Gamecocks putting added pressure on themselves to start fast at home
It’s been the same story for South Carolina’s defense in both games this season: start slow, finish stronger. Now, the defense is trying to change the narrative.
The Gamecocks have played two SEC games and have been outscored 34-0 in those contests. The defense has given up 433 yards combined in the first halves of each game.
The problem? Tackling.
It’s been an Achilles heel for the South Carolina defense over the past few seasons, and it reared its head again against Mississippi State in the form of 324 first half yards including 189 on the ground.
“It’s definitely frustrating because that’s what we’ve done in the past and that’s not what our coaches coach. That’s not what they teach us. We have a great fundamental coaching staff,” linebacker Bryson-Allen Williams said. “And that’s not what we executed. It’s disappointing to them but it’s more disappointing to us because that’s not what we worked that hard for. We don’t work hard to go lay an egg.”
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Will Muschamp and company have tried to remedy slow starts and the tackling in practice this week with linebacker T.J. Holloman saying the team’s worked extensively on wrapping up.
The defense will try and reverse the trend Saturday and get off to a fast start when it hosts East Carolina in the first game at Williams-Brice this season. For a few players, there’s a pressure to make sure the home opener doesn’t go the way of the first two games.
“As players we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” wide receiver K.C. Crosby said. “We’re trying to push each other more and more rather than having coach keep yelling at us. We need to be able to self correct each other.”
The Gamecocks haven’t lost to the Pirates since 1999, going 3-0 in that span. In the latest matchup between the two, South Carolina won 33-23 at Williams-Brice. Allen-Williams said the coaches really delved into film study with the team and tried to show them what they did wrong in last week’s matchup.
“We know how we’re supposed to play, we know what we’re supposed to do,” defensive lineman Dante Sawyer said. “We came out slow last week and that’s over. We’re just trying regain, rebuild and do what we know we can do.”
Saturday will be the first of seven home games this season, including five straight at home starting Oct. 1. After two straight weeks on the road, the Gamecocks are ready to get back and play in friendlier confines and hopefully give the fans a better showing than last week.
“It’s good coming home playing in front of the greatest fan base in the country,” Allen-Williams said. “We’re excited and we’re definitely going to put together a better performance this week. I promise.”
