Lack of execution dooms Gamecocks in blowout loss

CLEMSON—South Carolina’s been in this situation before, and knew what was coming. They just didn’t stop it. That was the story the entire night Saturday, and it resulted in a 56-7 blowout loss to the Tigers.

The Gamecocks (6-6) knew what to expect from the Clemson front seven that’s been successful all season blitzing and pressuring the quarterback. It just did little to stop it.

Jake Bentley, Perry Orth and Brandon McIlwain were sacked a combined three times and pressured twice more. In the rushing game, the Gamecocks picked up 111 yards on 29 carries, an average of 3.8 yards per carry.

“It’s frustrating seeing the things you do and you know how to block it but you still can’t execute. It’s frustrating, but after that play you have to move on,” lineman Zack Bailey said. “That’s our biggest thing. You can’t dwell on the past.”

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The Gamecocks had trouble all night blocking a seemingly faster Clemson defense and it was hard for receivers to get separation down the field. What that resulted in was a season-low 107 yards passing.

No receiver had more than 33 yards through the air Saturday night. Hayden Hurst, who had trouble blocking and getting open in the receiving game (three catches for 26 yards), said there was a problem with execution across the offense.

“We just weren’t good with picking them up tonight,” he said. “You saw what happened.”

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The same problems dealing with tackling, covering and making plays in the open field haunted the Gamecock defense, which allowed 622 yards, 372 through the air. Clemson averaged seven yards per play and 12.8 yards per catch.

The Gamecocks also only forced one turnover Saturday, an uncharacteristic night for a usually turnover-hungry defense.

“We put in too much time in the offseason, we put in too much time during the season to get to this point to not make those plays. We just have to go out there and execute, especially when you’re playing a good team like that.”

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No player credited the loss on the coaches’ game plan, citing the lack of execution as the primary culprit. It was the same problems that came back to bite the Gamecocks as always, and D.J. Smith knows what it’s going to take to start winning more games.

“We got good coaches, I think we got some of the best in the country,” he said. “But we were in position and we didn’t make the plays. When it comes down to it, we have to make the plays.”