Good Jobs Were Done by Asst. Head Coach & Special Teams Coord Pete Lembo and Defensive Coordinator Clayton White

[gamecock stock]

Lembo came in with a reputation as one of the very best Special Teams coaches in the nation. It showed this season. Out of 130 teams, we finished:
tied for 9th in Blocked Kicks
having 0 of our own kicks blocked
tied for 7th in Blocked Punts
having 0 of our own punts blocked
25th in Kickoff Return Defense
25th in Kickoff Returns
52nd in Net Punting

Clayton White had been Defensive Coordinator at Western Kentucky from 2017-20. 3 of his 4 defensive units finished among the Top 50 in the nation. The last two finished in in the Top 30. His first South Carolina defense finished:
41st in Total Defense
46th in Scoring Defense
tied for 7th in Defensive touchdowns.

In the bowl game against North Carolina, White's defense limited North Carolina to 21 points. North Carolina came into that game with the 9th ranked offense in the nation, averaging 36 points per game.

Good jobs done by Lembo and White. They deserve pay raises and contract extensions. I can't say enough about what good of a job Beamer did in those two hires.

 

[viennacocks]

Need to work on punt returns. Pretty weak in that area.

 

[gamecock stock]

Need to work on punt returns. Pretty weak in that area.

Agree. Other than that, our ST did well. I trust that punt returns will be worked on in the Spring.

 

[JGH 35]

The defense needs a lot of work as well. They were not ready to play ball in almost every game. 7 of our opponents scored on their first possession, including ECU and Vanderbilt with ECU scoring on its very first play. The defense looked putrid against Georgia, aTm, Tenn, and clemsux allowing total blowouts. They also looked bad against Mizzou. A lot of improvement needs to be made for this team to be competitive.

 

[gamecockengineer2011]

The defense needs a lot of work as well. They were not ready to play ball in almost every game. 7 of our opponents scored on their first possession, including ECU and Vanderbilt with ECU scoring on its very first play. The defense looked putrid against Georgia, aTm, Tenn, and clemsux allowing total blowouts. They also looked bad against Mizzou. A lot of improvement needs to be made for this team to be competitive.

To be fair against the offense didnt help much against those teams.

 

[Flameout12]

The defense needs a lot of work as well.

In all fairness....but didn't we have most of our key DBs leave?
And how does it stack up nationally compared to 2020?

 

[NatChampsBak-Bak]

Massey Power Ratings: Total Defense: 2020….#50….Points allowed pg..36……………………2021….Total Def: #36……..Pts APG…24. A lot of improvement WAS made… &….we all know a lot more of improvement IMHO WILL be made!

 

[gamecock stock]

To be fair against the offense didnt help much against those teams.

BINGO. I can only imagine how much better our defense would have been if the offense had not been so pathetic.

 

[gamecock stock]

The defense needs a lot of work as well. They were not ready to play ball in almost every game. 7 of our opponents scored on their first possession, including ECU and Vanderbilt with ECU scoring on its very first play. The defense looked putrid against Georgia, aTm, Tenn, and clemsux allowing total blowouts. They also looked bad against Mizzou. A lot of improvement needs to be made for this team to be competitive.

I don't look at how they did on one series of plays. I'm looking at how the defense did as a whole.

I agree that the defense did not play well in the Missouri game, that we had a chance to win. But, they more than made up for that by keeping us in the game to beat East Carolina, Troy, Vanderbilt and Auburn.......all games that the offense stunk up the place. And they limited nationally-ranked Kentucky to 16 points in our loss to the Wildcats.

Are there things that we can improve on in our special teams and defense? Sure. There are few teams in the nation that don't have areas to improve in. But, overall, I find it hard to be displeased with either units. Now, the offense.... that's a different story.

 

[JayWillUSC]

The defense needs a lot of work as well. They were not ready to play ball in almost every game. 7 of our opponents scored on their first possession, including ECU and Vanderbilt with ECU scoring on its very first play. The defense looked putrid against Georgia, aTm, Tenn, and clemsux allowing total blowouts. They also looked bad against Mizzou. A lot of improvement needs to be made for this team to be competitive.

