What has happened to South Carolina's defense? The Gamecocks are allowing 36.0 points per
game, second-most in the SEC and the most for any FBS team with at least three wins.
They have allowed all three of their SEC opponents to score more than 30 points after allowing one conference opponent to score that many last season.
It will be difficult for South Carolina to win the SEC if it continues at this pace. In the previous 10 seasons, only Robert Griffin III's Baylor team in 2011 won 10 games and allowed 35 or more points per game.
Furthermore, defense wins in the SEC. Texas A&M last season, led by Johnny Manziel, is the only SEC team since 2000 that finished with a winning record in a season in which it allowed 30 or more points per game.
On paper it looks as if the Gamecocks took a step in the right direction against Vanderbilt this past weekend, allowing a season-low 379 yards.
However, as Steve Spurrier noted in his postgame press news conference, “Vanderbilt has not been an offensive juggernaut in the SEC... Holding Vandy to 380 yards, I think that's their best for the year, but I'm not sure. We did some good plays here and there, but we can't brag about what we did defensively here today."
South Carolina Defensive FBS Ranks
Last 2 Seasons
2013 2014
YPG 19th 111th*
Pass YPG 12th 116th
Pts per drive 27th 121st*
Efficiency 26th 101st*
* Worst in the SEC
Spurrier was right. It was not a performance South Carolina would want to brag about. The Gamecocks allowed a season-high 6.9 yards per play against Vanderbilt.
Their defensive efficiency, which measures the points a defense contributes to its scoring margin and adjusts for the offenses faced, was their third-worst in a game in the last three seasons and second-worst this season.
Last season, South Carolina, led by Jadeveon Clowney, was a top 25 defense in most statistical categories, so why has it struggled this season?
Too many yards after the catch
South Carolina has allowed 311.5 passing yards per game this season, second worst in the SEC. Almost half of those passing yards have come after the catch.
The Gamecocks have allowed an SEC-worst 584 yards after the catch, including 291 against Texas A&M in Week 1, which is the most in SEC play in the last four seasons.
South Carolina Pass Defense
This Season
SEC Rank*
Comp pct 69.9 Last
YPG 311.5 13th
YAC PG 146.0 Last
Sacks 4 T-Last
* Out of 14 SEC schools
Opponents have averaged 12.5 receptions per game with five or more yards after the catch against the Gamecocks, the most allowed by any Power Five defense. The average for a Power Five school is 8.2 such receptions per game.
The Gamecocks have shown improvement in this area in its last two games, allowing 78 yards after the catch to Georgia and 46 to Vanderbilt. However, it should be noted that those were season highs for both of those teams.
Inside running game
South Carolina has allowed the most rushing yards per game (168.5) and yards per rush (5.3) in the SEC this season.
The Gamecocks have struggled against runs inside the tackles, allowing an SEC-high 5.8 yards per rush, including 6.1 when they have seven or fewer defenders in the box.
South Carolina Rush Defense
Inside Tackles, This Season
SEC Rank
Yds per rush 5.8 Last
YPG 113.0 T-12th
10+ yd rush 16 Last
YBC per rush* 65.8 Last
* YBC = yards before contact
Due in part to its inability to stop inside runs and prevent yards after the catch, South Carolina has had a hard time getting off the field this season.
The average drive against the Gamecocks is 46.1 yards, three yards longer than any other FBS defense.
Their opponents have had 23 drives that have reached the red zone, tied with Tulane for the most in the FBS.
If the Gamecocks are not able to get off the field, it could be a long night Saturday against Missouri.
[COLOR= rgb(178, 34, 34)]Link: [/COLOR]http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/89254/inside-south-carolinas-defensive-struggles
game, second-most in the SEC and the most for any FBS team with at least three wins.
They have allowed all three of their SEC opponents to score more than 30 points after allowing one conference opponent to score that many last season.
It will be difficult for South Carolina to win the SEC if it continues at this pace. In the previous 10 seasons, only Robert Griffin III's Baylor team in 2011 won 10 games and allowed 35 or more points per game.
Furthermore, defense wins in the SEC. Texas A&M last season, led by Johnny Manziel, is the only SEC team since 2000 that finished with a winning record in a season in which it allowed 30 or more points per game.
On paper it looks as if the Gamecocks took a step in the right direction against Vanderbilt this past weekend, allowing a season-low 379 yards.
However, as Steve Spurrier noted in his postgame press news conference, “Vanderbilt has not been an offensive juggernaut in the SEC... Holding Vandy to 380 yards, I think that's their best for the year, but I'm not sure. We did some good plays here and there, but we can't brag about what we did defensively here today."
South Carolina Defensive FBS Ranks
Last 2 Seasons
2013 2014
YPG 19th 111th*
Pass YPG 12th 116th
Pts per drive 27th 121st*
Efficiency 26th 101st*
* Worst in the SEC
Spurrier was right. It was not a performance South Carolina would want to brag about. The Gamecocks allowed a season-high 6.9 yards per play against Vanderbilt.
Their defensive efficiency, which measures the points a defense contributes to its scoring margin and adjusts for the offenses faced, was their third-worst in a game in the last three seasons and second-worst this season.
Last season, South Carolina, led by Jadeveon Clowney, was a top 25 defense in most statistical categories, so why has it struggled this season?
Too many yards after the catch
South Carolina has allowed 311.5 passing yards per game this season, second worst in the SEC. Almost half of those passing yards have come after the catch.
The Gamecocks have allowed an SEC-worst 584 yards after the catch, including 291 against Texas A&M in Week 1, which is the most in SEC play in the last four seasons.
South Carolina Pass Defense
This Season
SEC Rank*
Comp pct 69.9 Last
YPG 311.5 13th
YAC PG 146.0 Last
Sacks 4 T-Last
* Out of 14 SEC schools
Opponents have averaged 12.5 receptions per game with five or more yards after the catch against the Gamecocks, the most allowed by any Power Five defense. The average for a Power Five school is 8.2 such receptions per game.
The Gamecocks have shown improvement in this area in its last two games, allowing 78 yards after the catch to Georgia and 46 to Vanderbilt. However, it should be noted that those were season highs for both of those teams.
Inside running game
South Carolina has allowed the most rushing yards per game (168.5) and yards per rush (5.3) in the SEC this season.
The Gamecocks have struggled against runs inside the tackles, allowing an SEC-high 5.8 yards per rush, including 6.1 when they have seven or fewer defenders in the box.
South Carolina Rush Defense
Inside Tackles, This Season
SEC Rank
Yds per rush 5.8 Last
YPG 113.0 T-12th
10+ yd rush 16 Last
YBC per rush* 65.8 Last
* YBC = yards before contact
Due in part to its inability to stop inside runs and prevent yards after the catch, South Carolina has had a hard time getting off the field this season.
The average drive against the Gamecocks is 46.1 yards, three yards longer than any other FBS defense.
Their opponents have had 23 drives that have reached the red zone, tied with Tulane for the most in the FBS.
If the Gamecocks are not able to get off the field, it could be a long night Saturday against Missouri.
[COLOR= rgb(178, 34, 34)]Link: [/COLOR]http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/89254/inside-south-carolinas-defensive-struggles
