Where South Carolina’s defense broke down against Tennessee
The South Carolina football team posted one rather impressive defensive stat on Saturday.
When Tennessee faced third down, the Vols converted only one of 11 chances — though the Gamecocks did give one of those back on a post-play penalty.
With the way Will Muschamp’s defenses usually operate, preventing big plays first, that seems like a step forward, especially considering only three of those third downs had more than 6 yards to go.
But the USC defense came out of Saturday’s 31-27 loss with middling overall numbers, in part because of a spate of modestly explosive plays on early downs. The Vols never broke the big one, with a long play of 33 yards, but four plays gained 30 or more; two more gained 20.
That allowed for four touchdown drives that didn’t last longer than two minutes and 40 seconds, the last one taking four plays for the game-winning score.
It’s worth looking at what happened on the biggest breakdowns for a defense the Gamecocks hope will be a strength this year.
The first two long plays came on Tennessee’s first touchdown drive. Here we see the pass on a corner route to Brandon Johnson.
That’s really good coverage, but a perfect throw and better-than-perfect catch.
Soon after was this weird bust. The Gamecocks read and blew up the flea flicker almost perfectly, covering both receivers and getting pressure on the QB.
But the running back who executed the fake kind of got lost in the wash, as edge rusher Brad Johnson got in the rush instead of staying in the flat, per Muschamp. Under pressure, the QB dropped it off and an unbalanced play left things wide open for the back.
The other two 30-yard plays came back to back and cost the Gamecocks at a vital point of the game.
Things were tied with 10 minutes left. South Carolina ran a blitz with a measure of zone behind it. Only three receivers are in the pattern and one is coming off the edge on what looks like a deep drag route.
The blitz appears to come free, but linebacker Damani Staley, who was in an intermediate zone, starts stepping up. That appeared to further open a window on the throw back (Muschamp referenced the secondary “losing eyes” on that play, but also said it was a good call against that defensive look).
One play later, USC sent five pass rushers again, the protection held and QB Jarrett Guarantano challenged Gamecocks corner Cam Smith in a one-on-one situation downfield. The receiver just got a little space, Smith slipped and the Vols scored.
The two 20-yard plays came in the second half, both in spots USC couldn’t afford. On a 5-yard hitch, a missed tackle from Smith allowed 15 more yards on the way to a field goal. Late in the game as South Carolina was trying to get a stop and the ball back, the Gamecocks couldn’t hold up on the line or finish off a tackle well down the field. Middle linebacker Ernest Jones, who was right at the point of attack, said individual players were perhaps trying to do too much in that moment rather than stick to the system.
Next South Carolina football game
Who: South Carolina at Florida
When: Noon, Saturday, Oct. 3
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: ESPN
