{"id":3299,"date":"2016-11-03T19:38:46","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T23:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/?p=3299"},"modified":"2017-05-22T00:02:36","modified_gmt":"2017-05-22T04:02:36","slug":"3299","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2016\/11\/03\/3299\/","title":{"rendered":"Gamecocks Must Handle Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the struggles of the 2015 season, and a less than ideal start to this year, the South Carolina Gamecocks<\/strong> were headed in the wrong direction. Head Coach Will Muschamp<\/a>\u2019s<\/strong> team will now need to prove they can handle a taste of success. The Gamecocks season has taken quite a turn in the last three weeks. South Carolina headed into their bye week at 2-4 and riding a three game losing streak. While they had fought hard and made things tough on opponents, they were not making enough plays to win. After six games Muschamp\u2019s team was dead last in the nation in scoring offense. The defense was improved but not without its own issues. Now, with a big win over a ranked team, the Gamecocks must handle success.<\/p>\n

Break Out The Bentley<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

While Quarterback play was certainly not the only issue the Gamecocks faced, inconsistency behind center was a major issue. Muschamp and Offensive Coordinator Kurt Roper<\/strong> decided to pull the redshirt off freshman Jake Bentley<\/a> <\/strong>during the bye week.\u00a0<\/strong>Fans of the garnet and black were both skeptical and excited by this decision.\u00a0 It was a balance between the potential of a young, talented quarterback and wasting a year of eligibility on what looked to be a lost season.<\/p>\n

South Carolina has now won back-to-back games and is in solid position to reach a bowl game.\u00a0Bentley looks to be the Gamecocks answer behind center, and most arguments over wasting a year by pulling his redshirt have quieted down.\u00a0The freshman\u00a0has been efficient and poised in his two games of action, accounting for 368 yards, 4 touchdowns, and completing 69% of his passes. He is also yet to turn the ball over in his short tenure as the starting quarterback. For a team that was struggling with depth on defense and scoring on offense, maintaining possession\u00a0of the ball is vital. While Bentley has not been overwhelmingly brilliant and the other quarterbacks, Perry Orth<\/a><\/strong> and Brandon McIlwain<\/strong>, were not completely terrible, this is a results-oriented business. Bentley has sparked an otherwise stagnant offense, and is 2-0 as the starter.<\/p>\n

Getting Healthy Playmakers<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

South Carolina\u2019s offensive improvement can be attributed as much to the return of healthy playmakers as to the new starter under center. Sophomore wide out Deebo Samuel<\/a><\/strong> has been very impressive since returning from a lingering hamstring problem. He had eight receptions for 156 yards while playing in only three of the first six games. Samuel has eight catches in each of the last two ball games, totaling 189 yards.<\/p>\n

Freshman receiver Bryan Edwards<\/a><\/strong> has also missed some time due to injury this year, but has come back healthy after the bye. After starting the season with eight catches and 101 yards in the opener at Vanderbilt, Edwards had seen his production drop drastically. He has started to pick it back up though with two touchdowns in the last two weeks. He is still showcasing his hands and athletic ability, making at least one spectacular catch per game look routine. Tight ends Hayden Hurst<\/a><\/strong> and K. C. Crosby<\/strong> have been the only pass catchers available all year. Both have emerged as solid options, and the tight ends have been a strength of the team all season long.<\/p>\n

Committee of One<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the year began, the Gamecocks didn\u2019t know who their main ball carrier would be. The thought was that they would use a running-back-by-committee system. Early in the season it was a combination of junior David Williams<\/a><\/strong> and redshirt freshman A.J. Turner<\/a><\/strong>. While both players had some good moments,\u00a0neither could find consistent running room. Creating their own space by making guys miss has not been happened as\u00a0often as needed. Enter true freshman Rico Dowdle<\/a><\/strong>. Since his return from injury, he has galvanized the South Carolina rushing attack. After jumping in the rotation for the Texas A&M<\/strong> and Georgia<\/strong> games, he has made the position all his over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n

After a solid outing in his first start versus Massachusetts, Dowdle had his first career 100 yard performance in the upset of Tennessee<\/strong> last Saturday. He has shown an ability to gain a few yards when it looks like none are there.\u00a0His tough running and vision were sorely missed the first four games. Williams and Turner are still getting their opportunities, but Dowdle has certainly made the running back position a committee of one.<\/p>\n

Name\u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carries – \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yards – \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Avg – \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TDs<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

A.J. Turner \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 75 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 328 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04.4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02<\/p>\n

Rico Dowdle \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a059 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0291 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.9 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3<\/p>\n

David Williams \u00a0 \u00a041 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0186 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.5 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gamecocks Must Handle Success<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

When the Gamecocks left the field\u00a0at Kentucky<\/strong> after a disappointing 17-10 loss to the Wildcats, the outlook was bleak. Most fans and pundits alike thought any chance at getting to 6 wins and bowl eligibility was lost. South Carolina was almost certainly going to have to upset a team to have a chance at six wins. The garnet and black got their upset\u00a0this past weekend. This young team’s ability to handle\u00a0a taste of success\u00a0will be a key moving forward. After hearing for most of the year that this is a lost season and a rebuilding year, now they have to figure out how to deal with being a favored team.<\/p>\n

“We haven’t arrived, but this is a big win for out team.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“We haven’t arrived, but this is a big win for out team.”<\/em> Coach Will Muschamp<\/a> said after the win over Tennessee on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

At 4-4 (2-4 in SEC play) there is still very little margin for error. Coach Muschamp\u2019s squad has two home games remaining — against Missouri and Western Carolina — and will be favored in both contests. The other two ballgames will be on the road in two of the toughest environments in college football. South\u00a0Carolina\u00a0visits The Swamp<\/strong> versus the Florida Gators<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0travels to Clemson<\/strong>\u00a0to face the hated instate rival. Wins will be tough to come by in those two road games.\u00a0It is imperative that the Gamecocks stay focused and win their two remaining home games.<\/p>\n

Missouri has not looked good in its SEC games this year and was already one of the teams that South Carolina matched-up well against. The offense has improved over the last two weeks and South Carolina should be able to pick up two home wins. It will not be easy though.<\/p>\n

Staying Focused<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

One of the oldest traditions in college football is for a team to get a big win, then follow it up with a lackluster performance the next week. The Gamecocks will need to avoid this trap.\u00a0 The team\u00a0must come out this Saturday with the same effort and intensity that led to the upset over the 18th-ranked Volunteers. Coach Muschamp will need his guys fully focused on playing their best. A letdown now\u00a0could cancel out the progress the team has made since the bye week.\u00a0A stumble against Missouri or Western Carolina would fumble the momentum from their recent win against Tennessee.<\/p>\n

This young team will need to maintain its focus to handle its first taste of success. South Carolina plays the most true freshman in the nation. Keeping these young men\u00a0grounded after such a big win will be key. This group can now transition from a young team looking to improve, to one looking to achieve.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n