To panic or not to panic? On the state of South Carolina football five games into 2023
The first month of the 2023 season is over. South Carolina is 2-3.
After the Gamecocks lost 41-20 to Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday night, coach Shane Beamer said this USC team is better than 2-3. But, as he acknowledged in his next breath, you are what your record says you are.
It’s been an up-and-down season for South Carolina, but more ups than a 2-3 (1-2 SEC) record might suggest. A bye week never comes at an inconvenient time, and a little rest may be exactly what the Gamecocks need in order to regroup and take on a wildly inconsistent Florida team for homecoming Oct. 14.
Here are a few things Gamecock fans should and shouldn’t worry about as USC gets a break in the schedule:
Don’t worry (too much) about the record
Yes, South Carolina is 2-3 after starting 3-2 the last two years under Beamer.
But three of this season’s losses came at the hands of Top 25 teams (then-No. 21 North Carolina, No. 1 Georgia and No. 21 Tennessee). And those first three wins in 2022 came against Georgia State, Charlotte and South Carolina State. In 2021, the wins came from Eastern Illinois, East Carolina and Troy.
So the Gamecocks couldn’t find ways to win one of the tougher games on their schedule. Sports Illustrated picked their slate as the toughest in FBS during the preseason. It doesn’t get much easier after the bye week, with five SEC games left and Clemson at the end of the year. USC will be favored to win two more games and need to win in toss-up or underdog situations.
The main point is, don’t try to make the 2-3 start more than what it is.
Do worry about the defense’s inconsistency
DQ Smith is frustrated. The inconsistencies are mind-boggling to him knowing all the talent South Carolina has on that side of the ball.
It’s pretty mind-boggling outside the team as well.
This defense can make huge plays, like the interceptions Smith and Jalon Kilgore had against Tennessee. But it gives up explosive plays on the ground and in the air far too often.
How does a defense limit the No. 1 team in the country to 24 points, then allow Tennessee to score 41 a week after Mississippi State had 30?
“It’s very frustrating,” Smith said Saturday. “But at some point we’ll get it fixed.”
The bye week will have to be that “some point.”
Don’t worry about Spencer Rattler
Aside from Tennessee (24 of 35 passing for 169 yards and one interception) and the second half of the Georgia game (six for 24 for 114 yards and two interceptions), Spencer Rattler has had a near spotless season as South Carolina’s starting quarterback.
Before Saturday night, Rattler ranked sixth in the country throwing 310.5 passing yards per game on a 12th-in-the-nation 74.2% clip. And that’s with a banged-up, inexperienced offensive line (more on that later). That’s also without his WR1 from last season (Antwane “Juice” Wells) or any consistent help from the run game.
Not that he cares what the haters say (“If you ain’t got haters, you ain’t popping,” he said after Saturday’s game.). If there is hate, it’s unwarranted.
Do worry about the offensive line
So many injuries. So many sacks.
The offensive line’s depth is being stressed, with the unit missing seven (!) guys right now: Cason Henry (lower body), Markee Anderson (knee), Jaylen Nichols (knee), Ni Mansell (undisclosed), Ryan Brubaker (knee), Jakai Moore (shoulder) and Chase Sweigart (undisclosed).
Before the Tennessee game, South Carolina ranked last in the SEC in sacks allowed, tied for 125th nationally. The Gamecocks let the Vols pick up six more.
The front five’s shortcomings also don’t help the run game, which has struggled to take off as well. South Carolina had over 130 net rushing yards against UT, but that’s a skewed number because of Mario Anderson’s outlier 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. South Carolina’s other two backs combined for five yards on five carries. Before that third-quarter run, Rattler had the most explosive rushing play of any player on the team (28 yards).
USC has to get better play from the line and more production from its tailbacks.
Next USC football game
Who: South Carolina vs. Florida
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia
When: Saturday, Oct. 14
TV: TBD
This story was originally published October 1, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
