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South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has slayed many stellar defenses during his time with well-executed ‘ball plays’ and stellar game plans.
How will his offense fare against the nation’s top-ranked defense Saturday afternoon at Clemson?
He’s not so sure in prep for his 400th career game.
“We’ll kick it off and see what happens … we think we have a chance (to win),” Spurrier said after Wednesday’s practice at Williams Brice Stadium. “You always have a chance if you play well, but we’ve got to play well to beat them.”
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Clemson’s giving up just 252 yards per game, seven less than the next closest defense. The Tigers lead the country in tackles for loss (109.0), third-down defense (27 percent) and have allowed the fewest red zone scores (12 touchdowns, 5 field goals) during Brent Venables’ third season as defensive coordinator.
Expected first-round pick Vic Beasley’s one of three Bednarik award finalists at defensive end and has accumulated 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage to lead the conference. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett’s been equally productive, a disruptive force on the inside with 66 tackles this season.
“They’re (defensive line) is very good and Florida’s was very good too,” Spurrier said after his team managed a season-low 301 total yards against the Gators. “Hopefully we can make some yards on them somehow.”
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South Carolina offensive line coach Shawn Elliott says his team’s prepared for a battle in the trenches in hopes of winning their sixth straight game in the rivalry and pinpoints Jarrett as a player the Gamecocks must contain.
“We’ve seen a lot of good interior guys,” Elliott said. “I think he plays with great leverage and he moves. When he slants and angles, he gets up the field really, really quickly, which makes you have to be that much better on your steps. He’s a heck of a football player.”
The Gamecocks haven’t had trouble moving the football and scoring points on the Tigers during the current school-record streak, but Clemson wasn’t near as sharp defensively coming in.
South Carolina’s production vs. Clemson during 5-game win streak
- 2009: 34 points, 388 total yards
- 2010: 29 points, 322 total yards
- 2011: 34 points, 420 total yards
- 2012: 27 points, 444 total yards
- 2013: 31 points, 318 total yards
Clemson’s all-senior front seven is matched up against an offensive line that’s given up 20 sacks — ninth in the SEC.
“Experience always helps, but that’s the same reason I feel pretty good about having a fifth-year quarterback (Dylan Thompson),” said South Carolina assistant G.A. Mangus. “We played against a lot of good front sevens and Clemson’s always right there with the best ones we play all year.”
