South Carolina takes red-hot pass rush into tough Missouri test
The shiny numbers for a defensive line center around sacks. But South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White likes to evaluate things from a different perspective.
The Gamecocks want to pressure the quarterback but also want every passer to feel it the next day after playing South Carolina.
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“To me, it’s all about affecting the quarterback. You want stats for the numbers and people judge you on your full body of work. But we remember how those quarterbacks felt at the end of those games. I think four of these quarterbacks limped off at the end of the game,” White said.
“We’re not out to hurt people but we want to cause some discomfort. At least three or four guys have limped off the field…It didn’t feel like zero sacks. It felt like a lot of hits.”
And the Gamecocks have done a good job making their presence felt in the pass rush over the last two games.
Against Kentucky and Texas A&M–both SEC wins–South Carolina’s generated pressure on 61.4 percent of total dropbacks (83) with a whopping 12 hits on the opposing team’s quarterback.
The Gamecocks have generated 33 total hurries (39.8 percent of dropbacks) with four batted balls, according to Pro Football Focus.
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Quarterbacks are 12-for-28 and averaging 4.9 yards per pass attempt under pressure the last two games with two throwaways, a touchdown and one interception.
That’s an NFL passer rating of 55.21.
“Obviously you’d love to get sacks and tackles for loss. But we hit that Texas A&M quarterback the other night a lot…you’re constantly feeling pressure, whether it be from the front four, from the secondary pressure Clayton was calling,” Shane Beamer said.
“The more you can affect that quarterback and not let him get comfortable the better. Ideally, you’d love to have sacks but the more you can affect that guy and hurry throws and make him feel the rush is what we want to get done.”
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But South Carolina faces a tough text this week against Missouri. The Tigers are sixth in the SEC allowing pressure on just 27.98 percent of dropbacks.
Brady Cook, though, has struggled under pressure (5.3 yards per attempt, 56.1 rating) but those pressures are relatively infrequent. Getting to him is a big key in the game.
“It’s been pretty good. Going forward, I think it’s good but sacks would be better,” Jordan Burch said. “They had a lot of yards running and sacks would affect that too and push them back.”
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South Carolina is coming off arguably its two best defensive performances of the season and hoping it ocntinues this week at home against the Tigers.
“I would say it was probably one of our better ones top to bottom from beginning to end against a high-level opponent with good talent. Kentucky was a good night but Texas A&M was different. They were a little more spread out with a fast running back (Devon Achane),” White said.
“We couldn’t give him seams and he got two seams for 25 yards and a 15-yard touchdown. From that standpoint, I would say that was one of our better performances.”
