The Gamecock's defense is back at it again snagging interceptions
Oct. 03, 2022
The Gamecocks' defense is returning back to its ball-hawking ways. The Gamecocks did pick off 15 passes in 2021, which led the SEC in the regular season. But it had just one interception in the 2022 season’s first three games. The team intercepted three passes against Charlotte on Sept. 24 and caught three more in the 50-10 win over S.C. State on Thursday, bringing the season total to seven now.
The last time the Gamecocks intercepted three or more interceptions in back-to-back games was in 2011 when it had four picks against Auburn and Kentucky. Beamer said. “We just gave out three game balls in the locker room to the three guys that got turnovers, so we certainly want to celebrate it.”
Sherrod Greene, Bam Martin-Scott, and Marcellas Dial accounted for the Gamecocks’ three interceptions. Dial is up to two interceptions this year, the only Gamecock with multiple picks. Forcing turnovers is a point of emphasis for the defense. When the Gamecocks didn’t record an interception in either of their two SEC games, Beamer said the coaching staff “didn’t make a big deal about it.” “We just talked about (continuing) to be in the right place and continue to play really hard and be around the football,” Beamer said. “When you fly to the football and you play hard, those turnovers tend to come. We’re certainly going to need them going forward.”
“Flying around” on defense is the team’s terminology for its quick style of play, which is used to force turnovers and get stops. Speaking two days before the game, defensive back Cam Smith said creating turnovers helps build up the defense’s momentum. He cited the confidence the secondary had in the front seven to pressure the quarterback and sometimes deflect passes for them to intercept. “It just builds a bond throughout the whole defense that we know we’re going to get a turnover,” Smith said.
The Gamecocks dropped several interceptions in the last two weeks, but were present on pass plays and were disruptive with pass breakups. Beamer also wants the team to tighten up on its mistakes, as the defense committed three pass interference penalties on Thursday. And they need to catch the ball better, he said. “We’ve got really talented defensive backs,” Beamer said. “We have NFL corners, and they don’t need to be out there grabbing and holding people. I think we just got to play with better technique in the secondary.”
S.C. State has had its' struggles in the air this year, entering the game with a 44.3% completion rate on pass plays. Still, forcing turnovers in a win, linebacker Sherrod Greene said, helps the confidence of the defensive unit. “Knowing that guys can make plays when we’re in the right spot and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and following the coaches’ game plan,” he said. Beamer said the team hopes to get Darius Rush and David Spaulding back soon, as the two have missed time due to injuries. Having all hands on deck moving into SEC play will be necessary, with six conference games left on the schedule. “There’s a reason we led the SEC in takeaways last year,” Beamer said. “We work at it and we emphasize it.”
Oct. 03, 2022
The Gamecocks' defense is returning back to its ball-hawking ways. The Gamecocks did pick off 15 passes in 2021, which led the SEC in the regular season. But it had just one interception in the 2022 season’s first three games. The team intercepted three passes against Charlotte on Sept. 24 and caught three more in the 50-10 win over S.C. State on Thursday, bringing the season total to seven now.
The last time the Gamecocks intercepted three or more interceptions in back-to-back games was in 2011 when it had four picks against Auburn and Kentucky. Beamer said. “We just gave out three game balls in the locker room to the three guys that got turnovers, so we certainly want to celebrate it.”
Sherrod Greene, Bam Martin-Scott, and Marcellas Dial accounted for the Gamecocks’ three interceptions. Dial is up to two interceptions this year, the only Gamecock with multiple picks. Forcing turnovers is a point of emphasis for the defense. When the Gamecocks didn’t record an interception in either of their two SEC games, Beamer said the coaching staff “didn’t make a big deal about it.” “We just talked about (continuing) to be in the right place and continue to play really hard and be around the football,” Beamer said. “When you fly to the football and you play hard, those turnovers tend to come. We’re certainly going to need them going forward.”
“Flying around” on defense is the team’s terminology for its quick style of play, which is used to force turnovers and get stops. Speaking two days before the game, defensive back Cam Smith said creating turnovers helps build up the defense’s momentum. He cited the confidence the secondary had in the front seven to pressure the quarterback and sometimes deflect passes for them to intercept. “It just builds a bond throughout the whole defense that we know we’re going to get a turnover,” Smith said.
The Gamecocks dropped several interceptions in the last two weeks, but were present on pass plays and were disruptive with pass breakups. Beamer also wants the team to tighten up on its mistakes, as the defense committed three pass interference penalties on Thursday. And they need to catch the ball better, he said. “We’ve got really talented defensive backs,” Beamer said. “We have NFL corners, and they don’t need to be out there grabbing and holding people. I think we just got to play with better technique in the secondary.”
S.C. State has had its' struggles in the air this year, entering the game with a 44.3% completion rate on pass plays. Still, forcing turnovers in a win, linebacker Sherrod Greene said, helps the confidence of the defensive unit. “Knowing that guys can make plays when we’re in the right spot and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and following the coaches’ game plan,” he said. Beamer said the team hopes to get Darius Rush and David Spaulding back soon, as the two have missed time due to injuries. Having all hands on deck moving into SEC play will be necessary, with six conference games left on the schedule. “There’s a reason we led the SEC in takeaways last year,” Beamer said. “We work at it and we emphasize it.”
