Like always, explosive plays are key

Since arriving in Columbia, head coach Will Muschamp has frequently pegged explosive plays as one of the key metrics in determining success on both offense and defense.

Against an especially explosive South Florida offense that averages 43.6 points per game, those plays -- defined by Muschamp as a run over 12 yards or a pass over 16 -- will be especially important to prevent.

"That's what we've been game-planning for this week," junior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams said. "We need to make sure that they don't have any explosive plays, because that's something that has killed us all year. In the games that we've won, we haven't allowed explosive plays. In the games that we've lost, we have allowed explosive plays."

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South Carolina players talked extensively this week about the need to wrap up during their tackle attempts against an offense they expect to mostly run the ball but to also attempt a lot of deep passes.

"Their offense is very explosive, starting out with their quarterback, a very great, talented player," junior defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth said. "Their running back is very talented and they've also got a talented receiver corps with a solid offensive line."

The success of that offense starts with the quarterback position where junior dual-threat signal-caller Quinton Flowers has 1,435 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Flowers has also completed 184 of 299 passes for 2,551 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

South Carolina hopes to keep Flowers in the pocket rather than on the perimeter where he makes most of his plays.

"He's a very explosive player," senior linebacker T.J. Holloman said. "I can't say that he really reminds me of anyone, he's very unique. For any team to have their leading rusher be the quarterback, that's unique. I've never seen that before. But he's a phenomenal player. We're going to have to buckle down and contain him."

Running back Marlon Mack is a bit overshadowed by Flowers, but Mack has had an impressive season in his own right. Flowers and Mack are third and fourth respectively in rushing in the American Athletic Conference.

Mack has rushed for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

"They're a dual-threat combo," Holloman said. "Mack, he's phenomenal. He's fast, physical, big. He's an NFL-style running back. We're going to have a tough time coming up against him. But I think we're come out and embrace the challenge."

The Flowers and Mack combo lead an offense that has 80 plays (12th nationally) of 20+ yards this season.

"We practiced tackling circuits every day, this whole week," Stallworth said. "He preaches that we've got to wrap up, because if you don't wrap these guys up, they're going to make explosive plays. And we don't need them to have explosive plays."