He isn't wrong the defense does need a lot of work, but the improved performance from last year is huge. The defense had more talent and more support from the offense last year but looked night and day different this season. UGA TAMU and Clemson have more talent on their rosters and it showed. Tenn was a match up nightmare due to the up tempo. This 2021 defense looked better fundamentally, systematically, and flat out had more heart... So lets get the talent here and have them buy in and we could have something to be proud of. Last thing is Offense is so far ahead of Defense right now so elite offense will only be slowed down not shut down.

 

[chief2791]

Lembo came in with a reputation as one of the very best Special Teams coaches in the nation. It showed this season. Out of 130 teams, we finished:
tied for 9th in Blocked Kicks
having 0 of our own kicks blocked
tied for 7th in Blocked Punts
having 0 of our own punts blocked
25th in Kickoff Return Defense
25th in Kickoff Returns
52nd in Net Punting

Clayton White had been Defensive Coordinator at Western Kentucky from 2017-20. 3 of his 4 defensive units finished among the Top 50 in the nation. The last two finished in in the Top 30. His first South Carolina defense finished:
41st in Total Defense
46th in Scoring Defense
tied for 7th in Defensive touchdowns.

In the bowl game against North Carolina, White's defense limited North Carolina to 21 points. North Carolina came into that game with the 9th ranked offense in the nation, averaging 36 points per game.

Good jobs done by Lembo and White. They deserve pay raises and contract extensions. I can't say enough about what good of a job Beamer did in those two hires.

Totally agree! Now do offense for those of us that are nothing but howling monkeys throwing feces

 

[Flameout12]

Last thing is Offense is so far ahead of Defense right now so elite offense will only be slowed down not shut down.

This is how it is these days. Maybe an elite team like 'Bama is an exception.

 

[gamecock stock]

Totally agree! Now do offense for those of us that are nothing but howling monkeys throwing feces

You mean to tell me that being 111th in Total Offense does not make your heart beat wildly?😉

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

I don't look at how they did on one series of plays. I'm looking at how the defense did as a whole.

I agree that the defense did not play well in the Missouri game, that we had a chance to win. But, they more than made up for that by keeping us in the game to beat East Carolina, Troy, Vanderbilt and Auburn.......all games that the offense stunk up the place. And they limited nationally-ranked Kentucky to 16 points in our loss to the Wildcats.

Are there things that we can improve on in our special teams and defense? Sure. There are few teams in the nation that don't have areas to improve in. But, overall, I find it hard to be displeased with either units. Now, the offense.... that's a different story.

Scoring 21 points on Auburn is not "stinking it up". In fact, I'd say it was a pretty good job considering our QB situation.

It's like our fans think that unless we score 40 points a game, the offense is garbage. Idiotic.

 

[gamecock stock]

Scoring 21 points on Auburn is not "stinking it up". In fact, I'd say it was a pretty good job considering our QB situation.

It's like our fans think that unless we score 40 points a game, the offense is garbage. Idiotic.

I'm not one of those fans you are referring to. I would like to see us score 30 points per game. Then we have a chance to win. I praise when I can as I've demonstrated here re: Lembo and White. College football is an offensive friendly game. Everybody knows that. 20 points is nearly a "given" these days. "Stunk" is harsh word for the Auburn game, considering the opposition but, certainly not the others. And certainly not for the season as a whole with a pitiful 111th Total Offense ranking. "Mediocre" probably is a better description of the offense in that game as our Total Offense in that game was less than the average that Auburn gave up coming into that game. And the number of points we did score was 6th among Auburn's 9 FBS opponents. It was what it was.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

I'm not one of those fans you are referring to. I would like to see us score 30 points per game. Then we have a chance to win. I praise when I can as I've demonstrated here re: Lembo and White. College football is an offensive friendly game. Everybody knows that. 20 points is nearly a "given" these days. "Stunk" is harsh word for the Auburn game, considering the opposition but, certainly not the others. And certainly not for the season as a whole with a pitiful 111th Total Offense ranking. "Mediocre" probably is a better description of the offense in that game as our Total Offense in that game was less than the average that Auburn gave up coming into that game. And the number of points we did score was 6th among Auburn's 9 FBS opponents. It was what it was.

