Gamecocks’ new offense showing ‘something different every day’ to confuse defense
The hope for South Carolina’s football team is that the new offense brought in by Mike Bobo gives opponents something extra to consider and prepare for.
Thus far, it’s checked that off for the first defense seeing it: South Carolina’s.
More than a week into camp, Bobo’s schemes have other Gamecocks impressed. Jammie Robinson was a starter for a full SEC season last season, and he said the offense is putting pressure on his group.
“The defense, we have to come in locked and loaded every day because it’s going to be something different every day,” Robinson said. “New formations, a lot of motion, stuff like that. That will have the defense confused.”
The second-year safety works at two spots, and is often matched up with USC slot receivers such as Shi Smith and Dakereon Joyner. Gamecocks offensive players made note of how Bobo’s scheme is often running the same core plays but just doing it out of different looks, tenets that reflect certain historical offenses (Jon Gruden’s in the NFL’s in the early 2000s for one).
South Carolina’s offense is coming off the news it won’t have touted freshman running back MarShawn Lloyd because of a torn ACL and is still installing its full package before tapering down to focus on what it does best. Even when that happens, Bobo’s teams usually deploy a range of shotgun and under-center looks, often able to go spread out or tight in the box.
That diversity had Robinson talking about having to study film on his own teammates to get a handle on the full range of the offense.
“A lot of stuff,” Robinson said. “A lot of different things. Mike Bobo, he knows a lot.”
The Gamecocks are looking for a big bounce back after Bryan McClendon’s second offense cratered following a strong debut season. The up-tempo, run-pass option-heavy scheme couldn’t help the team overcome injuries or inconsistency as it finished outside the top 100 nationally in yards per play.
Bobo’s scheme promises more in terms of downhill running (with a fullback) and a diverse passing game. Tailback Deshaun Fenwick caldled it a breath of fresh air.
A likely scrimmage on Saturday might say something about where things go from here, but for now the schemes at least have the Gamecocks defense seeing something new.
“It’s a lot more motion, a lot of checks,” cornerback Cam Smith said. “A lot of looking at what we’re in and checking out of it, stuff like that. It’s just a lot of things that we have to make sure we stay honest on, stay to our rules, make sure that our eye control is great.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 12:36 PM.
