C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--Marcus Satterfield said while Kevin Harris isn't practicing to start fall camp he's not overly worried about if he'll get the preseason All-SEC running back on the field soon. Satterfield said he knows Harris will be "playing for us sooner rather than later,' and he doesn't go to sleep at night thinking, "‘Oh my god he won’t be back." Harris had a back procedure before camp started and Shane Beamer said in his press availability Harris is already begging the training staff to get back on the field.
--In talking with defensive coordinator Clayton White, he spoke about three things he wants his defense to be from an identity standpoint: aggressive, disciplined and unpredictable. From an aggression standpoint, a lot of people tend to think that means having a high blitz rate, but in talking with White and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, it's more about instilling a more aggressive mindset than it is about sending pressure in odd ways. Once the system is installed, they'll be able to scheme up ways to overload sides or stack numbers to create defensive mismatches.
--Satterfield, speaking about identity, spoke more about letting it happen organically about what South Carolina's going to be offensively with a few key pillars in there. The two biggest things will be physicality and toughness but Satterfield will use preseason camp as a way to figure out who the team's best playmakers are and tailor the offense in a way that puts those guys in space with the ball.
--From a leadership standpoint offensively, Satterfield said Luke Doty, MarShawn Lloyd, Dakereon Joyner and Jovaughn Gwyn have been the guys stepping up in that department.
--Speaking of offensive scheme, in talking with a lot of offensive coaches and players, 12 or even 22 personnel (two tight ends, one running back or two backs, two tight ends) will be used often. That doesn't necessarily mean the Gamecocks are lining up with two tight ends attached to the line of scrimmage but moving them around in the system and putting them in spots where they can potentially take on some mismatches. Nick Muse mentioned him and EJ Jenkins being able to motion out to receiver and Jaheim Bell going from a flex tight end, H-back and being able to be motioned into the backfield.
The staff hasn't been shy about mentioning how much South Carolina plans to incorporate the tight end into its offense, and this quote from Erik Kimrey talking about throwing to the tight end's impact on recruiting was particularly good:
“There are smart kids out there and they’ll see what’s talk and what’s real. I think when you see this offense and see the way coach Satt uses the tight ends, it’s going to be exciting and you’re going to want to come be a part of that type of offense. It’s easy to go to a great school where they’re in 10 personnel a lot or never throw to the tight end because they’re handing the ball off every down. That’s not going to be the case here. I think you’ll see that on Saturdays.”
--More on speaking with White, but he measures defensive success in a lot of different ways. There are different ways to be productive and efficient defensively—i.e. giving up a lot of yards but forcing a lot of turnovers or field goals compared to being a really good middle of the field defense or being really good on third downs—but there are a few ways he personally measures it. One big thing is obviously turnover margin followed by third-down defense and red zone defense. One of the more interesting ones that I haven't really heard before is sudden change defense, which is when a defense is forced back on the field quickly in a disadvantageous spot (like the offense turning the ball over near midfield) and seeing whether or not the defense can force a three and out or a field goal instead of a touchdown. Run defense, pretty much for every defense in the country, will be something coordinators look at, White included.
--ZaQuandre White said Juju McDowell has looked good in player-run practices, calling the freshman "very explosive, very shifty." McDowell was out fielding punts during the open media portion of practice Friday morning.
--OrTre Smith feels great and said his knee situation is "over with now." He and the rest of the receivers hear what's being said about them outside of the building and are confident in what they have and the work they've put in this offseason.
--Brad Johnson will make the switch over to WIL linebacker this season after playing SAM last year. WIL linebacker has a lot of the same responsibilities a SAM does but the key difference is WIL backers are on the field a lot more. SAM backers typically only come in when a team isn't in nickel, and with offenses operating out of 10 or 11 personnel more often it's hard to get out of nickel. WIL backers are in there even in a 4-2-5 base, which was appealing to Johnson. He'll be doing a lot of the same things he was doing as SAM, which includes covering to the boundary, covering tight ends and running backs and setting the edge of the defense in the run game.
--Eric Douglas is very high on this offensive line group entering training camp, calling the group "rock stars." Mentions they have a lot of guys returning with experience and now it's about building on what they did last season in the run game and improving in pass protection.
--Alex Huntley feels 100 percent entering camp after dealing with ankle injuries almost all of last season. Mentions 2020 was one of the hardest years of his life but he got stronger because of it and thinks he can definitely help this defensive tackle group this fall.
