One area South Carolina might use more offensively in 2022
Zacch Pickens could only shake his head when asked about the South Carolina offense from the second scrimmage.
Talking about it, he mentioned getting some extra conditioning in with the Gamecocks doing a lot of sideline-to-sideline work with their skill players.
It’s a testament to the speed South Carolina has. And more about the Gamecocks wanting to attack the edges more this year.
“They did a lot of movement. I’m trying to figure out how we were going to stay with it,” Pickens said, half chuckling. “We were just running sideline to sideline. That’s one thing we’re trying to work on, not being so gassed.”
Attacking the perimeter is something South Carolina’s emphasized this preseason. The players were doing a ton of perimeter blocking and block-shedding drills during the open portion of practices.
It’s something the Gamecocks did a lot last year and could be doing more of in 2022.
On throws behind the line of scrimmage last year, Gamecocks quarterbacks were 68-for-75 for 440 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
That’s a combined 90.7 percent completion rate; 5.9 yards per attempt and an NFL quarterback rating of 94.44.
This year, South Carolina has more speed and talent at the skill position players. And it seems like stretching the field horizontally could be a path to more yards in 2022.
“I think you’d be crazy to run at Zacch Pickens every play. We try to stretch the field and utilize our weapons as much as possible,” Dakereon Joyner said. “Then get a chance to get the ball on the perimeter and get the ball to the playmakers and let us go make plays. We’re just trying to utilize our talent as much as possible.”
Top 10
- 1New
Jaxson Robinson injury
UK star to miss Tennessee game
- 2Trending
DJ Durkin
Auburn DC gets extension
- 3
AP Poll controversy
New Top 25 raises eyebrows
- 4
Penn State police warning
Saquon celebration triggers warning
- 5
Kai Trump
President's granddaughter holds $1.2M NIL Valuation
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
South Carolina spent the offseason developing its returners like Joyner, Juju McDowell, Jaheim Bell and Ahmarean Brown while bringing in other playmakers like Juice Wells, Nate Adkins, Austin Stogner and Corey Rucker.
It’s a message that the Gamecocks needed more depth at the skill spots but also wanted to add another wrinkle in Marcus Satterfield’s offense.
“The game, you have to be able to play on the perimeter in today’s college football. You have to be able to tackle in space. We had plenty of those plays the other night,” Shane Beamer said. “You have to do that nowadays in college football. We spent a lot of time working at that.”
The Gamecocks have high hopes for their offense in 2022 because of those added playmakers and a year more in Satterfield’s scheme.
And South Carolina his hoping they leave a lot of defenses huffing and puffing this season.
“I think that goes to show the kind of playmakers we have. We can get guys out in space, those fast guys where no matter what’s out there with little grass they’re going to go get it. They can turn what seems to be a two-yard gain into a 12-yard gain.”
