Recap: South Carolina players preview Missouri
South Carolina players met with the media Tuesday afternoon to preview Saturday’s game against Missouri.
Here are some highlights from the press conferences.
Christian Beal Smith
–Said it felt really good to be back on the field. His dream has been to play for South Carolina. He’s not 100 percent but getting “close to that point.”
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–South Carolina expected to be ranked at the start of the season so now they’re trying to get higher in the rankings each week.
–Being able to beat Texas A&M was really good. He was on the Wake Forest team that beat the Aggies in a bowl game so it feels good to beat that team twice.
–Jokes they threw in the wildcat package in last week in practice. Being able to install that and have some success in it is a good thing.
–Despite going 8-for-16 on third down Saturday, he still thinks they should have converted more on third down. Said he takes two of those on him because he was dropped for losses.
–It’s fun to get the ball and go downhill. It’s a little bit different than the Wake offense he was in last year.
–He brings a power back kind of role. Being able to be part of the offense and contribute is “uplifting.”
–He shouts out the South Carolina fanbase. The crowd helped on third downs and thinks they did a great job Saturday night.
–From the start of the season, he didn’t feel like they weren’t connecting or clicking as a team. Now, they’ve grown so much and building that team chemistry. That’s fun to be around right now.
Austin Stogner
–Comes down to making plays and winning one on one battles for him to get the ball more.
–Said he “didn’t really care” about getting ranked. Getting ranked means nothing. They still have to play Missouri regardless of the ranking.
–Missouri has been good on third down defensively but they’re just another team. Said they just have to win some one-on-one battles.
–Getting the tight ends more involved has to come down to execution. Had some drops and that can’t happen.
–Missouri’s defense plays really hard and has a great edge. Have to be on their stuff technique-wise and they have to do what they do.
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–Every week is a new week. Have to have the same intensity and not get complacent. It’s college football so any team can lose on any given week. Have to continue to take a serious approach. Thinks they took a good step forward in practice.
–Said Oklahoma rushed the field twice last year with him on the team. Then Baylor rushed it when they beat Oklahoma. Said he’s been part of both sides. Jokes he was trying to get off the field against Baylor. Said he wasn’t worried about getting hit.
Josh Vann
–It’s been “a little frustrating” this year for him. Was hoping and assuming this year was going to be a climb. Said he’s been finding other things to work on with playing without the ball and blocking. Said this season is going to help him at the next level if he gets there. Won’t be the No. 1 guy in the NFL if he gets there. But trying to chisel out a role.
–Said it feels like yesterday he was arriving on campus as a freshman but it’s been “nothing but the best” the last five years. Vann said there’s “nothing like being in Columbia.” Said the environment was rocking last week. Means everything to be here and spend his career at South Carolina.
–Doesn’t pay attention to a lot of the rankings. It’s nice but they can’t get complacent. Have to keep their heads down and work. Good folks are sleeping on them but now everyone knows they can compete against good teams. Great to be recognized.
–Feels nice to contribute on third downs and having a role. Credits Rattler for trusting him to get the ball on third downs.
–Whenever his number gets called, it’s just progressing through the play and he ends up popping open. Can’t get complacent or a big head. Has to be ready for the play when it comes.
–Having a good third down play is a mindset thing to not get off the field. Doesn’t think about necessarily being a third-down guy but third-down is typically when the best players are getting the ball. Just comes down to trust. A good receiver on third down just has to get open. That’s “what it’s all about.”
–Jokes he tells himself before each game to return every punt. Mentions last year he fair caught a lot in large part because he was playing a lot offensively. With his offensive snaps limited a little this year returning punts is a great chance to make some plays.
–Proud of some of the perimeter blocking they’re doing regardless of the run or screen game. Said it’s about staying square and letting go at the right time. Prides themselves on making plays when the ball comes to them but also making plays blocking on the perimeter.
–Best competition comes in practice. Really feels like they get better day in and day out in practice in the secondary.
–Mentions it is a little tough balancing school, being a dad and football but “I’m the man of the house and have to get it done.” Said it’s a good example he’s setting for his daughter and his teammates that he’s committed to both.
–Take a lot of pride in special teams. They take it “very serious.” It’s good to have all three phases as dominant as they’ve been. Pride themselves on them. Xavier Legette had that return. Jokes he tells the punt team to stop blocking kicks so he can return one.
Jordan Burch
–Jokes it was a little frustrating not getting home for sacks but they have really done a great job affecting the quarterback. Said A&M had a lot of yards running and sacks would change that a little bit and potentially change those play calls.
–Excited for the energy and intensity the fans are going to bring for the Homecoming game.
–Missouri shifts a lot but just have to stay in gaps and be sound there.
–Thinks they’ve done a good job being physical and staying in the run gaps in rush defense.
Cam Smith
–Said getting penalties called on him is just part of the game. Just has to move on
–Said as a corner an offensive shift doesn’t matter as much. Mentions backs shifting are keys for linebackers/nickels/safeties in terms of where gaps shifts.
–Said when the defense is clicking it can get scary. Burch said there are not many balls caught over 10-plus yards.
–Said he might be an older guy but he’s never had this much success at South Carolina and never won this much early in a year. Has to stay the course.
Brad Johnson
–Asked about Cam Smith, he plays “balls to the wall” and sometimes gets calls against him. Said he can get frustrated at times but he lets his emotions show at first but composes himself.
–Majority of shifts are window dressing and getting guys eyes in the wrong places. Prep is watching film, knowing where you’re supposed to be and when you have to be accountable for those motions. All about communicating and making sure folks are on the same page. Have to make sure everyone knows their responsibilities.
–Only has two home games left while trying to soak it all in as his college career ends.
–Jokes it’s a different feeling being 5-2. Said there’s always positivity in the building but it’s good to have the results too. Trying to ride the momentum and not change anything up. Wants to have more tenacity and more focus. Feels good to be on this four-game win streak.
–Said he also has to remind himself sometimes these young guys don’t know what the previous culture was like. The culture and success this year is what they know. Have to remind them it doesn’t just happen or come easy. Have to put in the work and things will fall into place.
–It’s a long, tough season in the SEC but having everyone last week was a good feeling. It was good to have everyone on the field and getting second or third-stringers on the field. Played a team game. Clayton White was talking about how no one group dominated and it was a complete effort from this defense.
–Said everyone really likes White and everyone on the team can come and talk with him no matter if it’s a starter or a third-stringer or a scout team guy.
–CBS is also a hard-nosed guy and a willing blocker too. That’s the kind of guy he is. Just wants to do whatever his role is to the best of his ability.
–Everybody wants that type of win where the home crowd storms the field. Can’t imagine that atmosphere. Every competitor wants that atmosphere to come to life and he loves this home atmosphere. Calls it a “ridiculous” atmosphere.
–Thinks they’re really improved on third down. That was a focal point this offseason. That was an issue last year. The number one job of the defense is to put the offense back on the field. They’ve fine-tuned some things and really harped on it. It’s starting to pay off and keep the trend going.
–Team also expected some respect going into the year and felt like they didn’t get that going into the year. Now they’re on a win streak and get some recognition have to continue to have those blinders that they had when they weren’t getting the recognition. Shane Beamer also emphasizes resisting comfort. Have to stay away from the things that will make them complacent.
