Four things we learned in South Carolina’s landmark win over Texas A&M
South Carolina is almost at that magic number.
With the 30-24 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday, USC sits at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play, just one win shy of bowl eligibility.
Here’s what we learned in a wild Gamecocks win:
South Carolina is going to win ugly
The Gamecocks are starting to find an identity of sorts.
Beamer’s squad has made a habit of winning games in fashions that aren’t exactly easy on the eyes. Saturday was no exception, as the Gamecocks raced out to a 17-0 lead in the game’s opening minutes only to narrowly hold on for dear life.
South Carolina’s start was something (more on that in a second). The 100-yard Xavier Legette touchdown return set the tone for what looked like could be a 40-point rout if things held. Instead, the Gamecocks were sluggish offensively and the Aggies hung around.
Even still, USC found a way to win. That’s something that will translate down the stretch.
Gamecocks finding ways to start fast
It took South Carolina 13 seconds to find the end zone in the win over then-No. 13 Kentucky. Saturday? It was 14 seconds from first kick to first score.
Beamer has maligned his bunch for not getting off to better starts during his tenure. The Texas A&M team USC beat on Saturday was proof of as much after the Gamecocks were boat-raced from the get-go in College Station a year ago.
This week was the complete opposite. South Carolina was all over a Texas A&M team that has been a shell of the version of itself that was considered a possible College Football Playoff contender at season’s start. The Gamecocks leapt out to a 17-0 lead in a flash — 5 minutes and 13 seconds to be exact — and held on from there.
As noted, South Carolina could stand to put away games earlier. But the last two weeks show the Gamecocks do have it in them to get off the bus quickly.
The offense was a mess — and it needs to improve
I’ll grant that Texas A&M is a more talented defense than it appears statistically. There’s pieces all over that unit that will have long college and, more than likely, NFL careers.
It doesn’t excuse most of what we saw from South Carolina’s offense on Saturday.
Running back MarShawn Lloyd received just three carries in the first half. That’s after racing for 359 yards and five touchdowns in the three games leading into the weekend. Quarterback Spencer Rattler, too, looked a bit more like the off-kilter version of himself we saw in the opening 30 minutes of the win at Kentucky.
I’m not sure all of that is on offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s play-calling. I’m not sure all of that is on poor execution, either. But at some point, something has to change or get better.
There are pieces on this offense. The skill position spots have dudes. The offensive line is experienced..
It all needs to jell — and fast.
If South Carolina’s offense plays like it did for most of Saturday night over the next few weeks — and sans a three-possession lead — the Gamecocks aren’t going to celebrate too many more wins.
RB MarShawn Lloyd is a star and we need to acknowledge it
Yes, South Carolina’s offense was bad on Saturday. Yes, it needs to improve. Among the few bright spots? That would be Lloyd.
The Delaware product has been a workhorse for the Gamecocks this fall, and he’s on a tear. He’s recorded 452 of his 526 yards rushing this season over the last four weeks. His nine touchdowns on the ground rank among the SEC’s best.
He’s not a Heisman contender or anything like that, but the better Lloyd had been, the better South Carolina has performed. The Gamecocks are a perfect 4-0 when Lloyd rushes for 80 yards or better this fall. In losses to Arkansas and Georgia, he was limited to just 45 yards combined.
There were plenty of question marks surrounding Lloyd heading into this year. He hadn’t been a lead back post-ACL tear. There was a fear he might flame out, rather than live up to his immense recruiting potential.
So far, Lloyd has been every bit what he was advertised as coming out of high school.
The matchup won’t always dictate it, but the Gamecocks need to continue to feature what’s been their most consistent offensive weapon to date.
This story was originally published October 23, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
