My Preview of The Game For AggieYell.com
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Mark Passwaters, Publisher at AggieYell.com on Rivals and I exchanged articles this week breaking down the game. I thought you might like to see what I had to say about South Carolina and my prediction:
Who is South Carolina in 2022?
That question is a little difficult to answer because of how diverse the schedule has been thus far. The Gamecocks have won 3 games they should have, vs. Georgia State, Charlotte, and SC State, lost two games they should have, at Arkansas and home vs. UGA, and won one in which they were underdogs, on the road at Kentucky, but UK was missing starting QB Will Levis. That said, there are a few trends that have begun to emerge throughout the 2022 season that I think Aggies fans can count on. On offense, the Gamecocks are going to attempt to establish the run with the uber-athletic former 5-star RB MarShawn Lloyd and use JuJu McDowell as a change of pace. The gameplan has shifted from counting on QB Spencer Rattler to carry them, which they attempted vs. Arkansas and UGA, to taking some pressure off him, and allowing him to make timely throws when necessary. On defense, DC Clayton White will continue to dial up pressure, as they plan a bend but don’t break style and try to create turnovers. Though most other teams may think of Special Teams as an afterthought, the Gamecocks try to use the 3rd side of the ball as a difference-maker, and already lead the nation in blocked punts with 5. Kicker Mitch Jeter is also yet to miss a FG, and they have an explosive punt returner in Josh Vann. It’s unclear yet if the Gamecocks can consistently compete with average to above-average teams, but they certainly feel more confident heading into this bout vs. A&M after winning 3 straight and having a BYE week to prepare.
How does the offense stack up against the Aggies' defense?
I expect in many ways this will be the story of the game. The Aggies have played some tough offenses thus far, and South Carolina won’t stack up with the Alabamas of the world, even though the Crimson Tide were missing their starting QB. That said, if there is a weakness statistically, it would seem the Aggies have somewhat struggled against the run, giving up an average of 189.8 YPG. If South Carolina can get it going on the ground with MarShawn Lloyd and company, that will open up the rest of the offense. I expect OC Marcus Satterfield to attempt to establish the run, and then throw some play action in if they find success. If the run is stifled early, look for the Gamecocks to attempt to attack the edges in the screen game with several receiving options, led by JMU Transfer Antwane Wells Jr. who scored from 43 yards out on a screen vs. Kentucky. They’ll also attempt to get TE Jaheim Bell into mismatches with LBs or one-on-one situations on the outside.
The way the Aggies dominate this game on defense is by forcing Spencer Rattler to beat them consistently down the field, something he has struggled with throughout this season. When playing from behind, Rattler tends to press and make mistakes, already throwing 8 INTs through the first half of the season. When South Carolina has been able to establish the run and take some pressure off, he’s proven he can hit NFL-caliber throws all over the field and keep drives moving through timely conversions. It will be interesting to see which version of Rattler shows up in this one.
How does the defense stack up against the Aggies’ offense?
Obviously, a big question here is who will be starting at QB for Texas A&M. Regardless of if it’s Haynes King or Conner Weigman, the Gamecocks will have to keep contain and make them beat the defense with their arm. The bigger concern will be containing RB Devon Achane who is averaging 5.4 YPC. Early in the season, South Carolina was shredded by Arkansas’ run game to the tune of nearly 300 yards. If this game follows that script, it is tough to see them competing. However, against Kentucky, while Chris Rodriguez still got his, especially in the first half, the defense was able to do enough on early downs in key spots to force the Wildcats into 3rd and long situations, and the veteran D-Line of South Carolina, led by former 5-stars Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens, were able to create sacks and turnovers. South Carolina will have to find ways to put the Aggies behind the chains and dial up some pressure to create some anxiety for whoever is playing QB in a hostile road environment at night. I honestly will be surprised if either offense has an exceptional amount of success on Saturday, but both will probably create a few big plays. The question is who creates more and when?
Keys for a South Carolina win?
Start fast: The Gamecocks have been struggling throughout the Shane Beamer era thus far to start fast in big games. I believe points will be at a premium on Saturday and South Carolina can’t afford to fall behind early and make Spencer Rattler throw it 50 times to try to come back.Win the turnover battle: South Carolina has had a knack for creating turnovers the last several weeks on defense and special teams, but they’ve also struggled on offense with turnovers themselves. While they’ve created 9 turnovers on the season, they’ve given up the ball 15 times already. The Gamecocks will need to continue to create opportunities while protecting the ball better to win this one.Run the ball: So far this season it’s been pretty clear: when South Carolina is successful running the ball, they usually win, and when they are not, they have lost. It would seem that the OL has gotten its act together after a slow start, but they haven’t faced a challenge like the Aggies’ DL since Week 3 vs UGA. This will be a good check-in to see if the progress is fool's gold or not.
Prediction
SC 24 - A&M 21
I don’t think I can properly justify the Gamecocks breaking their 8 game losing streak to Texas A&M because I’m not sure either fanbase is too sure which version of their team will show up. Will the Aggies get the version that closely lost to Bama on the road or the version that lost to App. State or by 18 to Miss. State? Will South Carolina get the version that was blown out by UGA and played poorly at Arkansas, or will they get the version that showed up in Lexington, KY last week?
The reason I’m picking the upset is that South Carolina gets the luxury of being at home, in front of a rowdy crowd, and I think some of their strengths on offense match up better with Texas A&M’s defense than the Aggies’ strengths on offense match up with South Carolina’s defense. That said, I don’t expect either offense to pull away, and it’ll be a dogfight throughout. It won’t surprise me if a timely turnover decides this one in the 4th quarter.
