Key match-ups vs. East Carolina Saturday to guide the Gamecock to victory
Sept. 10, 2021
ECU QB HOLTON AHLERS VS. THE GAMECOCKS SECONDARY
QB Holton Ahlers could be playing just about anywhere in the country. Ahlers had plenty of offers coming out of High School in Greenville, North Carolina in the class of 2018. HC Shane Beamer acknowledge he would’ve been the second quarterback in Georgia’s 2018 class that included first-round NFL draft pick Justin Fields had the Bulldogs taken a second signal caller that year (Beamer was an assistant coach on that Georgia staff).
Ahlers has thrown for almost 7,500 yards and boasts a nearly 2-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio over the past three seasons. The Gamecocks secondary has been maligned throughout the offseason and rightfully so. The Gamecocks lost first-round pick Jaycee Horn and stalwart Israel Mukuamu to the NFL. Beamer and his staff pieced things together with a mix of transfers and unproven returners.
Gamecocks were stout defensively last week against Eastern Illinois, holding the Panthers to just 78 yards through the air. South Carolina also corralled a pair of interceptions and had a third wiped out when a defender lined up offsides. Ahlers might be the best quarterback the Gamecocks will see until a November meeting with Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei. The Gamecocks will have to stay sharp to slow ECU offensive roll.
GAMECOCK QB LUKE DOTY/ZEB NOLAND VS. EAST CAROLINA PASS RUSH
At this point who knows but the staff who will start at QB Saturday. Either Zeb Noland or Luke Doty will get the nod. Whoever does is going to be under pressure all day come Saturday. ECU employ a blitz-heavy scheme that brings pass rushers from all corners.
Noland was able to avoided any forces last week from East Illinois, but it will be surprising if he didn’t see more hands in his face come Saturday should he start. It’s also worth noting Carolina’s offensive line was abysmal in pass protection against Eastern Illinois. Get this: the Gamecocks OL rating finished tied-for-12th out of 14 SEC teams according to Pro Football Focus despite facing an EIU squad that hasn’t won more than three games since 2017.
GAMECOCKS DEFENSIVE LINE VS. EAST CAROLINA OFFENSIVE LINE
Gamecocks defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s group ran circles around Eastern Illinois’ offensive line a week ago. This week, they will face with a bigger challenge. During East Carolina’s season-opening loss to Appalachian State in Charlotte, the Pirates gave-up 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and five quarterback hurries.
Stats to ponder. The Pirates also ranked 107th out of 130 FBS teams in pass blocking during Week 1 per PFF. The Gamecocks’ front that included former five-star recruits Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch and potential first-round pick edge rusher Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare should have a physical advantage again Saturday. If the South Carolina secondary can’t do enough to slow Ahlers and his receivers down, it’s up to the Gamecock defensive line to create muddied pockets and force ECU’s starter out of a routine to keep the Pirates’ offense at bay.
Sept. 10, 2021
ECU QB HOLTON AHLERS VS. THE GAMECOCKS SECONDARY
QB Holton Ahlers could be playing just about anywhere in the country. Ahlers had plenty of offers coming out of High School in Greenville, North Carolina in the class of 2018. HC Shane Beamer acknowledge he would’ve been the second quarterback in Georgia’s 2018 class that included first-round NFL draft pick Justin Fields had the Bulldogs taken a second signal caller that year (Beamer was an assistant coach on that Georgia staff).
Ahlers has thrown for almost 7,500 yards and boasts a nearly 2-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio over the past three seasons. The Gamecocks secondary has been maligned throughout the offseason and rightfully so. The Gamecocks lost first-round pick Jaycee Horn and stalwart Israel Mukuamu to the NFL. Beamer and his staff pieced things together with a mix of transfers and unproven returners.
Gamecocks were stout defensively last week against Eastern Illinois, holding the Panthers to just 78 yards through the air. South Carolina also corralled a pair of interceptions and had a third wiped out when a defender lined up offsides. Ahlers might be the best quarterback the Gamecocks will see until a November meeting with Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei. The Gamecocks will have to stay sharp to slow ECU offensive roll.
GAMECOCK QB LUKE DOTY/ZEB NOLAND VS. EAST CAROLINA PASS RUSH
At this point who knows but the staff who will start at QB Saturday. Either Zeb Noland or Luke Doty will get the nod. Whoever does is going to be under pressure all day come Saturday. ECU employ a blitz-heavy scheme that brings pass rushers from all corners.
Noland was able to avoided any forces last week from East Illinois, but it will be surprising if he didn’t see more hands in his face come Saturday should he start. It’s also worth noting Carolina’s offensive line was abysmal in pass protection against Eastern Illinois. Get this: the Gamecocks OL rating finished tied-for-12th out of 14 SEC teams according to Pro Football Focus despite facing an EIU squad that hasn’t won more than three games since 2017.
GAMECOCKS DEFENSIVE LINE VS. EAST CAROLINA OFFENSIVE LINE
Gamecocks defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s group ran circles around Eastern Illinois’ offensive line a week ago. This week, they will face with a bigger challenge. During East Carolina’s season-opening loss to Appalachian State in Charlotte, the Pirates gave-up 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and five quarterback hurries.
Stats to ponder. The Pirates also ranked 107th out of 130 FBS teams in pass blocking during Week 1 per PFF. The Gamecocks’ front that included former five-star recruits Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch and potential first-round pick edge rusher Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare should have a physical advantage again Saturday. If the South Carolina secondary can’t do enough to slow Ahlers and his receivers down, it’s up to the Gamecock defensive line to create muddied pockets and force ECU’s starter out of a routine to keep the Pirates’ offense at bay.
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