Quarterback questions arise as offense stagnates again

Two weekends ago, after a 20-15 victory over East Carolina, Will Muschamp declared Brandon McIlwain the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback moving forward. Two games later, it could be time for a re-evaluation.

McIlwain struggled passing in Saturday’s 24-13 loss to Texas A&M, throwing for just 34 yards through less than three-and-a-half quarters. The Gamecocks’ punter Sean Kelly outgained McIlwain through the air, passing for 36 yards on a fake punt.

The freshman was pulled when Texas A&M went up 21-10 in favor of Perry Orth. The senior would go 11-for-18 over the last 11:40 in the game, amassing 138 yards and putting the Gamecocks in field goal range twice.

“We just felt like we needed to get the ball more vertical down the field,” head coach Will Muschamp said. “We were struggling to do that and that’s why we made the change. I’m not disappointed with Brandon at all. We just needed to get the ball more down the field.”

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Muschamp said he’ll have to “probably think it through” on if Orth will start next weekend against Georgia.

Orth took reps this week with the second team and McIlwain with the first. Orth said he’s not concerned about who will be the go-to quarterback next week, saying, “whatever Coach Muschamp and Coach (Kurt) Roper decide is what we’re going to do.”

“I’m always getting ready to play no matter what,” Orth said. “When they called my number I worked my butt off all week to get ready to play, and I always cherish the opportunity to do that.”

The Gamecocks were without Deebo Samuel for the third straight game and Bryan Edwards as well. Both missed due to a hamstring, and it showed. Aside from the 75-yard run to open the game, the offense had 302 yards and averaged 4.39 yards per play.

Of the six players to catch a pass, only two had more than 30 yards, and the offense sputtered without Samuel and Edwards on the wings.

“Those two guys are two guys you have to account for as a play caller. It changes how the game’s called,” Muschamp said. “There’s a lot of things that they bring to the table that maybe don’t go down-in, down-out noticed that changes the game.”

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With uncertainty about who will start under center, running back AJ Turner said both add wrinkles to an offense with McIlwain more of a dual-threat player and Orth bringing downfield passing.

“(McIlwain’s) doing a heck of a job for an 18 year old. I don’t know if I could do these things as an 18 year old and be that mature,” Hurst said. “Perry’s kind of a seasoned veteran. He’s been around; he’s played SEC games. They both bring tremendous things to the table.”

This is the third time in five games the offense has failed to score more than one touchdown and the fourth time this season it hasn’t scored at least 20 points.

On the other side of the ball, the Gamecocks have held opponents to just 18.6 points per game. Texas A&M came into the game averaging 43 points per game and almost 546 yards and the Aggies were limited to 24 points on 422 yards.

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Chris Lammons said he’s not frustrated with the offense knowing it has inexperienced players getting a lot of snaps. A switch back to Orth could happen Saturday with Muschamp mulling it.

Hurst echoed what offensive lineman Mason Zandi said after the Kentucky game saying the unit is “close” to getting over the hump, regardless of who’s in as play caller. That’s being noticed by the defense as well.

“We have to keep turning the page. Everybody sees it’s getting a step closer each game,” Bryson Allen-Williams said. “We have confidence in our offense and we just have to continue to step it up on defense.”