
South Carolina football: New-look offense more than just passing game
By Keith Farner
Published:
Quarterback Jake Bentley and the South Carolina passing game, with its gaudy numbers on Saturday, will draw the headlines and get the attention, especially with a big showdown against Georgia this week in Williams-Brice Stadium. But the running game might pay more dividends for the Gamecocks going forward following the 49-15 win over Coastal Carolina.
South Carolina scored the fourth-most in a season opener in program history. The Gamecocks’ 557 offensive yards were their highest total since they had 588 against Western Carolina in 2016.
The hot and humid weather served as a conditioning test for the Gamecocks, something coach Will Muschamp lamented they didn’t experience much in the preseason. He said after the game that they didn’t use a single IV, so the strength and conditioning staff received high marks.
There was early praise for the new offensive brain trust — led by coordinator Bryan McClendon and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner, who have promised a more fast-paced attack. The offense, with 294 yards passing and 263 rushing, had near perfect balance, something every coach craves.
“I think we were very efficient offensively, obviously, when you’re able to stay balanced like that,” Muschamp said. “Defensively, we didn’t give up anything big, except for some silly penalties we need to get cleaned up.”
Things I liked:
1. Rico Dowdle’s versatility: The oft-injured feature back showed all of his skills with 15 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, and a catch for 22 yards where he swerved his way for another TD. That was the kind of play that had fans applauding McClendon’s playcalling. It was Dowdle’s fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career. The Gamecocks’ deep stable of backs missed Mon Denson, who was out with a hamstring injury, and A.J. Turner only had two carries. But Ty’Son Williams chipped in 82 yards on 11 carries.
2. One-minute drill: The final drive of the first half showed all of the potential for Bentley and the offense. The Gamecocks scored on five plays over 45 seconds across 76 yards, and didn’t use a timeout. Bentley was 5-for-5 for 68 yards on the drive, which showed a “one-minute mentality.” They left 14 seconds on the clock as Dowdle’s receiving touchdown capped the drive.
3. Deebo’s return: Deebo Samuel delivered what many had missed when he missed most of last season with a broken leg. He came down with a highlight-reel one-handed catch in the end zone. Samuel finished with seven catches for 56 yards and a TD, one carry for 11 yards, and averaged 22.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
4. Defense delivers: The Gamecocks forced a turnover when true freshman Rosendo Louis recovered a fumble. . They held Coastal Carolina to 238 yards and just 2-for-9 on third down attempts. Louis’ contributions were part of a youth movement for the Gamecocks, as 11 true freshmen played, including a start by cornerback Jaycee Horn.
Things I didn’t like:
1. Key injury: Early-season injuries in nonconference games are among the biggest concerns for coaches. And the Gamecocks saw a key player go down in the third quarter. Defensive end D.J. Wonnum injured his left leg; he was helped off the field and straight to the locker room. Wonnum led the team with six sacks a year ago and had a career-high nine tackles in 2017 against Georgia. He also has played all 27 games of his career. Muschamp said Wonnum would be fine to face the Bulldogs next week, but it’s something to keep an eye on.
2. Targeting: The thin secondary was a concern entering the season. Then on Saturday, backup safety Nick Harvey was whistled for a targeting call — along with being late and out of bounds — in the second half on a play near the sideline. That means he’s out for the first half against Georgia. It’s especially disconcerting for a senior and graduate transfer from Texas A&M, one of the most experienced players around. Harvey had three tackles before he was dismissed. What’s more troubling is that Harvey came to the Gamecocks as a cornerback and was moved to safety because Muschamp was disappointed with the safeties in the preseason.
3. Penalties: Harvey’s miscue was just one of nine penalties for 99 yards. The Gamecocks only had one game last season (Clemson) with that many, and it was a departure from their overall performance in 2017 when they had the fewest penalty yards per game in the SEC. Overall, South Carolina had the second-fewest flags (62) in the SEC last season.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.