Time becoming of the essence for South Carolina's offense 'to come together'
There were reasons behind the struggles. But none of it excuses the fact that it still happened.
Even though South Carolina managed to open the new season with a win, it was far from the results many, including the team itself, were expecting. It was a challenge for the Gamecocks to get to the finish line against Old Dominion. The defense stepped up to the plate and had an exceptional day. The offense, though? A lot left to be desired.
“No one’s happy in this building with the offensive performance — at all,” head coach Shane Beamer said.
Teased plenty going into the opener, South Carolina came out and ran the football a lot. 56 of the team’s 79 plays were rushing attempts, emphasizing just how different this year’s offense might be.
For the most part, the run game was fine and did its job. But there were plenty of issues in the passing game. It starts with LaNorris Sellers, who was making his first career start at quarterback, missing the mark on some of his throws. He also took off and ran plenty in the game, rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
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It wasn’t entirely on him, though. There was a clear disconnect between Sellers and his receivers on Saturday. It had been alluded to throughout fall camp, even Dowell Loggains was open as he could be and said no one had been able to separate themselves in that room and take the next step forward.
So when there was not a true top target for Sellers to throw to, it didn’t come as a big surprise.
“I thought we just looked off and we weren’t clicking on all cylinders. I’d be lying if I sat up here and said we were,” Beamer said. “We need to be better, there’s no question about it. I don’t like it. I hate to say it but it’s true, we’re continuing to jell as a receiving core with the quarterback.”
But that was just the start of South Carolina’s offensive deficiencies. From what the players had to say in the days following the win, not everyone was on the same page. Keep in mind, this was the first time most of the offense was playing together in a real game. After all, the Gamecocks only returned three starters from last year’s team.
“I’d say I’d blame it on communication and just not everybody being on the same accord,” said Vershon Lee, now a four-year starter on the offensive line.
“Not being together. Not everybody being on the same accord. When the call is made, everybody not making their design thing and not being at the same spot, or being at the right spot at the right time.”
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As the leader of the offensive line at center, Lee blamed himself for the communication issues from Saturday. If South Carolina is going to be successful this season, he knows that part of his job must be executed better.
“I would say it spreads out throughout the guys communicating within themselves,” Lee said. “But just being able to communicate with my guys, being able to control a different environment will always keep us right.”
However, there isn’t a lot of time to try new things and see if it sticks. South Carolina jumps right into SEC play with a trip to Kentucky looming on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC). Beamer admitted the team is trying to make adjustments to be better as quick as possible. It may be early in the season, but it’s going to fly by as he’s well aware.
“Told the team (on Tuesday), we’re 88 days away from the Clemson game. So we ain’t got a lot of time to sit around and wait and wait for this thing to jell. We’ve got to jell right now,” Beamer said. “We can’t just sit around and wait for it to happen we got to make it happen because each day we’re getting closer to the end of the regular season and we’ve got to come together pretty quickly here.”
