My takeaways from Saturday night
Sept. 04, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA’S OFFENSIVE LINE STILL HAS ISSUES TO DEAL WITH
South Carolina returned every starter from a year ago and a handful of capable backups. The problem? That group ranked as one of the worst in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks hooted and hollered about taking a step forward on offense and, in theory, they should. The skill position talent is there, but it can’t happen if the offensive line can’t block.
Give Georgia State defensive coordinator Nate Fuqua credit he schemed up a good gameplan and found ways to bring the pressures. That still doesn’t make up for the line’s missed blocks on Saturday night.
The Gamecock's secondary of Cam Smith, Darius Rush, and Marcellas Dial locked down on Georgia State’s receivers, barely allowing them a chance to breathe on the outside. South Carolina finished the night combining nine pass breakups as a team. The Gamecock's defense ranked as one of the best in the league last year and it’s off to about as good a start as it could’ve hoped, especially if the offense takes a few weeks to really gel.
CLAYTON WHITE’S DEFENSE SEEMS AGAIN TO BE THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM
White’s unit stymied Georgia State’s dynamic rushing attack to 200 yards on 40 carries — a good chunk of which came with the game no longer in doubt. It held the Panthers to a 1 for 6 mark on third down. Quarterback Darren Grainger completed just 7 of 29 passes (24%) for 111 yards.
QB SPENCER RATTLER SHOWED FLASHES FOR THE GAMECOCKS
Spencer Rattler wasn’t perfect on Saturday, but there were moments to think the Gamecocks might have something.
His roll-out completion to Jalen Brooks for a 39-yard gain was a prime example of the ability Rattler has to extend plays and make something happen when the constructs of the offense break down. That’s liberty the Gamecocks absolutely didn’t have last year. Rattler finished the night 23 of 37 for 226 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions the first of his picks wasn’t on him. It wasn’t perfect, but there were enough glimpses to think the South Carolina offense won’t slog the way it did a year ago.
SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL TEAMS ARE THE REAL DEAL
Special teams coordinator Pete Lembo knows special teams
Kai Kroeger recorded a 79-yard punt
South Carolina returned two (!!) blocked punts for a touchdown
Mitch Jeter hit a pair of 50-plus yard field goals, the first two attempts of his career
Gamecocks' gained a first down on a fake field goal run by holder Hunter Rogers
Sept. 04, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA’S OFFENSIVE LINE STILL HAS ISSUES TO DEAL WITH
South Carolina returned every starter from a year ago and a handful of capable backups. The problem? That group ranked as one of the worst in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks hooted and hollered about taking a step forward on offense and, in theory, they should. The skill position talent is there, but it can’t happen if the offensive line can’t block.
Give Georgia State defensive coordinator Nate Fuqua credit he schemed up a good gameplan and found ways to bring the pressures. That still doesn’t make up for the line’s missed blocks on Saturday night.
The Gamecock's secondary of Cam Smith, Darius Rush, and Marcellas Dial locked down on Georgia State’s receivers, barely allowing them a chance to breathe on the outside. South Carolina finished the night combining nine pass breakups as a team. The Gamecock's defense ranked as one of the best in the league last year and it’s off to about as good a start as it could’ve hoped, especially if the offense takes a few weeks to really gel.
CLAYTON WHITE’S DEFENSE SEEMS AGAIN TO BE THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM
White’s unit stymied Georgia State’s dynamic rushing attack to 200 yards on 40 carries — a good chunk of which came with the game no longer in doubt. It held the Panthers to a 1 for 6 mark on third down. Quarterback Darren Grainger completed just 7 of 29 passes (24%) for 111 yards.
WOW WHAT CAN I SAY BUT THIS WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS WERE AS ADVERTISED
The atmosphere on Saturday's game was downright awesome. The game was an announced sellout, while attendance was listed at over 78,000 fans. That doesn’t happen against most teams, let alone a Sun Belt opponent. By comparison, a little under 65,000 fans showed up for last year’s opener against Eastern Illinois. Oh, and the lights. If Rattler was the biggest talking point this offseason, the multi-million dollar lights project South Carolina undertook may well have been No. 2 on the list. I’m here to tell you: They were well worth it. The lights show at halftime and throughout the contest made for some kind of atmosphere and one that Beamer said recruits raved about when he visited with them after the game. It’s not all that important in the grand scheme, but the environment on Saturday was top-notch.QB SPENCER RATTLER SHOWED FLASHES FOR THE GAMECOCKS
Spencer Rattler wasn’t perfect on Saturday, but there were moments to think the Gamecocks might have something.
His roll-out completion to Jalen Brooks for a 39-yard gain was a prime example of the ability Rattler has to extend plays and make something happen when the constructs of the offense break down. That’s liberty the Gamecocks absolutely didn’t have last year. Rattler finished the night 23 of 37 for 226 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions the first of his picks wasn’t on him. It wasn’t perfect, but there were enough glimpses to think the South Carolina offense won’t slog the way it did a year ago.
SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL TEAMS ARE THE REAL DEAL
Special teams coordinator Pete Lembo knows special teams
Kai Kroeger recorded a 79-yard punt
South Carolina returned two (!!) blocked punts for a touchdown
Mitch Jeter hit a pair of 50-plus yard field goals, the first two attempts of his career
Gamecocks' gained a first down on a fake field goal run by holder Hunter Rogers
