USC football’s defense wants to clean up mistakes before Mizzou game. Here’s how
When Gamecock football defensive coordinator Clayton White entered South Carolina’s defensive meeting room for his weekly press conference Wednesday, one big problem was on his mind:
“That’s the first time we’ve given up 30 some points in a long time,” he said.
It’s true. Before the 31-7 loss to Vanderbilt Sept. 13, USC’s defense hadn’t given up 30 points to an opponent since Nov. 16, 2024. The problem? The team it gave up those 30 points to is the Gamecocks’ opponent this week: the Missouri Tigers.
To make things worse, Mizzou’s offense may be even more potent than it was last year. Through three games this season, the Tigers’ 587 yards per game of total offense ranks fourth in the nation. Their 51.7 points per game is second in the SEC only to Tennessee’s 52.7 points per game. While the Gamecocks won last year’s matchup against Mizzou 34-30, this year’s USC offense and its conference-worst 303 yards per game seem less reliable.
“They’ve done a really good job of adding pieces to that puzzle,” White said. “I truly believe that offense is hard to defend.”
The biggest piece added to that puzzle is running back Ahmad Hardy. A sophomore transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, Hardy has amassed 462 yards and five touchdowns on 57 carries so far this season. He’s set to be a tough test for any SEC defense this season, including the Gamecocks.
USC defense needs to stop beating itself in missed tackles
But despite what the numbers say about USC’s defensive issues, White is adamant the solutions falls on stopping his players from beating themselves, particularly in terms of missed tackles.
“That was our highest number of the year (against Vanderbilt). And regardless of just not getting guys on the ground when we had opportunities, I think our angles were bad,” White said.
Although USC can’t tackle its own offensive players in practice, White thinks his players are preparing well to execute to the team’s standard in-game. Why good practice didn’t transfer to a good game against the Commodores, White said, is harder to explain.
“I think about every coach in America said they have a great week of practice and go out and some teams never win,” he said. “It’s hard to really say exactly what happens.”
That’s not to say White is giving up on making things click or passing blame to others for it not clicking. He took responsibility and vowed to keep pushing his unit until what he sees from them in practice translates to real competition.
“Keep coaching and keep pushing the guys. Keep coaching them up every single day and it’ll click,” White said. “When it clicks, it’s nice, but you got to keep coaching them all the way to the end, all the way through the football game.”
