Orth still optimistic about offense as season reaches halfway point
The first six weeks of the 2016 season have been mostly forgettable for the South Carolina offense as shown by the latest SEC team statistics, but quarterback Perry Orth insists the Gamecocks have done enough positive things recently to warrant optimism for the second half, which kicks off Oct. 22 against UMass, the third of five straight home games.
“We’re getting close,” Orth said. “I believe it. We just have to keep working through the bye week and get ready for UMass.”
Entering Week 7 of the schedule, the Gamecocks are last in the SEC in scoring offense (14.0 ppg), rushing offense (92.3 ypg), third-down conversions (27.1 percent), first downs (15.8 per game) and red zone offense (68.8 scoring pct.).
Those meager numbers prompted Muschamp to proclaim after Sunday’s 28-14 loss to Georgia that all positions were “wide open” heading into the bye week.
“Our guys have to get ready to work,” Orth said. “He’s trying to motivate us and if he believes all positions are open, you have to attack every day like you’re not going to play.”
USC’s passing numbers have improved, though, over the past three weeks. Completion percentage has grown from 50 percent at Kentucky (15-30) to 62.9 percent vs. Texas A&M (22-35) to 72.2 percent (26-36) against Georgia. With that, passing yardage has increased from 177 yards to 217 to 288.
Nonetheless, the running game took a step backwards against Georgia.
“I hope everybody has seen the improvement,” Orth said. “There has been improvement in different areas as the season has gone along. It just hasn’t come together yet. We’re still working and figuring things out. We have so many young guys that haven’t played and are still learning how to play. It’s challenging, but I think we’re going to turn it around.”
The shortage of reliable playmakers has manifested itself on a weekly basis, a hindrance that can only be solved through aggressive recruiting. Help is on the way with transfer running back Ty’Son Williams and highly-touted wide receivers OrTre Smith and Shi Smith expected to contribute in 2017.
This season? Over the final six games, keeping wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards healthy is key as they are probably USC’s only two threats able to stretch opposing defenses vertically.
“As a quarterback, you want to have guys like Deebo and Bryan in there,” Orth said. “But it’s next man up. You have to make your reads regardless of who the receiver is. Deebo and Bryan are big-time players. They catch the football and make plays with it. That’s what you want in a receiver.”
Samuel caught four passes for a season-high 90 receiving yards against Georgia last Saturday as Orth passed for a season-high 288 yards.
In three games this season (he missed the ECU, Kentucky and Texas A&M games with a hamstring issue), Samuel has caught eight passes for 156 yards (19.5 yards per catch) and ran the ball twice on jet sweeps, both for touchdowns. Additionally, he returned two punts for 8 yards.
Those 12 touches in three games for Samuel, an average of 4.0 per game. Orth contends that’s insufficient for the sophomore from Inman.
“You all saw what he did with the ball (against Georgia),” Orth said. “He’s a special playmaker and we’re glad to have him healthy again. He’s a big-time player. He and Bryan do a great job stretching the field. They bring that vertical threat. They are both special players. You want to get the ball in their hands. I think we’re more comfortable calling for drop-back passes when they’re in the game. There are more options when they’re on the field because they can do more things.”
Until the Gamecocks are able to force opposing defenses to respect the deep pass, running the football will continue to be challenging.
“It’s tough but you just have to believe you’re going to get out of it,” Orth said. “It’s like playing baseball and you’re in a slump. The only way to get out of a slump is just believe you’re going to get out of it. That’s where we are right now. We’re in a little rut right now. We have to believe we’re capable of getting out of it. I think we are.”
Orth said he will spend the bye week working on perfecting his balance, footwork and alignment in his throwing motion following an uneven performance against Georgia.
“The numbers don’t look too bad,” Orth said. “There are a lot of things I could have done differently. A little more accurate passing so guys can catch the ball and run instead of having to slow down to catch it. I’m just growing in the offense. This is still my first year in the system. I still have to learn what Coach (Kurt) Roper wants from me.”
NOTES
-- The Gamecocks practiced Wednesday morning and are scheduled to work out again on Thursday before taking a two-day break before returning to campus on Sunday and beginning UMass preparations in earnest.
-- Muschamp suggested during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference that all three quarterbacks worked with the first team offense during practice earlier in the day: “We rotated all three in there. We haven’t gotten enough production from the position,” Muschamp said. “(We have) multiple issues offensively, but we need to get better at that position so we repped all three guys.”
-- Orth on true freshman QB Jake Bentley: “He has a lot of ability. He’s still working on some things. I’m excited for his future down the road. I’m excited to watch him play.”
-- Orth on the differences in the Gamecock program one year after Spurrier’s resignation: “There are some things that are done differently, but for the most part it’s been the same teammates. So, it hasn’t felt that much different. The attention to detail is different.”
