3 matchups to watch as South Carolina travels to face Arkansas
South Carolina’s 2022 football season is off and running.
USC downed Georgia State 35-14 in its season opener thanks to a pair of punt blocks that were returned for touchdowns.
Now, Shane Beamer’s crew sets off for Fayetteville to take on No. 16 Arkansas in both teams’ first Southeastern Conference contest of the year.
Here are three matchups to watch when the Gamecocks and Razorbacks meet at noon Saturday (ESPN):
South Carolina offensive line vs. Arkansas defensive line
Either something’s going to give, or this might be the norm.
South Carolina’s offensive line was maligned for almost the entirety of the 2021 season. The Gamecocks promised things would improve. Bringing back almost the whole two-deep was, in theory, a step in the right direction.
Instead, the Gamecocks turned in one of the worst efforts by an SEC offensive line in Week 1, allowing quarterback Spencer Rattler to be pressured on 17 of his 37 throws.
Beamer, center Eric Douglas and guard Jovaughn Gwyn all preached this week that getting a game on film and being able to identify some new things against an actual opponent can be beneficial.
We’ll see.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has five upperclassmen on a defensive line that helped hold Cincinnati to just 113 yards on 32 carries last week.
Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Domineck, Zach Williams and Jashaud Stewart should all get plenty of run at defensive end. Domineck is the biggest mystery given his offseason import, but he notched a strip sack in his first game as a Razorback.
South Carolina has to find ways to keep Spencer Rattler upright if it hopes to push the ball downfield. It also almost certainly can’t afford to average just 2.5 yards per rush like it did last week.
If the Gamecocks can’t get control in the trenches, expect Rattler to be running for his life plenty.
QB Spencer Rattler vs. Arkansas secondary
Speaking of Rattler, he may well have a chance for a breakout game this week depending on some health issues over at Arkansas.
Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman said on Wednesday he’s not sure about the status of starting defensive backs Myles Slusher and Jalen Catalon, but it’s a decent bet neither guy is able to play on Saturday.
If that’s the case, expect offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield to dial up some downfield throws early and often.
South Carolina completed seven passes for 15 yards or more in its opener, but Rattler still only finished with 6.1 yards per attempt. Some of that came from Rattler being pressured on almost half of his passes, but it still has to improve.
The Gamecocks did some nice things in the passing game, especially via receivers Jalen Brooks and Antwane “Juice” Wells. Don’t forget about Josh Vann, either. He had a quiet night, but he’s still the leading receiver from last year’s team.
I like South Carolina to come out slinging the ball around if Catalon and Slusher can’t go.
South Carolina vs. slow starts
USC has had its issues getting off the bus.
The Gamecocks didn’t find points until the early stages of the second quarter last Saturday, eventually finding the end zone via a MarShawn Lloyd touchdown run.
That’s not exactly a new problem.
USC averaged more than 20 yards less per game in 2021 on the road or at a neutral site — a stat buoyed heavily by a season-best yardage output in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
In SEC road games last fall, South Carolina averaged just 18.75 points per game, compared with 23 points per game at home against leaguen competition. It also recorded 3.25 points in first quarters against SEC competition on the road and was shut out completely in two of those four games.
The Gamecocks have won their last three meetings with the Razorbacks dating back to 2012. However, South Carolina has never won consecutive road meetings against Arkansas in 11 such contests.
The winner of the last eight games between the two teams has scored at least 33 points, while South Carolina recorded a combined 138 points over its last three victories.
There’s a good chance this game could turn into a shootout if the Gamecocks have issues slowing down quarterback K.J. Jefferson, tailback Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and a dynamic Razorbacks offense.
A fast start would go miles toward helping South Carolina’s cause.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 8:00 PM.
