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*** In assessing Carolina's Saturday loss in College Station, we'll focus more on the big picture. Simply put, the Gamecocks couldn't manage anything offensively against the Aggies, who also ran the ball at will against South Carolina and created a long special teams score on a punt return.
Yes, there are some angles to dive into here - should/will Jason Brown play more at quarterback? Should Debo Williams and Mo Kaba, who saw their most extensive action at linebacker this season, get more run there? We'll talk about those later, but not now.
There were not a lot of positives to take away here until later in the contest (when the game was out of hand), if you're digging. There are, however, plenty of things to discuss in a zoom-out view.
** First, let's take a closer look at - aside from the eye test - some statistics that paint an ugly picture of what's happened on that side of the football through eight games this season.
- For the second SEC game this season, the Gamecocks were down over 30 points in the first half before scoring.
- Eastern Illinois is the only team that South Carolina's posted a season-high opponent offensive score on, and the Panthers are a 1-7 FCS team.
East Carolina has given up at least 28 points to every team it has played this season, save for UCF. Charleston Southern scored 28 against the Pirates in a loss. Carolina won the game (and CSU didn't), but scored 20 points.
Staggeringly, Carolina and Kentucky are tied for the season high in opponent output against Georgia, at 13 points a piece.
USC had the lowest SEC offensive output against Kentucky this season, and is tied for the lowest overall (ULM also scored 10 against the Wildcats).
-South Carolina scored 23 points against Troy in a win earlier this season, with 7 of those coming on a pick-six by nickel David Spaulding. Louisiana-Monroe put up 29 on Troy in a win, and despite Troy winning against Georgia Southern and Texas State, both those teams put up 27 and 28, respectively, against the Trojans.
-Only Bowling Green - out of FBS teams - scored less points than Carolina did against Tennessee.
South Carolina and Colorado State (21 points a piece) are tied for the season low in opponent score against Vanderbilt. The Dores have given up 62 (Georgia), 42 (Florida), and 45 (Mississippi State) in their other SEC contests. East Tennessee State scored 23 against Vandy, and UConn scored 30.
The Gamecocks are tied with Missouri for the lowest SEC opponent offensive output this season against Texas A&M.
- In the Tennessee game, Payton Mangrum was South Carolina's leading receiver in terms of receiving yards, and those 44 yards came on a single play - a fake punt.
- With 2:23 left in the third quarter of the Texas A&M game, South Carolina's offense had six total yards.
- Carolina is 102nd nationally in rushing yardage as well as first downs on offense, tied for 119th in penalties per game, tied for 112th in total yardage, and 112th in scoring offense.
There are others, but we can stop there. Again, not a pretty picture.
*** As for Shane Beamer's comments about the staff in the aftermath of the game, may we suggest not getting too bent out of shape - or using what he said as a prediction for how he'll ultimately handle the situation- by the head coach staying away from a scorched earth approach during a press conference.
Yes, Beamer said his confidence level was "fine" and that there was "no thought" to shifting play calling responsibilities. He also pointed to giving up a special teams score and to some big defensive issues. Absolutely nothing about that is surprising, given the setting.
Beamer's pointed out more than once that there are 4 games left in the 2021 season. If he hasn't made any moves to this point, while there's not hard information on this to date, odds wouldn't seem to favor him doing so before the year is over.
Either way, what he says in a press conference doesn't dictate what he may decide to do after assessing things after the season has wrapped. Although significant improvement will be needed - and multiple upsets would need to happen, most likely - for this team to make it to a bowl game, that is something that is still on the table. How Beamer handles the rest of the season, in other words, may not be indicative of what he opts to do on a long-term basis.
*** Regardless of scheme and development, we knew heading into the Shane Beamer era that recruiting would be paramount.
Of course, there is still talent on this roster left from the Will Muschamp era, but it's also very true that more difference-makers are needed.
And that's where there's impactful carryover as to how Shane Beamer chooses to handle his staff going forward.
