South Carolina’s season was always looked at with the back drop that they would have a hard time against such a tough schedule. They now sit at 1-3, and have only played one of the five ranked teams they had lined up when the season began. Coach Will Muschamp and the South Carolina Gamecocks are on the brink of seeing their season completely slip away. They host the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend. It will serve as an opportunity to not only end a five game skid to an SEC East rival, but to try and salvage the 2019 season.
Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks Searching For Answers
This past weekend’s woeful performance in a 34-14 loss at Missouri was South Carolina’s sixth consecutive loss against a power five opponent. While the loss itself hurts, the inexplicable nature of the team’s performance is even more damaging. It is hard to recall the last time this team played well on both sides of the ball for a full 60 minutes in a meaningful contest. With trips to Georgia and Texas A&M to go along with hosting Clemson and Florida still remaining, calling this weekend’s game a must win is almost an understatement. Hosting the Wildcats is now the biggest game in the Muschamp era of Gamecock football. He needs his team to finally put together a complete performance.
Recurring Themes
In the world of quick reactions, bold proclamations, and social media outrage, sometimes one loss can be viewed more harshly than necessary. Unfortunately for coach Muschamp and the Gamecocks, there issues stem beyond the wins and losses. The record isn’t looking good on its own either. The problem in Columbia is that the issues facing this program on game days are recurring ones. There has been an inability to put together a complete game in all three phases. Even more maddening is a propensity to show up flat in one or more areas on Saturdays.
The talent has been upgraded throughout the roster, but the consistency of performance still leaves a lot to be desired. Far too often, the offense has played as if it had no plan, or the defense has played as if it had no toughness. The overlying issue is that one of these two things occurs every Saturday. Even when one unit plays to its capabilities, another unit lets the team down.
Lost
In the loss to the Tigers in the other Columbia this past weekend, it was the offense that came out looking uninspired and without a cohesive plan. This was also the case in the first game of the season versus the UNC Tar Heels. Each of these match-ups was one that South Carolina could and should have won. There was no vast talent discrepancy like in the contest with Alabama. There have been times this season where coach Muschamp and the Gamecocks have looked dynamic and explosive with the ball. Those moments make performances like Saturday all the more frustrating.
The game plan each week is ever changing, and also does not appear to be putting this team in the best position to win. They were far too conservative in the opener, and seemed to forget they had talented running backs last weekend. Once again in a big moment, this team seemed ill prepared and lacking the energy a team desperate for a win needed to show.
Can Things Be Fixed
This 18 million dollar question (Will Muschamp’s buyout) will need to be answered soon. This program has longed mired in mediocrity, save for a handful of seasons. Sitting at 1-3, they could be on the verge of falling completely off a cliff in 2019 with the bulk of their SEC schedule remaining. As far as fixing the issues at hand, there doesn’t seem to be an easy solution. The question marks of the last few seasons are mostly gone. This team is mostly healthy and has upgraded the talent and depth, but still can’t find an identity. The offense shows up in a big way one week, and then falls flat on its face the next. Defensively they have struggled mightily over the last 12 or so games, but that side of the ball played its best game of the season against Missouri.
The only consistency that Muschamp’s Gamecocks have shown recently is that they will not play at a high level on both sides of the ball at the same time. Figuring out which unit will falter on a given game day is almost a coin flip decision at this point. Multiple players on each side of the ball have shown the ability to play well and compete at times. However they can’t seem to put a complete performance together on the same day. The uneven nature of how this team has played makes determining whether things can be fixed a tricky proposition.
Searching for Consistency
They certainly have the talent to compete with each of their remaining opponents. Unfortunately, what they’ve shown in 2019 would hardly lead you to believe they can put it all together on Saturdays. This staff has to figure out what it needs to do to get the best out of their players. Some of that comes down to game planning and preparation. Some of that is also having the team energized at focused on game day. Much like the team’s performances, the staff’s ability to do those two things has not been consistent.
Bright Spots
There have been a few players who have found a way to perform consistently at a high level. Javon Kinlaw, Bryan Edwards, Joseph Charlton, and Ernest Jones have all been very good through the first quarter of the season. Kinlaw and Edwards are playing their senior seasons as if they have a point to prove. Both players have stepped up, and have shown the toughness, fight, and play making ability needed to win. Charlton is having an excellent season punting the ball, and the special teams as a whole have been a positive. Jones is in his first year as a starter at linebacker, and is improving each week. Tailback Rico Dowdle is also playing his best football as a senior. That makes his lack of involvement in last Saturday’s loss even more puzzling.
Must Win, Seriously This Is A MUST WIN
If Muschamp and the Gamecocks are to turn this season around and make a push towards bowl eligibility it has to start now. South Carolina can begin to regain some good will with their fans by ending a disturbing losing streak to Kentucky. The Wildcats come in struggling in their own right, with a similar 0-2 start to SEC play. It will be a night time home game for the garnet and black, and it’s a chance they cannot squander.
It has been too long since this team put together a complete 60 minute performance on both sides of the ball. If they cannot do so this weekend, October and November are going to very bleak in Columbia. It is time for the talk and excuses to be pushed aside, only the performance on game days matter. This team, this coach, and this program needs badly to finally have step up in a big moment and succeed.
Main Photo: COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Will Muschamp of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during the 34-14 loss to the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