I’m always going to give 100 percent effort, always going to keep trying and always going to chase the ball. Really, compete every day in and out of practice. The more you compete, the better each player will be. I’m just ready to compete for a spot and be ready when my name’s called."
--In talking with defensive coordinator Clayton White, he spoke about three things he wants his defense to be from an identity standpoint: aggressive, disciplined and unpredictable. From an aggression standpoint, a lot of people tend to think that means having a high blitz rate, but in talking with White and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, it's more about instilling a more aggressive mindset than it is about sending pressure in odd ways. Once the system is installed, they'll be able to scheme up ways to overload sides or stack numbers to create defensive mismatches.
--Satterfield, speaking about identity, spoke more about letting it happen organically about what South Carolina's going to be offensively with a few key pillars in there. The two biggest things will be physicality and toughness but Satterfield will use preseason camp as a way to figure out who the team's best playmakers are and tailor the offense in a way that puts those guys in space with the ball.
--From a leadership standpoint offensively, Satterfield said Luke Doty, MarShawn Lloyd, Dakereon Joyner and Jovaughn Gwyn have been the guys stepping up in that department.
--Speaking of offensive scheme, in talking with a lot of offensive coaches and players, 12 or even 22 personnel (two tight ends, one running back or two backs, two tight ends) will be used often. That doesn't necessarily mean the Gamecocks are lining up with two tight ends attached to the line of scrimmage but moving them around in the system and putting them in spots where they can potentially take on some mismatches. Nick Muse mentioned him and EJ Jenkins being able to motion out to receiver and Jaheim Bell going from a flex tight end, H-back and being able to be motioned into the backfield.
The staff hasn't been shy about mentioning how much South Carolina plans to incorporate the tight end into its offense, and this quote from Erik Kimrey talking about throwing to the tight end's impact on recruiting was particularly good:
“There are smart kids out there and they’ll see what’s talk and what’s real. I think when you see this offense and see the way coach Satt uses the tight ends, it’s going to be exciting and you’re going to want to come be a part of that type of offense. It’s easy to go to a great school where they’re in 10 personnel a lot or never throw to the tight end because they’re handing the ball off every down. That’s not going to be the case here. I think you’ll see that on Saturdays.”
--More on speaking with White, but he measures defensive success in a lot of different ways. There are different ways to be productive and efficient defensively—i.e. giving up a lot of yards but forcing a lot of turnovers or field goals compared to being a really good middle of the field defense or being really good on third downs—but there are a few ways he personally measures it. One big thing is obviously turnover margin followed by third-down defense and red zone defense. One of the more interesting ones that I haven't really heard before is sudden change defense, which is when a defense is forced back on the field quickly in a disadvantageous spot (like the offense turning the ball over near midfield) and seeing whether or not the defense can force a three and out or a field goal instead of a touchdown. Run defense, pretty much for every defense in the country, will be something coordinators look at, White included.
--ZaQuandre White said Juju McDowell has looked good in player-run practices, calling the freshman "very explosive, very shifty." McDowell was out fielding punts during the open media portion of practice Friday morning.
--OrTre Smith feels great and said his knee situation is "over with now." He and the rest of the receivers hear what's being said about them outside of the building and are confident in what they have and the work they've put in this offseason.
--Brad Johnson will make the switch over to WIL linebacker this season after playing SAM last year. WIL linebacker has a lot of the same responsibilities a SAM does but the key difference is WIL backers are on the field a lot more. SAM backers typically only come in when a team isn't in nickel, and with offenses operating out of 10 or 11 personnel more often it's hard to get out of nickel. WIL backers are in there even in a 4-2-5 base, which was appealing to Johnson. He'll be doing a lot of the same things he was doing as SAM, which includes covering to the boundary, covering tight ends and running backs and setting the edge of the defense in the run game.
--Eric Douglas is very high on this offensive line group entering training camp, calling the group "rock stars." Mentions they have a lot of guys returning with experience and now it's about building on what they did last season in the run game and improving in pass protection.
--Alex Huntley feels 100 percent entering camp after dealing with ankle injuries almost all of last season. Mentions 2020 was one of the hardest years of his life but he got stronger because of it and thinks he can definitely help this defensive tackle group this fall.
I’m always going to give 100 percent effort, always going to keep trying and always going to chase the ball. Really, compete every day in and out of practice. The more you compete, the better each player will be. I’m just ready to compete for a spot and be ready when my name’s called."
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