C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--Vanderbilt is the ultimate palate cleanser. It's not enough for a team to beat Vanderbilt, which the Gamecocks have done for over a decade straight, but teams need to look good doing it. South Carolina did. It wasn't perfect and there's plenty to clean up, but the Gamecocks did look dominant (especially in the second half) and they needed to. It gives the team a chance to get right after a tough two weeks. We'll see if things continue to develop, but getting a win was priority No. 1 and that happened.
--A lot will be made of the bad clock management at the end of the first half, and it should. The play was just going to be a Hail Mary, but the fact they weren't able to get a play off was glaring. It ultimately didn't matter but the Gamecocks need to have better clock management and execution in late-half or late-game situations.
--The Gamecock offensive line is pretty solid in run blocking, and it's reflected in the fact Kevin Harris had 171 yards and two touchdowns, but pass blocking and the right side of the line continue to struggle in protecting Collin Hill. It didn't make much of a difference since the Gamecocks were able to jump out to a lead and were able to run the ball better. The Gamecocks are still trying to find their right combination there.
--Kevin Harris is really good, like bell cow back in the SEC good. He has enough breakaway speed for a guy his size, but the fact he's been able to be productive and is patient enough to let holes open and be able to make the first guy miss more often than not. No disrespect to Rico Dowdle or Tavien Feaster, but the Gamecocks struggled with that last year. I wasn't sold on the Gamecocks' running room after
--It's amazing what the receiving corps can do when 1. playing Vanderbilt without three starters in the secondary and 2. when the receivers catch the ball.
--Defensively the Gamecocks have had their struggles, and it's been well-documented, but the struggles have not been because of the defensive line. That unit has been insanely productive and is doing well getting to the quarterback. It's a unit with a lot of experience. Zacch Pickens looks like a grown man out there and Jordan Burch also almost killed a guy on a kickoff. If they can consistently get upfield then it will take a little bit of pressure off the secondary.
--The Gamecocks still have no answers in the secondary. Vanderbilt's receivers aren't great but South Carolina did allow a few big plays, including having a few breakdowns on the Vanderbilt touchdown. Without Izzy Mukuamu things could get a little thin but Cam Smith made a nice play on the ball with a pick and Shilo Sanders had a few moments as well.
--Collin Hill continues to impress me through three games. He struggled early (looked like happy feet behind a shaky offensive line, but settled in nicely after a rough first quarter. He'd finish with 196 yards. He's not going to put up video game numbers but he's accurate with the football, doesn't put the ball in harm's way most of the time and is really efficient in his offense. Also, unbeknownst to me, has some wheels. He's already up to three rushing touchdowns (two Saturday).
--It's been written about, but Mike Bobo is an insanely creative play caller. He's doing a lot of different things the Gamecocks weren't doing last year and it's working (when people catch the ball) and the Gamecocks are having success doing it. He's doing a lot with a Gamecock offense that isn't the deepest right now and that's something that should probably be commended. It's been interesting to see what he calls and how he calls it.
--Goodness, gracious Jordan Burch is good.
--A lot will be made of the bad clock management at the end of the first half, and it should. The play was just going to be a Hail Mary, but the fact they weren't able to get a play off was glaring. It ultimately didn't matter but the Gamecocks need to have better clock management and execution in late-half or late-game situations.
--The Gamecock offensive line is pretty solid in run blocking, and it's reflected in the fact Kevin Harris had 171 yards and two touchdowns, but pass blocking and the right side of the line continue to struggle in protecting Collin Hill. It didn't make much of a difference since the Gamecocks were able to jump out to a lead and were able to run the ball better. The Gamecocks are still trying to find their right combination there.
--Kevin Harris is really good, like bell cow back in the SEC good. He has enough breakaway speed for a guy his size, but the fact he's been able to be productive and is patient enough to let holes open and be able to make the first guy miss more often than not. No disrespect to Rico Dowdle or Tavien Feaster, but the Gamecocks struggled with that last year. I wasn't sold on the Gamecocks' running room after
--It's amazing what the receiving corps can do when 1. playing Vanderbilt without three starters in the secondary and 2. when the receivers catch the ball.
--Defensively the Gamecocks have had their struggles, and it's been well-documented, but the struggles have not been because of the defensive line. That unit has been insanely productive and is doing well getting to the quarterback. It's a unit with a lot of experience. Zacch Pickens looks like a grown man out there and Jordan Burch also almost killed a guy on a kickoff. If they can consistently get upfield then it will take a little bit of pressure off the secondary.
--The Gamecocks still have no answers in the secondary. Vanderbilt's receivers aren't great but South Carolina did allow a few big plays, including having a few breakdowns on the Vanderbilt touchdown. Without Izzy Mukuamu things could get a little thin but Cam Smith made a nice play on the ball with a pick and Shilo Sanders had a few moments as well.
--Collin Hill continues to impress me through three games. He struggled early (looked like happy feet behind a shaky offensive line, but settled in nicely after a rough first quarter. He'd finish with 196 yards. He's not going to put up video game numbers but he's accurate with the football, doesn't put the ball in harm's way most of the time and is really efficient in his offense. Also, unbeknownst to me, has some wheels. He's already up to three rushing touchdowns (two Saturday).
--It's been written about, but Mike Bobo is an insanely creative play caller. He's doing a lot of different things the Gamecocks weren't doing last year and it's working (when people catch the ball) and the Gamecocks are having success doing it. He's doing a lot with a Gamecock offense that isn't the deepest right now and that's something that should probably be commended. It's been interesting to see what he calls and how he calls it.
--Goodness, gracious Jordan Burch is good.
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