South Carolina football: 10 takeaways from the 2022 season
It’s hard to write a different ending to South Carolina’s season this year.
For the better part of 10 weeks, there was no way to forecast stunning season-ending victories against top-10 teams in Tennessee and Clemson. USC entered both contests as underdogs by 14 points or more, and it seemed just a matter of where they would fall in the bowl picture after both presumed losses.
Instead, they rose up for a pair of impressive, late-season victories. They beat a ranked Kentucky team as well, giving them three high marks for the season.
The Gamecocks finished with an overall 8-4 record and a 4-4 mark in the Southeastern Conference. They scored 380 points and allowed 330 for the regular season. They were numbers that reflected a sometimes roller-coaster season.
What were some thoughts of the 2022 season? Here are 10 takeaways:
Spencer Rattler is the real deal
Transfer QB Spencer Rattler answered the questions all of college football had about him in the wins against Tennessee and Clemson.
He threw for a combined 798 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the 2 wins and had 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in the final 5 weeks. Rattler finished the regular season with 2,780 yards passing, with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
More importantly, Rattler matured as a quarterback from the start of the season when he seriously looked like a mistake. He had a stronger pocket presence and played with the confidence of a projected NFL pick, an assumption many thought he would be.
Rattler had the encore he needed against Clemson and the doubters now are sure to be few. If he has another strong game in his upcoming bowl game, the NFL will be more of a tempting route.
Shane Beamer is the right guy
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the coach during his 2-year run.
He took over a slumping program last season and revitalized it to the tune of 6 wins. Getting a bowl appearance for the first time since 2017 was a plus, and the Gamecocks accented it with a victory.
There was plenty of excitement on campus, and a 7-win season was a minimum expectation for 2022. Beamer matured as a coach and placed more faith in his offense and defense, taking chances when they were warranted. He developed a stronger bond with his players and has appeared to be ready for the next step.
The offense was opened for business
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was deemed a logical scapegoat should the Gamecocks’ season fly south. Early on, he was criticized for conservative calls and a lack of creativity.
But Satterfield allowed Rattler to throw downfield more and began a steady diet of the running game behind MarShawn Lloyd. He also developed a version of the wildcat and incorporated his speedy receivers in a variety of reverses and formations. He transformed tight end Jaheim Bell into an explosive back running deep out of the backfield.
Satterfield began to fully utilize all of his offensive weapons, and he should be more flexible in the future.
“Beamerball” is alive and well
“Beamerball” was based on the concept of producing points through special teams and defense at Virginia Tech when Frank Beamer, the father of the South Carolina coach, was there.
The Gamecocks’ special teams lived up to the concept in 2022, generating points directly and indirectly. They played a pivotal role in the Clemson victory with key punts as well as a late-game fumble recovery. Their defense didn’t have glowing statistics but was disruptive enough in more than a few games to make a difference.
The Gamecocks can play with the contenders
Early games didn’t bode well with lopsided losses to Georgia and Arkansas, and there were plenty of doubts about whether South Carolina could take the next step. They mostly had their way with Georgia State, S.C. State and Charlotte.
USC saved their season at the time with a win against ranked Kentucky on the road and held off a late surge by Texas A&M at home. Yet, their credibility still hung in the balance after sloppy losses to Missouri and Florida.
They firmly established themselves with the Tennessee and Clemson victories, and expectations will be raised.
Antwane “Juice” Wells is a bonafide threat
In the final two games, Wells reassured the Gamecocks’ faithful that he can be a deep-threat playmaker who can stretch the field, as well as their go-to outlet.
As the season progressed, Wells became more involved with the offense and consequently received more coverage. He had 20 receptions in his last 2 games, and ended with 63 for the regular season.
He developed a chemistry with Rattler and the duo will be back if both steer clear of the pro path. Wells led the team with 910 all-purpose yards, 898 by way of catching the ball.
MarShawn Lloyd can be a workhorse
Lloyd was seen as the key to the Gamecocks’ running game this season, and he turned it to his favor.
He broke through during the middle of the season and established himself as a lead back who also was valuable as another passing option out of the backfield. His production took pressure off Rattler as the primary offensive threat and balanced the offense.
Lloyd missed three games down the stretch with a nagging thigh issue, and he couldn’t find his rhythm in the season finale. He will be expected to have a 1,000-yard season next year.
The O-Line was the strong, silent type
The Gamecocks’ offensive line helped develop a much-needed running game and provided better protection for Rattler late in the season.
This was a unit that dealt with injuries – only center Eric Douglas and guard Jovaughn Gwyn played every game this season. It was a rotating group most of the season, but they blended well down the stretch.
Rattler was sacked 27 times during the season.
Oh, those special teams
Special teams coach Pete Lembo quickly became one of the more notable technicians at his craft.
Lembo was creative with his approach, having punter Kai Kroeger throw 3 successful passes on fake punts, 1 for a touchdown. Kroeger had a good second half of the season and finished with a 46.8-yard average and putting 27 of 52 punts inside the 20. Mitch Jeter was 10 for 10 on field goal attempts, booting 3 from beyond 50 yards.
The unit blocked 6 punts and returned 2 of those for touchdowns. They also had 3 returns for scores.
The defense bent but didn’t break
Their overall numbers weren’t that impressive.but defensive coordinator’s Clayton White’s bunch battled through on injuries all season.
They allowed 27.5 points a game, giving up an average of 175.9 on the ground and 199.5 through the air. The defense registered 15 sacks and recorded 11 interceptions. USC was in the latter half of the conference in all of the categories. They also had too many untimely penalties due to bad positioning and missed assignments, mainly in the secondary.
Still, they managed to apply enough pressure and pass breakups with an array of blitzes to make the group an effective one, recording their share of big plays.