The offensive staff did a good job against Auburn. They were 27th in the nation in score defense with an unbelievably tough schedule. Put 21 on that defense with the QB issues we had was a credit to this staff. And 20 points is not a "given" with the qb issues we had. Ask offensive genius Lane Kiffin about that.

Not sure why people can't acknowledge the catastrophic issues at QB and accept that this offensive staff did a good job keeping us from being a 4 win or less team like 2 years ago. This could have, and likely would have, gone REALLY bad in the past.

 

[gamecock stock]

The offensive staff did a good job against Auburn. They were 27th in the nation in score defense with an unbelievably tough schedule. Put 21 on that defense with the QB issues we had was a credit to this staff. And 20 points is not a "given" with the qb issues we had. Ask offensive genius Lane Kiffin about that.

Not sure why people can't acknowledge the catastrophic issues at QB and accept that this offensive staff did a good job keeping us from being a 4 win or less team like 2 years ago. This could have, and likely would have, gone REALLY bad in the past.

Trust me, I hope you are right. What concerns me is that Satterfield, in 4 seasons as an OC, has never produced a good offense. NEVER!!!!!! His offenses have finished ranked 76th, 120th, 96th and, this past season, at 111th. Now excuses can be made. I hear you about the QB position. But he has yet to produce over the course of a season, a productive offense, certainly with any consistency. As I said, I want you to be right. I've seen Carolina football going back to the days of Dietzel (even the Bass days). I've seen a lot of bad football, some good football, even some great football. The recruiting class this season is good enough in my estimation, if we get good coaching. I want Satterfield to do a good job. I'm not asking for the unreasonable. I hope he can produce a Top 50 offense this coming season. If he does, it will be his first....... and very welcomed by this Carolina fan.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Trust me, I hope you are right. What concerns me is that Satterfield, in 4 seasons as an OC, has never produced a good offense. NEVER!!!!!! His offenses have finished ranked 76th, 120th, 96th and, this past season, at 111th. Now excuses can be made. I hear you about the QB position. But he has yet to produce over the course of a season, a productive offense, certainly with any consistency. As I said, I want you to be right. I've seen Carolina football going back to the days of Dietzel (even the Bass days). I've seen a lot of bad football, some good football, even some great football. The recruiting class this season is good enough in my estimation, if we get good coaching. I want Satterfield to do a good job. I'm not asking for the unreasonable. I hope he can produce a Top 50 offense this coming season. If he does, it will be his first....... and very welcomed by this Carolina fan.

"NEVER!!!!" just isn't true. And you know this. He has been an OC for more than the 4 years that you cherry pick. Early in his career, he had a lot of success as OC at UT-Martin and UT-Chattanooga. He did good enough at Temple to land a head coaching job, so to paint him as a complete failure with no success is ridiculous and biased.

 

[Lurker123]

What concerns me is that Satterfield, in 4 seasons as an OC, has never produced a good offense. NEVER!!!!!! His offenses have finished ranked 76th, 120th, 96th and, this past season, at 111th.

Yeah, but there was that one game against that team that gave up. That has to count more than 4 seasons, right?

 

[king ward]

Need to work on punt returns. Pretty weak in that area.

If they'd had the equivalent of Ace Sanders or Dick Harris back there, we would have done better. People with those quick feet and instincts are special and rare.

 

[JGH 35]

In all fairness....but didn't we have most of our key DBs leave?
And how does it stack up nationally compared to 2020?

Actually, I thought the DBs were a pleasant surprise. They covered very well. They need to learn to tackle better, but we often shut down opponents receivers. It was the run game that killed us the most.

 

[viennacocks]

If they'd had the equivalent of Ace Sanders or Dick Harris back there, we would have done better. People with those quick feet and instincts are special and rare.

Agreed. You also have to be fearless. Vann ran away from 75% of the punts. Cost us a lot of yards. He has great hands, simply fair catch it.

 

[gamecock stock]

"NEVER!!!!" just isn't true. And you know this. He has been an OC for more than the 4 years that you cherry pick. Early in his career, he had a lot of success as OC at UT-Martin and UT-Chattanooga. He did good enough at Temple to land a head coaching job, so to paint him as a complete failure with no success is ridiculous and biased.