We have talked plenty in the past about how Beamer's "first class", the 2021 group, was built under literally unprecedented circumstances. A new coach, stepping in during a pandemic that wiped out any opportunity to host or visit the prospects you're trying to recruit, while putting together a staff (and recruiting) in the midst of bowl prep for a game that didn't ultimately happen.
Even the 2022 class has been put together on relatively shorter notice, with camps and in-person visits only returning this summer. There are some quality players in the 2022 class, guys that are going to help early. Significant targets that South Carolina needs to land - Antonio Williams, anyone? - also remain in play.
We have mentioned numerous times that the 2023 class has really been the one that South Carolina's staff has been building toward, as its provided the most opportunity for Beamer to lay the groundwork and build relationships with prospects and those close to them.
The Gamecocks had a hot streak in the summer that led to a flurry of commitments, and indeed there are some players that figure to help out as soon as next season.
There are also some significant questions and needs remaining in the class. South Carolina's momentum has stalled on the trail; part of that is numbers and timing, but there's no doubt the program doesn't have as much "juice" as it could with a better showing in some areas this season - actual win/loss record aside.
When a new staff comes together and there are roster needs, it's easy to point to playing time and hope of future accomplishments. Without some tangible progress or more to point to than what we've seen so far this season, that becomes a more difficult proposition.
Add in this: the programs that the Gamecocks will be recruiting against - programs they need to win some battles for - are established, productive, and have well-defined identities on all sides of the ball. South Carolina needs to get on that track fast.
*** Beamer mentioned during his Sunday teleconference that he would be out on the road recruiting on Monday, then again later in the week.
We can tell you that Beamer will be checking in on a pair of priority defensive line targets from Georgia from the 2023 class, those being Warner-Robins product Victor Burley and Tattnall Square's Zavion Hardy.
Post Up Careers can guide you through this process with their customized resume services. Get personalized coaching to up your game in the job market with Post Up Careers, a company whose mission is to help you navigate all aspects of your career: resume writing, interview preparation, LinkedIn optimization, and much more. Make your talents stand out with the help of a company owned by a lifelong Carolina fan and alumnus – visit PostUpCareers.com or email franklin@postupcareers.com today.
*********
*** In assessing Carolina's Saturday loss in College Station, we'll focus more on the big picture. Simply put, the Gamecocks couldn't manage anything offensively against the Aggies, who also ran the ball at will against South Carolina and created a long special teams score on a punt return.
Yes, there are some angles to dive into here - should/will Jason Brown play more at quarterback? Should Debo Williams and Mo Kaba, who saw their most extensive action at linebacker this season, get more run there? We'll talk about those later, but not now.
There were not a lot of positives to take away here until later in the contest (when the game was out of hand), if you're digging. There are, however, plenty of things to discuss in a zoom-out view.
** First, let's take a closer look at - aside from the eye test - some statistics that paint an ugly picture of what's happened on that side of the football through eight games this season.
- For the second SEC game this season, the Gamecocks were down over 30 points in the first half before scoring.
- Eastern Illinois is the only team that South Carolina's posted a season-high opponent offensive score on, and the Panthers are a 1-7 FCS team.
East Carolina has given up at least 28 points to every team it has played this season, save for UCF. Charleston Southern scored 28 against the Pirates in a loss. Carolina won the game (and CSU didn't), but scored 20 points.
Staggeringly, Carolina and Kentucky are tied for the season high in opponent output against Georgia, at 13 points a piece.
USC had the lowest SEC offensive output against Kentucky this season, and is tied for the lowest overall (ULM also scored 10 against the Wildcats).
-South Carolina scored 23 points against Troy in a win earlier this season, with 7 of those coming on a pick-six by nickel David Spaulding. Louisiana-Monroe put up 29 on Troy in a win, and despite Troy winning against Georgia Southern and Texas State, both those teams put up 27 and 28, respectively, against the Trojans.
-Only Bowling Green - out of FBS teams - scored less points than Carolina did against Tennessee.
