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Wes Mitchell
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** As I rewatched South Carolina's win over Georgia, it hit me that we are starting to see a South Carolina defense that is bordering on becoming exactly what it was created to be. That is to say, the actual execution of the defense in reality is close to becoming what it was designed to be, from a schematic standpoint. In other words, this looks like a Will Muschamp defense.
From a schematic standpoint, Carolina's defense is built with an emphasis on stopping the run. The Gamecocks usually have an extra defender in the box and slowing the opponent's running game is top priority. While they mix coverages between man and zone, South Carolina usually brings four or five rushers meaning there's almost always at least one safety deep and very few all-out blitzes/cover 0 calls meaning there's an emphasis on not getting beat deep and this isn't a high risk/high reward style of scheme, but more of a slightly more aggressive bend but don't break philosophy.
While the scheme has been sound since Muschamp and Co. arrived in Columbia, the execution certainly hasn't always been there as frankly Carolina did not yet have the players to run it to its full capacity. Defensive line play was subpar, meaning the opposing offensive linemen were able to get to the next level and get their hands on the linebackers, meaning the top priority of stopping the run was not met against good opponents. The secondary has been good since Muschamp arrived as far as keeping opponents from hitting the deep ball, but with subpar tackling on the underneath throws (and runs), opponents were still able to get their explosive plays from yards after the catch and yards after contact.
I point all of that out now simply to highlight the contrast in all of those areas from then until now, as we're able to see what this defense can be when its played like it's supposed to be. Again, it starts up front and South Carolina now has a defensive line that can not only hold the point of attack (the first priority) but is also becoming increasingly effective at getting into the backfield and creating negative plays too. The defensive line's ability to hold up, even against an offensive line as stout as Georgia's, and set the line of scrimmage is allowing Carolina's linebackers to play freely, attack the hole, and make plays. Those guys are now playing confident, aggressive and fast. Ernest Jones has brought new energy to that position, T.J. Brunson has found his home again at the WILL, and Sherrod Greene may be the most improved player on the team, as the move to running more 4-3 has been a revelation.
Now we get to the secondary, where there are still going to be underneath throws and seam passes hit from time to time - again, that's part of the design - but not only are opponents still not able to hit the deep, over-the-top throws, but with improved tackling from every position, those explosive plays generated from missed tackles and underneath throws are disappearing as well.
At its very best, this is a defense that wants to force offenses to earn every inch, not by selling out and blitzing while leaving itself vulnerable, but by playing physical up front and disciplined in the back end. South Carolina did that very thing against Georgia. Unlike the previous three meetings between these two teams (I use that as the sample size since it's when both Will and Kirby arrived), South Carolina forced Georgia to earn every yard it got. Consider that Georgia's running backs forced just three missed tackles in the entire game and that the longest run of the game was 14 yards (tackling was the single biggest key to the game coming into it).
Add in the final component of a Will Muschamp defense, forcing turnovers, of which the Gamecocks had four, and I think you're starting to see a defense that's taking on the personality of its maker. Perhaps most importantly, this group was resilient, didn't back down when facing adversity, and stood tall against a Top 5 opponent despite being put on the field for nearly 100 snaps. Granted, I'm primarily talking about a two-game sample size, but there's a lot to like about where this defense is headed and we're starting to see an on-field product that matches its design.
** It's probably about time we start showing some love to new defensive line coach John Scott Jr., who has both Javon Kinlaw and Kobe Smith playing the best ball of their careers and who has Rick Sandidge showing major signs of improvement midway through his sophomore year. Kinlaw was going to be a draft pick based on potential and his body type, but I think we're seeing him play his way into a first-round guy and he's the best player on this defense.
As good as the defensive line was against the run, I think the Carolina secondary deserves a ton of credit for locking down the UGA receivers long enough for the Carolina pass-rush to get there. On several occasions, Fromm was pressured, not because of an initial rush, but because the secondary took away his first read and then the defensive line, which to their credit was relentless, was able to work through their second moves and close in on Fromm.
