Red Zone Watch: Gamecocks can score in bunches, but so can their opponents

Unfortunately, ESPN hasn’t rolled out an SEC version of NFL RedZone for the conference’s new network. It would fit well on the alternate channel and would’ve rocked this season. But we’ll keep track of red zone stats for you each week.

The South Carolina Gamecocks have the second-best red zone offense in the SEC, but they also boast the conference’s second-worst scoring defense inside the red zone this season.

The Gamecocks were hoping to right the ship against a Kentucky team Steve Spurrier has owned during his career at USC and Florida, and the offense had no trouble holding up its end of the deal, scoring 38 points including 24 points on five trips into the red zone.

The defense, on the other hand, continued the same concerning trend its followed all season, allowing a UK offense that mustered just 17 points against Vanderbilt to score three red zone touchdowns on three red zone possessions in a 45-38 win. No matter how good the Gamecocks offense looks the rest of the season, a 3-3 start is proof enough that the defense is the unit that must improve to turn this season around.

OFFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

Auburn maintained its perfect red zone scoring rate in a 41-7 rout of LSU, scoring touchdowns on all three of its trips into the red zone against the Bayou Bengals. No other team in the conference can claim a 100 percent scoring rate inside an opponent’s 20 yard line.

Despite another strong offensive showing, South Carolina was held without points on a red zone trip for the first time all season in the loss to UK. The Gamecocks red zone numbers remain impressive, but in a seven-point loss its clear South Carolina is wishing its first empty possession had waited another week.

Florida’s inconsistent offense didn’t reach the red zone until the second half of its ugly 10-9 win over Tennessee, scoring its only touchdown of the day on that drive. However, most Gators fans are more frustrated by the lack of red zone trips than they are pleased with the team’s efficiency in the red zone this season. The Gators rank third in the conference in red zone efficiency, but only Kentucky and Vanderbilt have made fewer trips that deep into enemy territory in 2014.

And despite a 48-31 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday, Texas A&M continues to lead the SEC in red zone touchdowns with 24 in six games, five more than any other team in the conference. The Aggies also lead the conference in red zone visits, but the team is only fourth in efficiency when getting inside the red zone.

DEFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

Mississippi State remains the SEC’s best red zone defense, even after allowing 31 points to one of the conference’s most potent offenses in Texas A&M. The Bulldogs allowed just two touchdowns in four A&M trips to the red zone, and as a result managed one of their biggest victories in recent history.

Auburn, which has the SEC’s best red zone offense, also has the conference’s second-best red zone defense, so it’s no surprise the Tigers are now the SEC’s highest ranked team in this week’s Coaches’ and Associated Press Polls.

Tennessee is tied with Alabama for the fewest red zone trips allowed so far this season, but when teams do move the ball inside the Vols’ 20, it always ends in points. Tennessee only allowed a woeful Florida offense to move into the red zone once last weekend, but the Gators scored a touchdown on that drive that would later break the Vols’ backs.

Vanderbilt’s red zone defense had the worst day of any team in the SEC last weekend, allowing Georgia to score on all four of its possessions inside the 20 yard line in a 44-17 rout. South Carolina was not far behind in its disappointing showing against Kentucky.

The Gamecocks have allowed a conference-worst 29 trips into the red zone, and Vandy is not far behind with 27. No other team in the conference has allowed more than 17 trips into the red zone, and that team (Auburn) is the second-most efficient red zone defense the SEC has to offer.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.