I'm looking at his FBS record. You know that. I don't know what level of play UT-Martin and Chattanooga are in. I know they are not FBS. If you have that data, please share it. Trust me, I'd love to see positive evidence. His record at Temple is what it is. Those offensive rankings were not pulled out of thin air.

 

[Horseshoe 04]

Sounds like room for improvement in multiple areas

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Agreed. You also have to be fearless. Vann ran away from 75% of the punts. Cost us a lot of yards. He has great hands, simply fair catch it.

I agree. Some improvement needed, but still much better overall than last year. Vann wasn't the ideal choice. Lembo deserves the chance to recruit and develop players of his choice.

 

[viennacocks]

I agree. Some improvement needed, but still much better overall than last year. Vann wasn't the ideal choice. Lembo deserves the chance to recruit and develop players of his choice.

I'm with you. From a grade standpoint I would give him a B+ or an A-. Overall, special teams was very good.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

I'm looking at his FBS record. You know that. I don't know what level of play UT-Martin and Chattanooga are in. I know they are not FBS. If you have that data, please share it. Trust me, I'd love to see positive evidence. His record at Temple is what it is. Those offensive rankings were not pulled out of thin air.

One stat at one job is not his "record". The performance of any coach is not based off one stat without looking at a bunch of other factors, like talent, schedule, injuries, etc. It's not that simple. Otherwise, Tony Elliott would have never been considered for a head coaching position after Clemson's dismal offensive performance this year.

 

[Lurker123]

One stat at one job is not his "record". The performance of any coach is not based off one stat without looking at a bunch of other factors, like talent, schedule, injuries, etc. It's not that simple. Otherwise, Tony Elliott would have never been considered for a head coaching position after Clemson's dismal offensive performance this year.

You have a point. Elliot got the job, not because of this last year, but all his years as Clemsons OC.

Hence Satterfield would be judged not only on this year's over 100 ranking, but his Temple years (all over 100) as well.

 

[gamecock stock]

One stat at one job is not his "record". The performance of any coach is not based off one stat without looking at a bunch of other factors, like talent, schedule, injuries, etc. It's not that simple. Otherwise, Tony Elliott would have never been considered for a head coaching position after Clemson's dismal offensive performance this year.

To me, "Total Offense" is comprehensive and the best measurement. By the way, Clemson's offense has been ranked in the Top 12 a total of 5 times since Elliott became OC in 2015.

Trust me, I want you to be right about Satterfield. I, and other critics here of Satterfield, are not the enemy. Nor are you. If Satterfield has a customary Tony Elliott-like production next season, I hope you will come here and gloat....seriously. And I'll figuratively pat you on the back and tell you how good that crow tastes.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

To me, "Total Offense" is comprehensive and the best measurement. By the way, Clemson's offense has been ranked in the Top 12 a total of 5 times since Elliott became OC in 2015.

Trust me, I want you to be right about Satterfield. I, and other critics here of Satterfield, are not the enemy. Nor are you. If Satterfield has a customary Tony Elliott-like production next season, I hope you will come here and gloat....seriously. And I'll figuratively pat you on the back and tell you how good that crow tastes.

It is a stat, but not in any way comprehensive enough to pass judgement as someone being a good or bad OC. You really think Kent St's OC is the 4th best in the nation?

Like I said, you have to take into account talent on the team, especially an OC on a new team, as well as things like injuries and schedule. Elliott and his co-oc have had #1 rated future NFL QBs for years. And they play a schedule in the A-She-She that is nothing like what they would see here in the SEC.

Sorry, those things matter, and not just a little.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

You have a point. Elliot got the job, not because of this last year, but all his years as Clemsons OC.

Hence Satterfield would be judged not only on this year's over 100 ranking, but his Temple years (all over 100) as well.

Now apply the same Dizzy-logic that you consistently "like" here to Elliott. Pretend he is Satterfield and tell me how you would spin it. I'll get you started by saying he was "co-oc" for most of that time.

 

[Lurker123]

Now apply the same Dizzy-logic that you consistently "like" here to Elliott. Pretend he is Satterfield and tell me how you would spin it. I'll get you started by saying he was "co-oc" for most of that time.

Not sure what you mean? I agreed with you that Elliot wasn't given a job based solely on last year. Obviously it involved the several years prior he ran a prolific offense.