** Ryan Hilinski, despite being a freshman, continues to show not only big-time arm talent, but grit, toughness, leadership, and all of the intangibles that are required to ultimately be an upper echelon quarterback in this league. Georgia was able to get pressure on Hilinski and delivered several big hits to him, but the freshman has a good feel for his available time in the pocket and was able to get rid of the ball just in time and also has the toughness and physical ability to deliver the football while getting hit. As much pressure as UGA did get at times, they had no sacks in the game, which is a testament to Hilinski's pocket presence. The fact that Hilinski, as a freshman, was seen on the sideline mentoring Dakereon Joyner was also impressive.
Joyner may not have put up big numbers, but you have to be impressed with the way he managed the game, despite being thrown right into the middle of a road SEC battle with a Top 5 team. Joyner, most importantly, protected the football and was able to move the chains just enough to give the defense breathers and keep the clock rolling. Joyner's quickness and escapability, even against a defense with as much speed as UGA's, was impressive and he too showed a knack for getting out of the pocket at exactly the right time. I thought we might have seen a few more quarterback run/read plays when he entered the game, but it appeared that the hamstring was still affecting Joyner's explosiveness, which, with his limited practice time, makes it all the more impressive that he was able to hang in there, given the situation.
** South Carolina's running backs continue to do the little things right and those little things are adding up to a big difference throughout the course of a game. Rico Dowdle has developed a patience to the hole as a senior that I just don't feel like was there previously. Dowdle's 3.8 yards per carry on the ground isn't that impressive in a vacuum, but this game can be graded on a curve considering that UGA was allowing around 2 yards per carry and 60 rushing yards per game entering Saturday. That was never a front that Carolina was going to be able to pound away at the way they did against Kentucky, but Carolina was able to do enough on the ground.
** Major kudos to Shi Smith for being heads up on an early tipped ball that looked destined for a Georgia defender's hands. Smith, without hesitation, attacked the football and batted it away, producing a forgettable incompletion in the box score that was nearly a gamechanging play. Also, kudos to the Carolina defense, with all of the adversity it experienced, for not only forcing a stop in the second OT, but for forcing a three and out with ZERO yards gained - which resulted in the 42-yard field goal (as opposed to a closer one) and the miss from Rodrigo Blankenship.
** If you haven't already, make sure to check out Chris Clark's sweet breakdown of South Carolina's touchdown on the out and up to Bryan Edwards. The play was perfectly executed on every level and called at a perfect time. Also, really good stuff here from photographer Chris Gillespie in his Behind the Lens take on the UGA game.
** FINAL THOUGHTS: South Carolina's 20-17 victory over Georgia on Saturday not only provided Will Muschamp the marquee win that he so needed entering this season, but also helps change the perception of the program and the trajectory of the entire 2019 season.
During the high point of the Steve Spurrier era, the South Carolina program had a consistent place in the greater college football consciousness with games that mattered in the SEC East race and games that were consistently talked about on the national college football shows like Gameday and College Football Live. At the end of the Spurrier era, the program was being talked about for much different reasons, but as Muschamp settled in and the rebuild began, the attention turned elsewhere with South Carolina rarely in the spotlight, and certainly not to the extent that it was previously. That changed on Saturday.
The Gamecocks' upset win over Georgia was the lead note on the ESPN bottom line, the most talked about football game on Twitter throughout the day, and the biggest story of the college football day, providing the type of exposure that money simply can't buy and that the program so desperately needed in a college football world that has become increasingly about the haves and the have nots. Perception is reality in the world of recruiting and the SEC is cut throat - the Gamecocks now have a clear sign of progress to point to on the trail, a win over a major border rival, and regained momentum with their committed prospects who have stuck it out even when the season looked grim.
The win serves as a reminder that, even in a world with advanced analytics and projections, that there's a reason the games are actually played and that most seasons have their share of ups, downs, and downright bombshells (this has had two already in my opinion) even when we may think we already have a team figured out.
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