Mizzou presents tempo problems
South Carolina’s move to an up-tempo offense has produced about 10 more rushes and passes a game than the Gamecocks averaged for the season a year ago when they ran off about 61 a game.
They are averaging just over 71 plays a game going into Saturday’s home game against Missouri, and coach Will Muschamp thinks it has helped.
“I think you look at some situations, go back to our last ball game as far as running the ball,” he said. “I think the tempo helped us in some situations. As I said, in the summer and going into training camp, it’s more about dictating the tempo of the game.”
Now Muschamp and his Gamecocks (2-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) will get a taste of what defending against up-tempo offenses is like when the Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC) visit. Through four outings, the Tigers are averaging a combined 86 rushes and passes a game
“You’ve got to get lined up. You’ve got to get your cleats in the dirt,” Muschamp said of going against a fast offense. “That’s the biggest thing when you play a team like this. You’ve got to understand that part of it.”
Preparing for the pace has been part of South Carolina’s practices this week.
“It’s just all about aligning, assignments, eye control in the right spot, and don’t let the tempo get you out of kilter,” Muschamp said. “That’s the bottom line. You can’t let it get you off rhythm, and that’s what it has done for (Missouri) in a lot of situations.
“Those to me are the critical things we’ve got to do.”
The Gamecocks are going into a little banged up after their loss last week at Kentucky, starting with quarterback Jake Bentley. Bentley had to leave the game late after injuring a knee, but he is back practicing.
Receiver Bryan Edwards also was hobbled by an ankle problem late in the game, but, he, too, is expected to play against the Tigers.
While the injuries are a concern, an even more immediate one is the penalty yardage the Gamecocks gave up in the 24-10 loss to the Wildcats. They were penalized 11 times for 95 yards, including four times for a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct violation. For the season, the Gamecocks are being penalized an average of eight times a game after being penalized an SEC low 62 times in 13 games last season.
“When you self-inflict wounds such as personal conduct penalties, we’re not going to tolerate it,” Muschamp said. “It’s been addressed. If I’m in a situation where I can sub and get you out of the game — unfortunately we are very thin in some spots, so I have a hard time subbing. I don’t want to penalize our entire football team because a guy makes a really poor decision, but it is being addressed.
“We have discipline in our organization. There were 11 penalties on the other side of the ball too on Saturday.”
