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Problems plaguing Gamecock defense resurface in loss to Bulldogs

A week after a high-flying show in Nashville where the defense stifled the Vanderbilt offense, the Gamecocks are now scrambling to find answers.

The Gamecocks looked hapless in the first half of Saturday’s 27-14 loss to Mississippi State, giving up 324 total yards and 24 points through the first two quarters.

Mississippi State got a big lift from starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald in only his second career start. The sophomore carved up the South Carolina defense in the first half, completing 77.8 percent of his passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

He had a passer rating of 158.4 and tacked on 134 rushing yards as well. Fitzgerald busted a 74-yard run in the first quarter, leading the Bulldogs to 189 first-half rushing yards and 324 total yards.

“You got to tackle. That 70-yarder? We had three guys at the point of attack,” head coach Will Muschamp said. “So we’re going to work on tackling again tomorrow.”

Also see: Photos from Saturday's game

The second half it was much of the same for Fitzgerald, who rushed for 61 yards and set a school rushing record for a quarterback with 195 yards.

Similar to last weekend at Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks were better over the last 30 minutes, breaking down and tackling better and limiting the Bulldogs to just three points.

Last week, the Gamecocks’ spotty tackling was bailed out at times by even spottier offensive play from the Commodores, but this weekend against a balanced Mississippi State team, they weren’t as lucky. Now they have two weeks of game film to watch to try and correct a problem plaguing the program for two years.

“You make mistakes in both games and no game’s perfect, linebacker T.J. Holloman said. “But tonight we’re really going to have to go back and watch the film and see what happened.”

But the Jekyll and Hyde nature of a defense riddled with poor tackling still leaves Muschamp walking away scratching his head.

“It’s hard to understand sometimes. Sometimes it seems that we’re a decent tackling team at times and other times we’re not,” Muschamp said. “You have to stick your face in there and tackle. Unfortunately we didn’t do that tonight. Especially in the first half.”

The Gamecocks will have to now work on these issues with a potential starter missing.

Chaz Elder left Saturday’s game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and his status is uncertain. And even if a player is healthy it’s no guarantee he’ll play. Muschamp pulled starting corner for his poor tackling.

Muschamp was very clear after the game on who will play on defense, saying it’s “they guys who are willing” to tackle.

“You got to tackle to play defense at South Carolina,” he said. “It’s kind of important.”

South Carolina will practice Sunday and Muschamp’s already said the team will work on tackling with a matchup against East Carolina looming. The Gamecocks will kick off against the Pirates Saturday at 4 p.m. with Muschamp expecting different results.

“You have to tackle. That’s the bottom line,” he said. “You have to get off blocks, you have to shed blocks, you have to get off the line and tackle. You throw a hitch, you have to tackle the guy; put the guy on the ground. You’re on scholarship, do it.”

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