Likewise, Satterfield should not be judged on a single game, and not even on this season where his offense was ranked above 111. But he should be judged on something like the last 4 years of his offense, which were ranked 111, 76, 120 and 96.

 

[gamecock stock]

It is a stat, but not in any way comprehensive enough to pass judgement as someone being a good or bad OC. You really think Kent St's OC is the 4th best in the nation?

Like I said, you have to take into account talent on the team, especially an OC on a new team, as well as things like injuries and schedule. Elliott and his co-oc have had #1 rated future NFL QBs for years. And they play a schedule in the A-She-She that is nothing like what they would see here in the SEC.

Sorry, those things matter, and not just a little.

No, Total Offense is the most comprehensive and the best stat to look at regarding offensive performance just as Total Defense is for the defense. When you have the ball, you have to make yardage to score or be in a position to score. For the defense, it's just the opposite.

As I said previously, Satterfield's offenses' performance (Total Offense) with him as OC in FBS have finished 76th (first time), then 120th, next at 96th and this last time at 111th. There's an old adage: the first time is bad luck; the second time is a coincidence; the third time is a habit. Well, he thus far has had 4 times at bat, with poor overall results.

I'm sorry but, there's a consistency in Satterfield's performance over a FOUR year period that is not good. I don't expect to convince you. And I would think you know you are not going to convince me nor many of the others on this forum. The only way I am going to be convinced is through a year-long performance on the field. I will be pulling for him just as hard as you will be.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

No, Total Offense is the most comprehensive and the best stat to look at regarding offensive performance just as Total Defense is for the defense. When you have the ball, you have to make yardage to score or be in a position to score. For the defense, it's just the opposite.

As I said previously, Satterfield's offenses' performance (Total Offense) with him as OC in FBS have finished 76th (first time), then 120th, next at 96th and this last time at 111th. There's an old adage: the first time is bad luck; the second time is a coincidence; the third time is a habit. Well, he thus far has had 4 times at bat, with poor overall results.

I'm sorry but, there's a consistency in Satterfield's performance over a FOUR year period that is not good. I don't expect to convince you. And I would think you know you are not going to convince me nor many of the others on this forum. The only way I am going to be convinced is through a year-long performance on the field. I will be pulling for him just as hard as you will be.

But that single number is not necessarily indicative of the job the coach did. Other factors matter. Talent matters. Schedule matters. Injuries matter.

Not sure why you and others can't seem to understand that. If you were OC and went through what we went through with injuries at QB and other positions, I bet you would completely understand it.

 

[gamecock stock]

But that single number is not necessarily indicative of the job the coach did. Other factors matter. Talent matters. Schedule matters. Injuries matter.

Not sure why you and others can't seem to understand that. If you were OC and went through what we went through with injuries at QB and other positions, I bet you would completely understand it.

I hear you and have heard you about that before. But, if he had not done so poorly in his previous job as OC at Temple, as I have reiterated many times before, I might could buy that. Consequently, I can't.

I will add that talent was not the issue against mid-majors East Carolina, Troy and Vanderbilt.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

I hear you and have heard you about that before. But, if he had not done so poorly in his previous job as OC at Temple, as I have reiterated many times before, I might could buy that. Consequently, I can't.

I will add that talent was not the issue against mid-majors East Carolina, Troy and Vanderbilt.

Again, context/circumstances are important instead of just a number to say someone did a poor job.

Satterfield's first year at Temple at OC, they went from 317 ypg in 2012 to 400 ypg in 2013. That was the most at Temple since 1979, almost 35 years. Is that a poor job by your single metric?

And yes, if you are pulling in a grad assistant at QB 3 weeks before the season starts, talent is an issue, no matter who are playing. That's a recipe to lose to just about anybody.

 

[gamecock stock]

Again, context/circumstances are important instead of just a number to say someone did a poor job.

Satterfield's first year at Temple at OC, they went from 317 ypg in 2012 to 400 ypg in 2013. That was the most at Temple since 1979, almost 35 years. Is that a poor job by your single metric?

And yes, if you are pulling in a grad assistant at QB 3 weeks before the season starts, talent is an issue, no matter who are playing. That's a recipe to lose to just about anybody.

