning is hard.
So I think tonight was a great testament for our kids and how much they love each other how much they love playing for each other and the staff.” Beamer is right, the better team doesn’t always win. That’s why, to me, South Carolina feels like one of the hardest teams in the country to predict. (For what it’s worth, national betting experts set the over-under for the Gamecocks in 2022 near six wins.) If Rattler and the offense click, though, Backstreets might just need to add overflow seating by season’s end.
