W
Wes Mitchell
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With announcements from R.J. Roderick, Brad Johnson, Zacch Pickens and Jordan Strachan that each will be returning to South Carolina for an additional season, the Gamecocks should return a solid core from a defense that largely overachieved this season.
Looking at the unit that the Gamecocks put on the field against North Carolina, the Gamecocks return six starters from that game plus Strachan plus Cam Smith (who was unavailable) plus Sherrod Greene (who was a starter but missed most of the year after the injury at Georgia). While Carlins Platel received the start at NICKEL (and played quite well) the Gamecocks essentially return a starter at that position as well in David Spaulding, who split time with Platel there throughout the year.
Getting back to the four announcements in particular, the lone non-starter of the group is easily one of the most important players to announce his return in Strachan, who currently projects as a starter at defensive end next season and may have the most pro potential of the group.
While Strachan played in a reserve role this season, I often found my eyes drawn to his play and he has the combination of length, athleticism and quickness that the NFL teams love. This time next year, with a full season under his belt, I have a feeling we'll be hearing about him as a guy who has climbed draft boards.
It's no surprise to me, that despite playing a reserve role, he had the fourth-highest PFF grade on defense and was deemed the Gamecocks' second-best pass-rusher behind only JJ Enagbare. Strachan's pressure rate (number of pressures per pass rush attempts) was actually even higher than Enagbare's. Indeed, Enagbare will be difficult to replace but the combination of Strachan and a year older Jordan Burch should have the ability to do so.
Pickens returns as a starter after he highly considered making an early jump to the NFL. I believe he made the right decision in returning. The Anderson native put together a solid season, with moments of excellent plays, but could continue to raise his stock with a consistent final season in a Carolina uniform. At the very least, he's another solid starter for the Gamecocks returning, but if he can make another jump in productivity, then he's potentially a huge part of this defense and an NFL pick.
R.J. Roderick returns after quietly putting together a solid season that saw him raise his tackling production and become more efficient in coverage. It was a bit of a bounceback year for Roderick who didn't play up to his own standards in 2020 - and received some heat from a portion of the fan base for it - but is truly a solid SEC defender and the PFF grades bear that out in three of his four seasons at Carolina. Roderick seems comfortable in Clayton White's scheme and provides an experienced, veteran presence at a safety position that could be quite thin otherwise with the loss of Jaylan Foster.
Johnson returns after starting all 11 games at the WILL in 2021, his first year playing a true linebacker spot after playing more of a hybrid BUCK/SAM role early in his career. Johnson was still adjusting to the coverage aspects of the game but provides a physical presence on the inside of Carolina's defense and excelled when he was brought as a pass-rusher, no surprise considering his history rushing the passer.
With the loss of Damani Staley, Greene should slot right back into the MIKE linebacker spot that he vacated when he got injured, assuming his full return to 100 percent. I've always been high on Greene and felt that he was in line for a big season prior to the injury once again cutting his season short. Greene brings needed athleticism to the position and will provide another veteran presence.
From a big picture standpoint, just the fact that all four players decided to return, speaks to the idea that Shane Beamer is building a program that players want to play in and want to stay in. It seems pretty apparent - in each individual player's case that a return to school was likely the correct decision - but we've all seen Carolina players in the past make that too-early jump to the league. We will surely see that happen again at some point in the future, but the fact this whole group is coming back shouldn't be ignored.
I also don't think it means we should start putting unrealistic expectations on this defense for 2022. There's still a ways to go, particularly in stopping the run and in building overall depth.
Replacing Jaylan Foster won't be easy and the Gamecocks will likely need to get help from the portal at safety and possibly defensive end where the proven depth gets really thin after the two Jordans.
The influx of freshman defensive backs will need to feature at least a couple of guys who are ready to play and provide depth in the secondary with Cam Smith, Darius Rush and Marcellas Dial returning in feature roles. And the Gamecocks will need to get good play from the nickel position where I thought Platel was really solid down the stretch.
At linebacker, Mo Kaba and Debo Williams will likely be asked to make a big jump and I believe Stone Blanton could be an early impact guy. Boogie Huntley, M.J. Webb, Tonka Hemingway, T.J. Sanders and Nick Barrett will all be in a position to fight it out for playing time alongside Pickens at defensive tackle.