South Carolina and Colorado State (21 points a piece) are tied for the season low in opponent score against Vanderbilt. The Dores have given up 62 (Georgia), 42 (Florida), and 45 (Mississippi State) in their other SEC contests. East Tennessee State scored 23 against Vandy, and UConn scored 30.
The Gamecocks are tied with Missouri for the lowest SEC opponent offensive output this season against Texas A&M.
- In the Tennessee game, Payton Mangrum was South Carolina's leading receiver in terms of receiving yards, and those 44 yards came on a single play - a fake punt.
- With 2:23 left in the third quarter of the Texas A&M game, South Carolina's offense had six total yards.
- Carolina is 102nd nationally in rushing yardage as well as first downs on offense, tied for 119th in penalties per game, tied for 112th in total yardage, and 112th in scoring offense.
There are others, but we can stop there. Again, not a pretty picture.
*** As for Shane Beamer's comments about the staff in the aftermath of the game, may we suggest not getting too bent out of shape - or using what he said as a prediction for how he'll ultimately handle the situation- by the head coach staying away from a scorched earth approach during a press conference.
Yes, Beamer said his confidence level was "fine" and that there was "no thought" to shifting play calling responsibilities. He also pointed to giving up a special teams score and to some big defensive issues. Absolutely nothing about that is surprising, given the setting.
Beamer's pointed out more than once that there are 4 games left in the 2021 season. If he hasn't made any moves to this point, while there's not hard information on this to date, odds wouldn't seem to favor him doing so before the year is over.
Either way, what he says in a press conference doesn't dictate what he may decide to do after assessing things after the season has wrapped. Although significant improvement will be needed - and multiple upsets would need to happen, most likely - for this team to make it to a bowl game, that is something that is still on the table. How Beamer handles the rest of the season, in other words, may not be indicative of what he opts to do on a long-term basis.
*** Regardless of scheme and development, we knew heading into the Shane Beamer era that recruiting would be paramount.
Of course, there is still talent on this roster left from the Will Muschamp era, but it's also very true that more difference-makers are needed.
And that's where there's impactful carryover as to how Shane Beamer chooses to handle his staff going forward.
We have talked plenty in the past about how Beamer's "first class", the 2021 group, was built under literally unprecedented circumstances. A new coach, stepping in during a pandemic that wiped out any opportunity to host or visit the prospects you're trying to recruit, while putting together a staff (and recruiting) in the midst of bowl prep for a game that didn't ultimately happen.
Even the 2022 class has been put together on relatively shorter notice, with camps and in-person visits only returning this summer. There are some quality players in the 2022 class, guys that are going to help early. Significant targets that South Carolina needs to land - Antonio Williams, anyone? - also remain in play.
We have mentioned numerous times that the 2023 class has really been the one that South Carolina's staff has been building toward, as its provided the most opportunity for Beamer to lay the groundwork and build relationships with prospects and those close to them.
The Gamecocks had a hot streak in the summer that led to a flurry of commitments, and indeed there are some players that figure to help out as soon as next season.
There are also some significant questions and needs remaining in the class. South Carolina's momentum has stalled on the trail; part of that is numbers and timing, but there's no doubt the program doesn't have as much "juice" as it could with a better showing in some areas this season - actual win/loss record aside.
When a new staff comes together and there are roster needs, it's easy to point to playing time and hope of future accomplishments. Without some tangible progress or more to point to than what we've seen so far this season, that becomes a more difficult proposition.
Add in this: the programs that the Gamecocks will be recruiting against - programs they need to win some battles for - are established, productive, and have well-defined identities on all sides of the ball. South Carolina needs to get on that track fast.
*** Beamer mentioned during his Sunday teleconference that he would be out on the road recruiting on Monday, then again later in the week.
We can tell you that Beamer will be checking in on a pair of priority defensive line targets from Georgia from the 2023 class, those being Warner-Robins product Victor Burley and Tattnall Square's Zavion Hardy.