Temple having bad OC's prior to Satterfield does not excuse a so-so season where his offense finished at number 76, which is close to being poor but in the range of being average, though low average. If a golfer shoots a round of 95 after shooting 130, the 95 is an improvement. But it's still nothing to write home about. Satterfield followed up that season with the number 120th offense in the country. That's abysmal. And then in his 3rd season there, his offense finished 96th in the country. That's poor. Thus he produced low average, abysmal and poor results. Thus, overall, his 3 years there rank as poor.

Depth may have been an issue at QB, but not necessarily talent since Noland had been recruited to previously play at a Power 5 school, something that the East Carolina and Troy QBs....well those schools are still mid-majors, with Vanderbilt not much higher. That grad assistant certainly came in mature. And injuries? No school is free from injuries to both key and non-key players.

Sorry, but go try to sell "crazy" to someone else, because I'm not buying, not now, nor ever. Not only that, but, I'm not in favor of giving Satterfield a pay raise nor contract extension. Let's first see how he does this coming season.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Temple having bad OC's prior to Satterfield does not excuse a so-so season where his offense finished at number 76, which is close to being poor but in the range of being average, though low average. If a golfer shoots a round of 95 after shooting 130, the 95 is an improvement. But it's still nothing to write home about. Satterfield followed up that season with the number 120th offense in the country. That's abysmal. And then in his 3rd season there, his offense finished 96th in the country. That's poor. Thus he produced low average, abysmal and poor results. Thus, overall, his 3 years there rank as poor.

Depth may have been an issue at QB, but not necessarily talent since Noland had been recruited to previously play at a Power 5 school, something that the East Carolina and Troy QBs....well those schools are still mid-majors, with Vanderbilt not much higher. That grad assistant certainly came in mature. And injuries? No school is free from injuries to both key and non-key players.

Sorry, but go try to sell "crazy" to someone else, because I'm not buying, not now, nor ever. Not only that, but, I'm not in favor of giving Satterfield a pay raise nor contract extension. Let's first see how he does this coming season.

Nothing crazy about it. Talent matters. Injuries matter. Especially at QB. Ask Kiffin with that whopping 7 points they scored in their bowl game. Schedules matter. Who you play makes a difference.

Those are just facts. What is crazy is to suggest otherwise. A single stat over different years with different teams against different schedules is NOT some kind of definitive answer on how good a coach is. Just a talking point. Reality is way more complicated than that.

 

[gamecock stock]

Nothing crazy about it. Talent matters. Injuries matter. Especially at QB. Ask Kiffin with that whopping 7 points they scored in their bowl game. Schedules matter. Who you play makes a difference.

Those are just facts. What is crazy is to suggest otherwise. A single stat over different years with different teams against different schedules is NOT some kind of definitive answer on how good a coach is. Just a talking point. Reality is way more complicated than that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: 4 years as OC, with offense rankings of 76, 120, 96 and 111......no way. Those are facts. All the spinning in the world does not change those numbers. I'll wait to see how he does this coming season before I decide to buy or not. You can keep on asking but, you'll get the same answer.

Are you in favor of going ahead and giving him a pay raise and contract extension TODAY?

 

[92Pony]

Temple having bad OC's prior to Satterfield does not excuse a so-so season where his offense finished at number 76, which is close to being poor but in the range of being average, though low average. If a golfer shoots a round of 95 after shooting 130, the 95 is an improvement. But it's still nothing to write home about. Satterfield followed up that season with the number 120th offense in the country. That's abysmal. And then in his 3rd season there, his offense finished 96th in the country. That's poor. Thus he produced low average, abysmal and poor results. Thus, overall, his 3 years there rank as poor.

Depth may have been an issue at QB, but not necessarily talent since Noland had been recruited to previously play at a Power 5 school, something that the East Carolina and Troy QBs....well those schools are still mid-majors, with Vanderbilt not much higher. That grad assistant certainly came in mature. And injuries? No school is free from injuries to both key and non-key players.

Sorry, but go try to sell "crazy" to someone else, because I'm not buying, not now, nor ever. Not only that, but, I'm not in favor of giving Satterfield a pay raise nor contract extension. Let's first see how he does this coming season.

Hey, whatever, but if I shoot 95, I’m telling somebody!! That’s something to celebrate!