How Rocket Sanders plans to focus on 'the little things' ahead of Alabama
As a team, South Carolina struggled tremendously against the Ole Miss Rebels. However, Rocket Sanders and the offense were a major point of weakness in multiple areas.
As a key point of struggle, the offense went just 5-for-16 (31%) on 3rd downs. However, to improve as a whole, Sanders says the offense needs to emphasize the little things.
“I feel like what’s been killing us is the little things,” Sanders said. “Penalty wise, we got to stay penalty free.”
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Penalties were a major issue for the Gamecocks collectively against the Rebels. South Carolina finished with a total of 80 yards of penalties. With eight penalties against Ole Miss and 13 against LSU, the Gamecocks haven’t been able to play many games without the calls stacking up against them.
“Really overall, just penalty free. I mean, we were talking about that Ole Miss game. We can’t have the same penalties as them, I think it was eight and eight and they were one of the biggest schools when it comes down to penalties. So, just trying to eliminate the penalties,” Sanders said.
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Improvements and redirection start beyond the field. Sanders has spent his time focusing on film and scouting the opponents to better prepare for what’s to come.
[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Texas A&M football game]
“I feel like I can do better every game,” he said. “I feel like I can do better, but I’m just coming in, watching more film doing what I do. When it comes down to the film, it’s just about making me feel comfortable in the game. So I’m just trying to get better at the film and know what I’m looking at, not just watch film.”
With a daunting opponent on the horizon, Sanders is focused on treating Alabama like any other game. However, Sanders has an advantage over some of his teammates having played Alabama before at his former school, Arkansas.
“I have not talked to too many people about it but I played there my freshman year. Great environment,” Sanders said. “I did tell Oscar (Adaway) about it, about the environment. But at the same time, we can’t look at them to where it’s like, ‘Okay, it’s Alabama.’ We just have to treat it like any other game.”
