The South Carolina Gamecocks might have been vulnerable to a letdown the week after their loss to Georgia, but with Hurricane Florence intervening and giving the team an unexpected off week, that particular concern should no longer apply.
By Matt Zemek
Moreover, with Vanderbilt being this Saturday’s opponent, the Gamecocks know they are playing an SEC East game, which means a lot for the team in its pursuit of a big January bowl game this season. There should be no worries about a letdown; the Gamecocks can just play and attempt to show their stuff.
Here is what South Carolina needs to focus on against the Commodores:
1 – STRENGTH VERSUS STRENGTH
The Vanderbilt defense has started seasons well before. Vanderbilt was 3-0 last year behind a secondary which reacted extremely well to the ball and broke up a number of passes on the perimeter. Injuries entered the picture, however, and VU quickly spiraled downward as the 2017 campaign progressed. As the 2018 season began, it was legitimate to wonder if Vanderbilt had lost its edge, or if good secondary play would return to the picture.
So far, it has… but not to the point where this is the unquestioned anchor of the Vanderbilt roster.
Notre Dame is sitting in the top 10, and the Notre Dame brand name will naturally lead many people to think that Vanderbilt’s near-win over the Fighting Irish in South Bend was a sign that Vanderbilt might be really good this season.
Maybe… but that view can easily be turned in the other direction.
Notre Dame struggled to beat Ball State at home the week before playing Vanderbilt. The Fighting Irish looked good in the first half of their Week 1 game against Michigan… and haven’t looked particularly good in the subsequent 10 quarters they have played – the second half against Michigan, and each of the past two full-length games against Ball State and Vanderbilt.
South Carolina should be willing to bet that if its passing game goes up against Vanderbilt’s secondary, its own strength will be stronger than the Commodores’ strength. South Carolina should be willing to trust that Vanderbilt’s close game against Notre Dame was more the product of the Irish’s weaknesses than VU’s excellence.
Throw the ball down the field. Find Deebo Samuel when he is open. Use him as a decoy to free up the field for secondary receivers on the other half of the field. Trust that Jake Bentley can make the right throw.
2 – EARLY RHYTHM
The interruption of the season means that South Carolina might not enter this game with rhythm, or at least the sure knowledge that this passing game will be precise. Therefore, while the deep ball definitely needs to become more a part of this offense in 2018, the first drive should create pass plays which establish a comfort zone for Bentley and create a foundation on which this offense can build. This is a game in which short throws will set up deeper throws later on.
3 – RETAIN TIMING
The Gamecocks beat Vanderbilt last year because they regularly scored after VU did. Vanderbilt often has the problem of giving up scores after Kyle Shurmur leads a touchdown drive. This sense of timing must remain intact for South Carolina this weekend.
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