Our defense was pretty solid - they hit the lone trick play to start the game for 75 yards and a touchdown. After that, we held them to 188 total yards - 77 passing yards - and 10 points, out-scoring them 20-10 the rest of the way. They had the one play for 75 yds on their initial possession, then:
3 plays, 3 yds - PUNT
4 plays, 4 yds - PUNT
5 plays, 21 yds - MISSED FG
5 plays, 11 yds - PUNT
2 plays, 13 yds - TOUCHDOWN
4 plays, 17 yds - PUNT
3 plays, 0 yds - INTERCEPTION
6 plays, 41 yds - PICK SIX INTERCEPTION
3 plays, 1 yd - PUNT
HALFTIME
3 plays, 0 yds - PUNT
3 plays, 3 yds - PUNT
6 plays, 19 yds - PUNT
14 plays, 67 yds - MADE FG
3 plays, 6 yds - PUNT
The 2nd touchdown they scored came off of a lost fumble from Joyner that they recovered on the USC 13-yd line. Essentially ECU had only two quality offensive possessions against our defense - the first however ended with the pick-six by Staley, but the second resulted in their last points, a made field goal. We held them to a total of 35 plays for 111 yards, or 3.2 yds per play, in the 1st half AFTER the trick play touchdown, and a touchdown in our redzone after the turnover. In the 2nd half, we held them to only 29 total plays for 95 yds, or 3.3 yds per play, and only 3 points. Our defense was pretty strong.
The issue this game was our own offense, but we made some positive adjustments at halftime. One thing is, you notice that ECU only had 5 offense possessions in the 2nd half, while they had 9 possessions in the 1st, including that one-play score to start the game. The reason for so many offensive possessions for them in the 1st half, was because our own possessions were ending quickly as well, giving them time to have more of their own. Our offense possessions were as follows:
7 plays, 37 yds - INTERCEPTION
5 plays, 2 yds - PUNT
3 plays, -6 yds - PUNT
2 plays, 74 yds - FUMBLE, TOUCHBACK
3 plays, 14 yds - FUMBLE
3 plays, -5 yds - PUNT
3 plays, 8 yds - PUNT
3 plays, -4 yds - PUNT
1 play, -2 yds - END OF HALF
HALFTIME
5 plays, 14 yds - PUNT
4 plays, 16 yds - PUNT
6 plays, 31 yds - PUNT
5 plays, 72 yds - TOUCHDOWN
5 plays, 12 yds - MADE FG
10 plays, 54 yds - MADE FG
The Gamecock offense had a total of 30 plays for 118 yards, or 3.9 yds per play. We had more total yds than the Pirates did at the half, but turnovers cancelled all of our scoring opportunities. From what I could decipher, the Pirates DL were stunting just before our snaps, after our OL had communicated their blocking responsibilities to each other, and it created confusion among the USC OL and resulted in poorly executed or entirely missed blocking assignments. Add that to the ECU defense stacking the box against our run game, and our offensive strength - the run game - was greatly impacted. That's logical - it should be expected that ALL of our opponents will come at us this was defensively, until we can prove to them it is a mistake.
For the 2nd half, we totaled 35 offensive plays for 199 yards, and all 13 of our offensive points. We played much better, and with much better discipline, after halftime. The 5.7 yds per play after halftime, shows that between the two teams, we were the one that made the greatest and most positive adjustments - almost doubling our offensive output - and it carried us to victory.
The Georgia defense is looking early on to be one of the if not THE top defenses in the SEC this season. Even WITH improvements where we cut out the turnovers and penalties we've seen in the first two games, they will most likely dominate us next week. Their own offense has not been league-leading, but they've played tougher opponents than we have thus far. But IF we can clean up our offensive miscues, I feel our offense can execute much better than it did against ECU. The 2nd half improvements showed that much to me. But we're going to be relying on our defense to keep us in games a good bit this season.....