Judgment time the good the bad and ugly but still a win over Georgia State
Step. 04, 2022
Here’s a look at the good the bad and the ugly in South Carolina’s 35-14 win over Georgia State on Saturday night in Week 1 of the college football season in Columbia.
NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THE BAD
Rushing defense: Though the Gamecocks' secondary was effective in shutting down GSU quarterback Darren Grainger for most of the contest, the Gamecocks were much less effective in stopping the Panthers on the ground. Gamecocks' gave up a 41-yard run to former Gamecock Jamyest Williams on the second play of the game and allowed 196 rushing yards total.
Offensive efficiency: Though the Gamecocks ultimately came away with the win, the Gamecocks' offense will likely need to finish more drives to keep pace on the road at Arkansas in Week 2. Two of the Gamecocks' touchdowns came on blocked punts something USC can’t count on from week to week and as a whole, the Gamecocks were just 3-for-14 on third downs.
NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THE UGLY
Offensive-line play: An issue for the Gamecocks last year, the Gamecocks' offensive line turned in an inconsistent performance Saturday night, especially in the first half. Running lanes were difficult to come by, with the Gamecocks rushing for just 38 team yards in the first half. And Rattler found himself on the run often, absorbing three sacks throughout the game. Gamecocks ran for just 79 yards on 32 carries (2.5 yards per carry) for the game
Marcellas Dial: It wasn’t a banner performance for the redshirt junior cornerback, whom Georgia State picked on a bit in the passing game. Though the Panthers had little success passing the ball, Grainger completed a 28-yard pass to receiver Jamari Thrash with Dial blanketing him, and the cornerback added two penalties, including a costly pass-interference play on a ball thrown well over the head of the receiver. However, Dial did redeem himself with a pass breakup and interception late in the fourth quarter.
BEST ITEMS ON THE DRAWING BOARD THE GOOD
The atmosphere: Williams-Brice Stadium was rocking for the season opener, with a sold-out crowd of 78,297 in attendance and an additional dose of energy in the building with Gamecock great Jadeveon Clowney getting his number retired during halftime. Gamecocks' promised a revamped gameday experience with new LED lights in the stadium, and the game’s multiple light shows were met with loud applause. It met all expectations Saturday night in the Cock-Pit
MarShawn Lloyd: After an ACL tear slowed him down for the first two years in a Gamecocks uniform, Lloyd announced his presence with authority on Saturday, scoring two touchdowns including the Gamecocks' first touchdown of the season on a one-yard pitch to the outside. Lloyd also made an impact through the air, catching Rattler’s first pass of the game for 15 yards and also catching Rattler’s first Gamecock touchdown on a 16-yard connection.
Special teams: Filling in for the Gamecock graduated all-time scoring leader Parker White, Jeter made his mark in his first game as Gamecocks placekicker. Jeter’s first career field goal went for 53 yards tied for the seventh-longest in program history. And his second field goal went for 51 yards, making him the first USC kicker to kick two 50-yard field goals in the same game. But the Gamecocks made more than a few splashes on special teams. The Gamecocks set up their first touchdown of the game with a fake field goal in the first half. And in the second half, Rashad Amos blocked a punt and D.Q. Smith ran it back 26 yards for a touchdown. It was the first punt return for a touchdown for the Gamecocks since 2000. But wait there’s more. In the fourth quarter, The Gamecocks blocked a second punt and returned it for another touchdown to take a commanding 35-14 lead.
Spencer Rattler: Though he didn’t turn in a Heisman-quality performance, Rattler was solid in his Gamecocks debut after his much-hyped transfer from Oklahoma during the offseason. Rattler completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown, and though he threw two interceptions, only one was his fault. The first was a well-placed throw that went through the hands of receiver Ahmarean Brown and into the GSU defender’s.
Step. 04, 2022
Here’s a look at the good the bad and the ugly in South Carolina’s 35-14 win over Georgia State on Saturday night in Week 1 of the college football season in Columbia.
NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THE BAD
Rushing defense: Though the Gamecocks' secondary was effective in shutting down GSU quarterback Darren Grainger for most of the contest, the Gamecocks were much less effective in stopping the Panthers on the ground. Gamecocks' gave up a 41-yard run to former Gamecock Jamyest Williams on the second play of the game and allowed 196 rushing yards total.
Offensive efficiency: Though the Gamecocks ultimately came away with the win, the Gamecocks' offense will likely need to finish more drives to keep pace on the road at Arkansas in Week 2. Two of the Gamecocks' touchdowns came on blocked punts something USC can’t count on from week to week and as a whole, the Gamecocks were just 3-for-14 on third downs.
NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THE UGLY
Offensive-line play: An issue for the Gamecocks last year, the Gamecocks' offensive line turned in an inconsistent performance Saturday night, especially in the first half. Running lanes were difficult to come by, with the Gamecocks rushing for just 38 team yards in the first half. And Rattler found himself on the run often, absorbing three sacks throughout the game. Gamecocks ran for just 79 yards on 32 carries (2.5 yards per carry) for the game
Marcellas Dial: It wasn’t a banner performance for the redshirt junior cornerback, whom Georgia State picked on a bit in the passing game. Though the Panthers had little success passing the ball, Grainger completed a 28-yard pass to receiver Jamari Thrash with Dial blanketing him, and the cornerback added two penalties, including a costly pass-interference play on a ball thrown well over the head of the receiver. However, Dial did redeem himself with a pass breakup and interception late in the fourth quarter.
BEST ITEMS ON THE DRAWING BOARD THE GOOD
The atmosphere: Williams-Brice Stadium was rocking for the season opener, with a sold-out crowd of 78,297 in attendance and an additional dose of energy in the building with Gamecock great Jadeveon Clowney getting his number retired during halftime. Gamecocks' promised a revamped gameday experience with new LED lights in the stadium, and the game’s multiple light shows were met with loud applause. It met all expectations Saturday night in the Cock-Pit
MarShawn Lloyd: After an ACL tear slowed him down for the first two years in a Gamecocks uniform, Lloyd announced his presence with authority on Saturday, scoring two touchdowns including the Gamecocks' first touchdown of the season on a one-yard pitch to the outside. Lloyd also made an impact through the air, catching Rattler’s first pass of the game for 15 yards and also catching Rattler’s first Gamecock touchdown on a 16-yard connection.
Special teams: Filling in for the Gamecock graduated all-time scoring leader Parker White, Jeter made his mark in his first game as Gamecocks placekicker. Jeter’s first career field goal went for 53 yards tied for the seventh-longest in program history. And his second field goal went for 51 yards, making him the first USC kicker to kick two 50-yard field goals in the same game. But the Gamecocks made more than a few splashes on special teams. The Gamecocks set up their first touchdown of the game with a fake field goal in the first half. And in the second half, Rashad Amos blocked a punt and D.Q. Smith ran it back 26 yards for a touchdown. It was the first punt return for a touchdown for the Gamecocks since 2000. But wait there’s more. In the fourth quarter, The Gamecocks blocked a second punt and returned it for another touchdown to take a commanding 35-14 lead.
Spencer Rattler: Though he didn’t turn in a Heisman-quality performance, Rattler was solid in his Gamecocks debut after his much-hyped transfer from Oklahoma during the offseason. Rattler completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown, and though he threw two interceptions, only one was his fault. The first was a well-placed throw that went through the hands of receiver Ahmarean Brown and into the GSU defender’s.
