South Carolina is on a much-needed bye week and the Gamecocks defense will look to make some changes and address lingering questions. At a disappointing 2-3 record, Carolina must look to the points allowed over five games as a culprit for three losses. Even in the two games they have won, the Gamecocks defense has had significant holes. With fans growing restless with third-year defensive coordinator, Clayton White, Shane Beamer needs to press for a quick turnaround. The bye week allows the Gamecocks defense to work on the secondary play against the pass, consistency on the defensive front, and overall scheme and game planning.
Are They the Strength?
Going into 2023, the secondary was the assumed strength of the Gamecocks defense. Now, after five weeks, Carolina finds itself at the bye week having given up 1507 passing yards. This puts the Gamecocks ranked 126th out of 130 FBS teams. There have been a few injuries that have contributed. Namely, Nick Emmanwori, the team’s leading tackler in 2022 suffered a hamstring injury in the first game of the year and did not play the following game. This forced freshman Jalon Kilgore into action. Kilgore now leads the teams in tackles in 2023. Fellow safety DQ Smith has had to move around, as well. After injuries to nickel backs David Spaulding and Keenan Nelson Jr., Smith slid down into that spot while Emmanwori and Kilgore stayed at safety.
On the outside, Marcellas Dial has been the number one corner, as expected, but he has given up a couple of big pass plays as well. For the most part, offenses have stayed away from him. On the other side, O’Donnell “OD” Fortune, has also been injured at times. This has put another freshman, Judge Collier, into the starting rotation. The injuries have afforded youngster Emory Floyd some snaps at corner as well.
Gray is the Way
With all of the movement, the group thought to be the strongest on the defense has yet to find its rhythm. However, there should still be optimism. These players are talented and, in some cases, proven. For those who lack experience, they have gained it in the first half of the season. Now, as the Gamecocks defense regroups on the bye week, the secondary will likely regain its strength. Health is the key here. If the top players can stay healthy, they will perform at a high enough level to keep opposing passing attacks in check.
The lack of productivity from the secondary has been unfortunate but is not a true indicator of their talent or the coaching in that area. Defensive backs coach Torian Gray is a proven commodity. He has an excellent track record at Carolina and other schools in his career. Fans should not be overly concerned in this group. The Gamecocks will get the secondary sorted out.
The Point of Attack
The secondary plays a large role in the passing defense, but so do the big guys on the line of scrimmage. The most inconsistent position for the Gamecocks defense prior to the bye week has been the defensive line. While there have been flashes of productivity from players like TJ Sanders, who may or may not be injured right now, and Boogie Huntley, this group has grossly underperformed. Opposing running backs have had massive holes to run through and the Gamecocks have only sacked opposing quarterbacks nine times. This ranks 12th in the SEC out of 14 teams.
Secondary play will improve, but if Carolina can’t get to the passer, receivers will eventually work themselves open. Defensive backs make up four of the top six tacklers on the team. A defensive lineman doesn’t show up on this list until number seven. This is a strong indicator that backs are moving past the line of scrimmage and into the second and third levels with ease.
Turnarounds Take Time
The silver lining to this glaring issue is the coaching situation. Travian Robertson is in his first season as the Gamecocks defensive line coach. He was a standout at the position for Carolina from 2007-2011. During that time, he played under one of the most accomplished D-line coaches in Gamecock history, the late Brad Lawing. Then, when Robertson was coaching at Georgia State, just a few years ago, he worked under the tutelage of Lawing once again. Lawing’s track record of developing defensive line talent has clearly been imparted to Robertson.
After Lawing left Georgia State, Robertson continued to elevate the level of play. Then, last season, Robertson coached the defensive line at Tulane. That team went 12-2 and had 21.5 sacks, including four in the Cotton Bowl against USC and Heisman Trophy Winner, Caleb Williams. Robertson has the pedigree and the passion for Carolina football to make a difference with the defensive line. Turnarounds take time and the bye week gives the Gamecocks defense just that.
Stack the Box
The linebackers were a perceived weakness for the Gamecocks heading into the season. Now, although that room has suffered injuries as well, they have not been a major liability. Although the secondary has not performed up to expectations for this Gamecock defensive unit prior to the bye week, they need to be leaned on. The defensive front will improve with time, but they lack the personnel to make major changes this year. Two weeks ago, against Mississippi State, South Carolina loaded the box and chose to shut down the run. The Bulldogs had the SEC’s leading rusher and he only gained 27 yards in the game. Proven passer, Will Rogers, torched the Gamecocks through the air for 487 yards. However, making Mississippi State one-dimensional on offense was enough for Carolina to win the game.
Then, in Week 5, the Gamecocks once again faced a run heavy team in Tennessee. The difference was that Joe Milton, the Volunteers quarterback, is not nearly the prolific passer that Rogers is. Due to the offensive spacing of Tennessee’s scheme, the Gamecocks did not stack the box and play to shut down the run. Instead, they gave a more balanced look and got gashed in the run game. This led to explosive pass plays at times, as well.
The Winning Formula
Based on the Gamecocks defense overall leading into the bye week, it is reasonable to say that selling out to stop the run while relying on defensive backs to make enough plays in the passing game is the best recipe for success for this defensive unit. Of the remaining seven opponents for the Gamecocks, at least five do not have quarterbacks who can win the game through the air if their running game is taken away.
Florida, Jacksonville State, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Clemson are all to be played at Williams-Brice. All five of these teams will need to run the ball to have success against South Carolina. None of these teams have quarterbacks who have proven to be capable of dominance through the air this season. The formula moving forward is simple. Stack the box. Stop the run. Be opportunistic with the pass. This is the path to seven plus wins for the Gamecocks defense coming out of the bye week.
Also check out Bye Week Questions for the Gamecocks Offense