Who is South Carolina in 2022?
That question is a little difficult to answer because of how diverse the schedule has been thus far. The Gamecocks have won 3 games they should have, vs. Georgia State, Charlotte, and SC State, lost two games they should have, at Arkansas and home vs. UGA, and won one in which they were underdogs, on the road at Kentucky, but UK was missing starting QB Will Levis. That said, there are a few trends that have begun to emerge throughout the 2022 season that I think Aggies fans can count on. On offense, the Gamecocks are going to attempt to establish the run with the uber-athletic former 5-star RB MarShawn Lloyd and use JuJu McDowell as a change of pace. The gameplan has shifted from counting on QB Spencer Rattler to carry them, which they attempted vs. Arkansas and UGA, to taking some pressure off him, and allowing him to make timely throws when necessary. On defense, DC Clayton White will continue to dial up pressure, as they plan a bend but don’t break style and try to create turnovers. Though most other teams may think of Special Teams as an afterthought, the Gamecocks try to use the 3rd side of the ball as a difference-maker, and already lead the nation in blocked punts with 5. Kicker Mitch Jeter is also yet to miss a FG, and they have an explosive punt returner in Josh Vann. It’s unclear yet if the Gamecocks can consistently compete with average to above-average teams, but they certainly feel more confident heading into this bout vs. A&M after winning 3 straight and having a BYE week to prepare.
How does the offense stack up against the Aggies' defense?
I expect in many ways this will be the story of the game. The Aggies have played some tough offenses thus far, and South Carolina won’t stack up with the Alabamas of the world, even though the Crimson Tide were missing their starting QB. That said, if there is a weakness statistically, it would seem the Aggies have somewhat struggled against the run, giving up an average of 189.8 YPG. If South Carolina can get it going on the ground with MarShawn Lloyd and company, that will open up the rest of the offense. I expect OC Marcus Satterfield to attempt to establish the run, and then throw some play action in if they find success. If the run is stifled early, look for the Gamecocks to attempt to attack the edges in the screen game with several receiving options, led by JMU Transfer Antwane Wells Jr. who scored from 43 yards out on a screen vs. Kentucky. They’ll also attempt to get TE Jaheim Bell into mismatches with LBs or one-on-one situations on the outside.
The way the Aggies dominate this game on defense is by forcing Spencer Rattler to beat them consistently down the field, something he has struggled with throughout this season. When playing from behind, Rattler tends to press and make mistakes, already throwing 8 INTs through the first half of the season. When South Carolina has been able to establish the run and take some pressure off, he’s proven he can hit NFL-caliber throws all over the field and keep drives moving through timely conversions. It will be interesting to see which version of Rattler shows up in this one.
How does the defense stack up against the Aggies’ offense?
Obviously, a big question here is who will be starting at QB for Texas A&M. Regardless of if it’s Haynes King or Conner Weigman, the Gamecocks will have to keep contain and make them beat the defense with their arm. The bigger concern will be containing RB Devon Achane who is averaging 5.4 YPC. Early in the season, South Carolina was shredded by Arkansas’ run game to the tune of nearly 300 yards. If this game follows that script, it is tough to see them competing. However, against Kentucky, while Chris Rodriguez still got his, especially in the first half, the defense was able to do enough on early downs in key spots to force the Wildcats into 3rd and long situations, and the veteran D-Line of South Carolina, led by former 5-stars Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens, were able to create sacks and turnovers. South Carolina will have to find ways to put the Aggies behind the chains and dial up some pressure to create some anxiety for whoever is playing QB in a hostile road environment at night. I honestly will be surprised if either offense has an exceptional amount of success on Saturday, but both will probably create a few big plays. The question is who creates more and when?
Keys for a South Carolina win?
Start fast: The Gamecocks have been struggling throughout the Shane Beamer era thus far to start fast in big games. I believe points will be at a premium on Saturday and South Carolina can’t afford to fall behind early and make Spencer Rattler throw it 50 times to try to come back.Win the turnover battle: South Carolina has had a knack for creating turnovers the last several weeks on defense and special teams, but they’ve also struggled on offense with turnovers themselves. While they’ve created 9 turnovers on the season, they’ve given up the ball 15 times already. The Gamecocks will need to continue to create opportunities while protecting the ball better to win this one.Run the ball: So far this season it’s been pretty clear: when South Carolina is successful running the ball, they usually win, and when they are not, they have lost. It would seem that the OL has gotten its act together after a slow start, but they haven’t faced a challenge like the Aggies’ DL since Week 3 vs UGA. This will be a good check-in to see if the progress is fool's gold or not.
Prediction
SC 24 - A&M 21
I don’t think I can properly justify the Gamecocks breaking their 8 game losing streak to Texas A&M because I’m not sure either fanbase is too sure which version of their team will show up. Will the Aggies get the version that closely lost to Bama on the road or the version that lost to App. State or by 18 to Miss. State? Will South Carolina get the version that was blown out by UGA and played poorly at Arkansas, or will they get the version that showed up in Lexington, KY last week?
The reason I’m picking the upset is that South Carolina gets the luxury of being at home, in front of a rowdy crowd, and I think some of their strengths on offense match up better with Texas A&M’s defense than the Aggies’ strengths on offense match up with South Carolina’s defense. That said, I don’t expect either offense to pull away, and it’ll be a dogfight throughout. It won’t surprise me if a timely turnover decides this one in the 4th quarter.
