Don’t look now but USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward is becoming one of the hot assistant coaches in the country.
Saturday’s win over Georgia gave Ward the chance to show the rest of country what his defense could do against one of the highest scoring teams in the country. You could not help but be impressed.
The Gamecock defense took it to Georgia from the opening possession. After giving up a 15 yard run to freshman sensation Todd Gurley on Georgia’s first play, the Gamecocks allowed just 100 rushing yards the rest of the game, and 75 of that came on the Bulldog’s last possession when they scored with just under two minutes to play. So, during the meaningful portion of the game, Ward’s defense snuffed out a running game that was averaging a SEC best 249 yards per game.
Forced to go to the air, Aaron Murray found little room for comfort. He was under constant pressure by the Gamecock front four. Ward was able to keep Murray on the move without dialing up a lot of blitzes, and he kept his secondary in man coverage until he decided to protect the lead with a zone. Murray completed 11 of 31 passes for 109 yards and 1 interception. He was sacked twice.
Ward felt he had a good game plan for keeping Georgia’s offense somewhat in check.
“I think it was the same pressure we used all season, but we made a conscious effort to not let them get on the outside. If you go back and watch them in every ball game they played, they make their plays by getting on the perimeter. We had a conscious effort to keep them on the inside.
We’ve got good players, and I’ve got good coaches. Not only the front four, but our linebackers have played really well and the perimeter. We were in the position to make some plays. It’s a blessing to be able to rush four guys and drop seven when it’s time to play football.”
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Ward loved the effort of his defense against Georgia [2:45]
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Jadevon Clowney and DeVonte Holloman talk about the defense [3:10]
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Gurley has high regard for USC defense after Saturday [1:57]
Safety Brison Williams led the Gamecock tacklers with 7. Clowney had his typical active game with 4 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Chaz Sutton picked up the other sack giving the Gamecocks 25 on the season.
Saturday’s win over Georgia gave Ward the chance to show the rest of country what his defense could do against one of the highest scoring teams in the country. You could not help but be impressed.
The Gamecock defense took it to Georgia from the opening possession. After giving up a 15 yard run to freshman sensation Todd Gurley on Georgia’s first play, the Gamecocks allowed just 100 rushing yards the rest of the game, and 75 of that came on the Bulldog’s last possession when they scored with just under two minutes to play. So, during the meaningful portion of the game, Ward’s defense snuffed out a running game that was averaging a SEC best 249 yards per game.
Forced to go to the air, Aaron Murray found little room for comfort. He was under constant pressure by the Gamecock front four. Ward was able to keep Murray on the move without dialing up a lot of blitzes, and he kept his secondary in man coverage until he decided to protect the lead with a zone. Murray completed 11 of 31 passes for 109 yards and 1 interception. He was sacked twice.
Ward felt he had a good game plan for keeping Georgia’s offense somewhat in check.
“I think it was the same pressure we used all season, but we made a conscious effort to not let them get on the outside. If you go back and watch them in every ball game they played, they make their plays by getting on the perimeter. We had a conscious effort to keep them on the inside.
We’ve got good players, and I’ve got good coaches. Not only the front four, but our linebackers have played really well and the perimeter. We were in the position to make some plays. It’s a blessing to be able to rush four guys and drop seven when it’s time to play football.”
Download
0:00
Ward loved the effort of his defense against Georgia [2:45]
Download
0:00
Jadevon Clowney and DeVonte Holloman talk about the defense [3:10]
Download
0:00
Gurley has high regard for USC defense after Saturday [1:57]
Safety Brison Williams led the Gamecock tacklers with 7. Clowney had his typical active game with 4 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Chaz Sutton picked up the other sack giving the Gamecocks 25 on the season.
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