WATCH: How South Carolina is handling its success

With South Carolina being ranked for the first time since 2018, Shane Beamer talked about how the team is handling its recent success. Kendall Smith has more.

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MORE on South Carolina’s success– Recap: South Carolina coordinators preview Missouri

By Collyn Taylor

South Carolina’s coordinators met with the media Wednesday afternoon to preview the Gamecocks’ match up with Missouri Saturday.

Here are the highlights from Marcus Satterfield, Clayton White and Pete Lembo.

Marcus Satterfield

–Asked about those three plays at the goal line, said those are in the red zone package and the third down throw was designed to isolate Stogner.

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–Feels like Rattler is coming along well in the vertical passing game. Very happy with where he is in progressing in South Carolina’s offense. From week one to now he’s understanding more of what’s being asked and has some really good in-game timing and getting better and more comfortable with everything that comes with being an SEC quarterback. Said Wednesday was probably his best practice since he’s been there.

–Said the crazy thing is this team right now is more successful on third and long right now than third and short. Said some of that has to come up front and not allow penetration quickly. Said they’ve gotten a lot better on third down but have to continue to improve.

–Getting better on third down comes with staying on schedule on first and second down. Teams that do that usually win. Have to run the football and stay on schedule. Weren’t on schedule in the middle of the game.

–Thinks this team played with better tempo in the second half.

–Perimeter blocking has really improved and that’s helped the run game and give some more explosive runs. Helps in scheme too. Said technique has been good and he’s been pleased with effort.

–Missouri’s players are good and the have a “sound” and “exotic” scheme. They’re athletic, good length and very active up front. Have some personnel groupings with seven DBs.

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–Motion can be used in a few ways to motion guys. Said he can use a lot of it to get guys in positions and angles for blocks or matchups. A lot of times it’s motion to see what coverage a defense is in.

–Jaheim Bell is one of the most talented players he’s been around. Said he’s worked really hard over the last few weeks. Mentions outside of just handing him the ball, a defense can do more to take him out of plays. Now it’s about putting him in situations to get the ball with less deterrents to get him the ball. Had a good week of practice last week and continued this week.

–Bell has to go put things on tape where he’s not just playing offense and getting the ball. He’s put on tape where hes’ on the field and not getting the ball. Hopefully because of that he might get more targets if a defense isn’t specifically trying to take him away.

–Nate Adkins is an elite football mind and a big help in the run game. Has “elite” hands and runs good routes. Willing to do whatever it takes to be successful as a team.

–That Jalen Brooks reverse is a good “changeup.” Puts him in space and gives South Carolina a spark.

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–Trai Jones, Jakai Moore and Vershon Lee are playing well. All are pretty interchangeable. Jones is the only one who’s specifically an interior guy. Want to have 7-8 guys able to go. All of them have earned a right to get out there and play. Jaylen Nichols didn’t get him a lot of snaps but the plan was to play him but “good ole Satterfield, we went three and out.” All are going to have roles and spots where they play.

Clayton White

–Asked about Cam Smith, said he might’ve gotten away with things at times. Mentions coaches talk with officials (South Carolina does as well) and mention which players could be handy.

–Said he’s really pleased with the pass rush and them causing disruption and discomfort. Jokes that three of the last four quarterbacks who they played limped off the field.

–Mindset is you want to be aggressive. Guys are starting to understand and he’s able to be more aggressive and call more blitzes. Said it tends to look like they’re blitzing more.

–Said take away the numbers he feels like that was probably one of the best team defensive performances of the entire season. Said felt like they handled a high-level opponent well.

–Mentions Missouri is going to challenge them from a motion and shift perspective. Some teams motion early and go away with it but the Tigers do it all game.

–Humbling to be included in some of those head coaching lists. But as far as the Charlotte job, he hasn’t heard anything from them. Said Bruce Feldman put out the tweet and folks ran with it. Said it’s nice for the guys in the building to be recognized but hasn’t talked to anyone.

Pete Lembo

–Said he got really emotional from the start of the game throughout the rest of it. Said it was “amazing” and doesn’t think anyone inside the building takes that for granted. Gives a ton of credit to Shane Beamer for preparing the team.

–Said this was a monumental project when they took it over and the fact there are two marquee wins and they’re in the spot they are is “unbelievable.” Said it starts with his energy level and his growth and maturity and being a great CEO, etc. Jokes Beamer has a standing desk now and rarely sits down. He’s impressed with Beamer and proud of him. He’s doing a “fabulous job.”

–Said the timing of that kick return was great. Mentions they missed on a few other big returns just on some mistimed everything. Going back to last spring they dedicated a lot of time to the return and opened up a competition to find the best people in terms of timing to return kicks. Lembo said Xavier Legette had a chance to be “special” there with his size, speed and athleticism. Jokes the return was “the good, bad and ugly.” It was blocked really well at times by a few guys. Jokes Nate Adkins missed a few reps getting an ankle taped in practice. Then the ugly were the backside blocks. Said they gave XL just enough time and space.

–Jokes returning an opening kick on the opposing sideline is like riding past a guy with his ex-girlfriend.

–Mentions Tonka Hemingway continues to play really well.

–Said they only get a few minutes a week to rep an onside kick. Said they repped it and that exact look on Friday and didn’t execute. They’ll learn from it.

–Not kicking a field goal late was a “trust your gut” moment. Said they were all on the same page there in what they wanted to do. Mentions A&M had a great field goal block unit and they definitely took that into consideration.

–Always trying to keep in perspective how many snaps a guy is playing on defense/offense and limiting special teams snaps.

–On the blocked kick, said they always emphasize lifting the ball. Most kicks are blocked up the middle and not off the edge. So they talk about elevating. Typically, Jeter gets a little bit of turf to come up and that means he’s hitting the sweet spot. He didn’t get that on that PAT and hit it a little lower than typical. Barrett got pushed back on that play a little bit. Bottom line, though, is it has to be a much higher kick.

–Kai Kroeger is on the hands team and Lembo brings up a good point. Kroeger is the holder and spends a lot of time in practice catching balls. He’s getting “hundreds” of reps while other hands teams players might be getting less. Said on that onside, Kroeger could have been a little bit more aggressive. If he makes a play on it, at worst he can jar it loose and make it a scramble for the ball.

–It’s a huge compliment to everyone in the program to have him and White’s name mentioned for other opportunities. It’s a positive reflection for the entire program and the players on the field. For him, he’s made it abundantly clear, he loves South Carolina and his role here. It’s a place where he feels great to do his job and loves Shane Beamer and working together. Happy with how the guys have bought in and loves working with this staff. He appreciates getting called out. He does love being a head coach and wants to be one again but he’s not looking and it has to be the right fit. Being at South Carolina is a “very fulfilling job.”

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