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Wes Mitchell
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** With Appalachian State, Texas A&M and Clemson left on the 2019 schedule and the Gamecocks sitting at 4-5, it's hard to see a path to bowl eligibility that doesn't include a win over App State Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium as the Gamecocks will surely be underdogs in their final two games of the year. While South Carolina should obviously have the overall talent advantage, this is a dangerous, veteran App State team, as I'm sure you've heard and read all week long, with some dangerous playmakers on both sides of the ball.
** App State quarterback Zac Thomas, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, is the player that makes this offense go, though the Mountaineers do have plenty of skill talent around him. At 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, Thomas is in the spread quarterback mold physically and is a dual-threat guy who can both throw it and run it.
I would categorize Thomas as a pass first quarterback, and he spreads the ball around well to every area of the field and can make all the throws. He's good for a few scrambles each game and for a few designed runs, but seems more focused on using his legs to extend plays or on taking off for the sticks on third downs. In other words, he's not going to run it 15 times a game, but he does have a knack for using his legs and busted a long run against North Carolina.
While Thomas has only thrown three interceptions this season, he did appear to put the ball in danger at times, in the drives I watched, and there could be an opportunity for Carolina to turn him over.
** Thomas gets the headlines, but running back Darrynton Evans means almost as much to this App State offense. Evans, who has rushed for 803 yards this season, is clearly having a big year. He's had some huge games, including a 234-yard outing against Charlotte, but also has been held in check against some of the better run defenses App State has faced. Evans is a true workhorse type back and is going to get his carries - he's gotten 17 or more carries in eight of App's 10 games this year and rushed 14 and 15 times in the other two, respectively, which means Eliah Drinkwitz has stuck with the running game to keep opponents honest, even when the running game hasn't necessarily been there.
** Speaking of Drinkwitz, he made the decision to keep the offensive scheme very similar to the one that App State was running previously under Scott Satterfield and company and that decision seems to have paid off as App State is averaging 38.5 points per game and converting 49 percent of its first downs. This is a multiple offense that mostly operates from the shotgun and pistol but even uses some under-center stuff, usually in short yardage situations or when they want to use play-action to take deep shots. They use a mix of tempo and, as the Carolina players mentioned often on Tuesday, pre-snap motions and shifts that will force Carolina to have great eye discipline.
** While Appalachian State has the skill players, particularly on offense, to match up with South Carolina, this game, to me, comes down to the lines of scrimmage and that's where Carolina will have to find its edge.
App State has a couple of really productive defensive linemen in EJ Scott and Demetrius Taylor and has gotten solid linebacker play too, but Carolina should have a size advantage up front on both sides of the ball.
On defense, App State runs a three-man front with a true nose tackle that will be lined up directly over Donell Stanley and a standup edge rusher as their fourth rusher on most plays. This is another one of those situations where Carolina's o-line will have to communicate well and be aware as App State will bring multiple pressure looks under veteran DC Ted Roof.
App State will no doubt try to slant its linemen, bring pressure from multiple angles and try to create penetration to create negative plays (as opposed to sitting back and reading and reacting). The Gamecocks will try to use their size and strength advantage to lean on their DL and wear down the App State front as the game progresses.
In the passing game, App State does appear to play its cornerbacks off quite a bit which should open up the perimeter screen throws that the Gamecocks have lived off of his season.
It's a similar story on the other side of the ball where App State's offensive line is undersized but athletic and they try to play to that by trying to get movement with stretch plays to the outside that force defenses to stay in their gaps and set the edges well. I'd look for App State to try and cut block the Gamecocks early (that's a part of their scheme) to try and get the Carolina line playing timid. Ultimately, the Gamecocks will need a defensive line that's been a team strength this season to go win this game for them.
FINAL PREDICTION: App State has a very good, veteran football team, but the Gamecocks should have the bigger, stronger team and a night game at Williams-Brice Stadium in their favor. If the Gamecocks turn the football over and play sloppy in space, then App State can definitely leave Columbia with the win, but ultimately I believe that will be hard for them to do. South Carolina 31, App State 20.
ALSO SEE: In-depth breakdown of some of South Carolina's offensive adjustments against Vanderbilt
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