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South Carolina assistants Travaris Robinson, Bryan McClendon share which areas Gamecocks need to improve in 2018
By Jake Rill
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South Carolina went 9-4 and finished second in the SEC East in 2017, and the Gamecocks will be looking to build off that and improve this season.
Over the past two days at South Carolina fall camp, the Gamecocks’ top two assistants shared how their team can do that.
First, on Friday, offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon met with reporters and explained that South Carolina needs to do a better job in the running game this season. The Gamecocks ranked 12th in the SEC with 1,588 total rushing yards in 2017.
“We have to run the ball at a high level,” McClendon said after Friday’s practice. “At the end of the day, running the ball efficiently and effectively, it goes beyond important as far as being a good offense. That’s what you have to be able to do. That is a focus, making sure everyone understands the run game from the quarterback out and doing whatever we can to have the pin last.”
Not only did South Carolina rank 12th in the conference in rushing offense, but it also ranked 12th in points per game at 24.2.
On Saturday, defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson took his turn meeting with the media. He noted that the Gamecocks lack experience in the secondary entering the new season, so that will be an area they need to address.
“It’s a big concern,” Robinson said. “Obviously, we don’t have guys that have played a bunch of reps there.”
Robinson noted that the only experienced player that South Carolina has in the secondary is senior safety Steven Montac, who had 19 tackles and three interceptions last season.
If the Gamecocks improve in these crucial areas on both sides of the ball, they could be poised to have an even better end result than last year.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
