Shane Beamer says South Carolina is a 'better team' than early on

South Carolina (4-2) is off to its best start since 2017 under second-year head coach Shane Beamer. That mark is even more impressive when considering the Gamecocks started the season losing two of their first three games.

“We’re getting better. We’re certainly a different and better team than we were early in the season,” Beamer told Greg McElroy on a recent episode of Always College Football. “Hopefully we’re better than we were against Kentucky a couple weeks ago. We worked hard in that off week to get better.

“I think we dealt with some adversity early in the season. We haven’t had the same five defensive backs stay healthy and play in every game since the first series of the first game against Georgia State. … We’ve just continued to work and get better.”

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Most of the early criticism the Gamecocks received this season was directly put onto transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler‘s shoulders. Beamer defended his QB1

“Yes, it’s still year one in this system, and it’s still year one throwing to all these new wide receivers and tight ends,” Beamer said of Rattler. “Some of those guys weren’t here for spring practice. He continues to get better. I like where we are, and I’m proud of how we played against Kentucky. … Now the challenge for us is to get ready and do it again.”

Rattler hasn’t had the best of seasons. Ranking 81st in passing yards (1,298), 108th in touchdown passes (5), 118th in interceptions (8) and 100th in QBR (43.2), Rattler has thrown for over 300 yards on just one occasion this season – the 44-30 loss to Arkansas – but has improved tremendously during the three-game win streak the Gamecocks are currently on.

During the last three wins, Rattler’s touchdown-to-interception ratio might be 3-3, but he’s completed his passes at a near 75 percent clip since the Georgia loss and e seems to be trending upward the more reps he gets in a garnet and black.