Offense sputters again, Zandi vows to correct issues immediately
The crowd boomed as the Gamecocks got ready to snap the ball on fourth down, trailing by seven with about two minutes left in the game. Brandon McIlwain took the snap and was immediately pressured before being dropped for a loss of 19.
The play turned into microcosm of the Gamecocks’ offense that sputtered throughout a 17-10 loss to Kentucky Saturday night.
Nine of the Gamecocks’ 11 drives were longer than three plays with five of those being 20 yards or longer. The problem became squeezing points out of those drives; only two yielded points and Sean Kelly punted nine times in the game.
So when McIlwain, making his second-career start, dropped back on a drive spanning 10 plays and 16 yards, the sack and turnover on downs was fitting.
“We’re all frustrated. As an offensive line we need to give him more time. That’s all I can really say,” lineman Mason Zandi said. “We’re going to control what we need to control.”
The freshman quarterback finished 15-for-30 passing with 177 yards. He rushed for 41 yards and was sacked four times.
Missing starting wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Randrecous Davis, the offense had only two passes longer than 20 yards, both to tight ends. Both missed because of hamstring injuries, and Samuel is expected back next week.
“It’s frustrating in the passing game because of the lack of continuity,” head coach Will Muschamp said. “We’re just having a hard time getting anything going in the throwing game. We’re lacking a lot in execution and a lot of that has to do with timing. It’s frustrating.”
Zandi said after the game it’s the offense’s job to “man up” and get better before the Gamecocks come back to Columbia for a five-game home stand starting next weekend. The consistency is something he sees as something right on the horizon.
“Oh, we’re right there. We’re right there,” he said. “I think the run game’s right there; I think we can pass pretty well. We’re right there on the edge. It’s a matter of taking that step.”
Tight end Hayden Hurst, who led all receivers with 84 yards, said even though the game ended in a loss, the offense strung together good drives but just didn’t finish. He said being able to move the ball will give the team more confidence moving forward and now it’s about finishing.
He said being in these type of close games is only beneficial for the last eight games of the season.
“For us it’s experience,” Hurst said. “The more we get out here and get into these type of environments, I know it wasn’t the result we all hoped it was, but we get out there and get the experience. It’s just going to help us in the long run.”
South Carolina returns home to play Texas A&M next weekend. The Aggies boast one of the best linebackers in the country in Myles Garrett and a high-flying offense led by Trevor Knight.
Preparation time is similar for both teams with the Aggies playing Arkansas in a night game Saturday. With limited time to prepare, Zandi was adamant about fixing the offensive issues sooner rather than later, and he said it starts Sunday in practice.
Kickoff against A&M is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“We’re going to come to work tomorrow and we’re going to prepare harder, we’re going to practice harder, we’re going to do everything so much harder than we did,” Zandi said. “That’s the only way I can explain it. We don’t have time to hang our heads; come in tomorrow and work.”