There are still certainly questions to be answered and we'll have the entire offseason to sort through them. But Clayton White and Co. won't be starting from scratch.
Looking at the unit that the Gamecocks put on the field against North Carolina, the Gamecocks return six starters from that game plus Strachan plus Cam Smith (who was unavailable) plus Sherrod Greene (who was a starter but missed most of the year after the injury at Georgia). While Carlins Platel received the start at NICKEL (and played quite well) the Gamecocks essentially return a starter at that position as well in David Spaulding, who split time with Platel there throughout the year.
Getting back to the four announcements in particular, the lone non-starter of the group is easily one of the most important players to announce his return in Strachan, who currently projects as a starter at defensive end next season and may have the most pro potential of the group.
While Strachan played in a reserve role this season, I often found my eyes drawn to his play and he has the combination of length, athleticism and quickness that the NFL teams love. This time next year, with a full season under his belt, I have a feeling we'll be hearing about him as a guy who has climbed draft boards.
It's no surprise to me, that despite playing a reserve role, he had the fourth-highest PFF grade on defense and was deemed the Gamecocks' second-best pass-rusher behind only JJ Enagbare. Strachan's pressure rate (number of pressures per pass rush attempts) was actually even higher than Enagbare's. Indeed, Enagbare will be difficult to replace but the combination of Strachan and a year older Jordan Burch should have the ability to do so.
Pickens returns as a starter after he highly considered making an early jump to the NFL. I believe he made the right decision in returning. The Anderson native put together a solid season, with moments of excellent plays, but could continue to raise his stock with a consistent final season in a Carolina uniform. At the very least, he's another solid starter for the Gamecocks returning, but if he can make another jump in productivity, then he's potentially a huge part of this defense and an NFL pick.
R.J. Roderick returns after quietly putting together a solid season that saw him raise his tackling production and become more efficient in coverage. It was a bit of a bounceback year for Roderick who didn't play up to his own standards in 2020 - and received some heat from a portion of the fan base for it - but is truly a solid SEC defender and the PFF grades bear that out in three of his four seasons at Carolina. Roderick seems comfortable in Clayton White's scheme and provides an experienced, veteran presence at a safety position that could be quite thin otherwise with the loss of Jaylan Foster.
Johnson returns after starting all 11 games at the WILL in 2021, his first year playing a true linebacker spot after playing more of a hybrid BUCK/SAM role early in his career. Johnson was still adjusting to the coverage aspects of the game but provides a physical presence on the inside of Carolina's defense and excelled when he was brought as a pass-rusher, no surprise considering his history rushing the passer.
With the loss of Damani Staley, Greene should slot right back into the MIKE linebacker spot that he vacated when he got injured, assuming his full return to 100 percent. I've always been high on Greene and felt that he was in line for a big season prior to the injury once again cutting his season short. Greene brings needed athleticism to the position and will provide another veteran presence.
From a big picture standpoint, just the fact that all four players decided to return, speaks to the idea that Shane Beamer is building a program that players want to play in and want to stay in. It seems pretty apparent - in each individual player's case that a return to school was likely the correct decision - but we've all seen Carolina players in the past make that too-early jump to the league. We will surely see that happen again at some point in the future, but the fact this whole group is coming back shouldn't be ignored.
I also don't think it means we should start putting unrealistic expectations on this defense for 2022. There's still a ways to go, particularly in stopping the run and in building overall depth.
Replacing Jaylan Foster won't be easy and the Gamecocks will likely need to get help from the portal at safety and possibly defensive end where the proven depth gets really thin after the two Jordans.
The influx of freshman defensive backs will need to feature at least a couple of guys who are ready to play and provide depth in the secondary with Cam Smith, Darius Rush and Marcellas Dial returning in feature roles. And the Gamecocks will need to get good play from the nickel position where I thought Platel was really solid down the stretch.
At linebacker, Mo Kaba and Debo Williams will likely be asked to make a big jump and I believe Stone Blanton could be an early impact guy. Boogie Huntley, M.J. Webb, Tonka Hemingway, T.J. Sanders and Nick Barrett will all be in a position to fight it out for playing time alongside Pickens at defensive tackle.
There are still certainly questions to be answered and we'll have the entire offseason to sort through them. But Clayton White and Co. won't be starting from scratch.
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