Examining the South Carolina run game during win streak
The words are plastered in the South Carolina meeting room.
There, the saying “Run the ball” will be tacked up for the entire team to see. It serves as an emphasis to the offense one of the core principles of this program.
And, after starting very slow there this season, things seem to be turning a corner.
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“I’d say we’re on track to being what we want to be about: physical, playing really, really hard and being able to run the ball with the ability to throw it also,” Shane Beamer said. “I’ve seen signs of being able to do both now we just have to get better at both of those things.”
After an anemic start to the season on the ground, the Gamecocks are arguably running their best heading into Saturday’s game. South Carolina is averaging 6.2 yards per carry (sack-adjusted) the last three weeks compared to the 3.4 to start the season.
And the advanced statistics–success and stuff rate–help bare that out.
Success rate helps determine how well an offense stays on schedule. A play is considered successful if the offense gains 50 percent of yards needed on first down, 70 percent on second and converting for a first on either third or fourth down.
Stuff rate measures the percent of runs that go for two or fewer yards.
Over this three-game win streak, South Carolina has a rushing success rate of 54.2 percent. The Gamecocks also have a stuff rate of just 31.8 percent. Comparatively, the Gamecocks had a rushing success rate of 40 percent and a 46.3 stuff rate.
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“We’re doing a better job. By no means have we arrived from an offensive standpoint. We’re going to play some tough defenses down the stretch starting this week,” Beamer said. “We have to continue to get better at running the football. As you run the ball better it opens more and more things in the passing game as well.”
Yes, part of that is the competition and having two non-conference games against Charlotte and FCS South Carolina State.
But the Gamecocks went to Kentucky and ultimately averaged a sack-adjusted 4.8 yards per carry. They had a 39.5 percent success rate in the run game and a stuff rate of just 34.2 percent.
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“It has to be the identity. That’s another group, the offensive line, continually improving. With the schedule, we were able to get our feet back under us in the last couple of games,” Marcus Satterfield said. “But to go up there against Kentucky and run the ball efficiently against that front against those guys was an accomplishment to build on for sure.”
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Part of that is the resurgence of MarShawn Lloyd. He is averaging 7.5 yards per carry in the last three weeks.
He has two 100-yard performances, including a 110-yard day at Kentucky where he averaged five yards per pop.
According to PFF, Lloyd is one of just eight backs in the SEC to have forced at least 26 missed tackles.
“I think the more he can play, the more he can get carries, get the tape and see cuts he’s making and not making is only improving him. With every touch, he’s getting more and more confident. You’re starting to see what we all knew was in there. You’re starting to see that come out,” Satterfield said. “He’s got even better moments ahead of him this season.”
