Scouting Report: South Carolina
Oklahoma doesn’t have much time to sulk over last weekend’s disappointing 23-6 loss to Texas.
The No. 14-ranked Sooners (5-1, 1-1 SEC) now head out to Columbia, South Carolina for their first true road contest in SEC play. The Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC) are certainly struggling after 20-10 loss to LSU, and they’ve lost their three SEC games by a combined 43 points.
The Sooners are a 5.5-point betting favorite, but getting any road win the SEC isn’t easy. And considering the gauntlet the Sooners face the rest of the way — after this game, their final five opponents are currently ranked in the AP Top 25 — it’s imperative they find a way to win this weekend.
Here’s a look at South Carolina and what the Sooners will face this weekend:
Game info
When: 11:45 a.m. CT
Where: Williams-Bryce Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
TV: SECN
South Carolina Overview
Scoring offense: 22.3 points per game (T-104th nationally)
Scoring defense: 19.0 points per game (T-32nd nationally)
Total offense: 310.0 yards per game (123rd nationally)
Total defense: 339.5 yards per game (50th nationally)
Rushing offense: 115.3 yards per game (112th nationally)
Rushing defense: 147.0 yards per game (73rd nationally)
Passing offense: 194.7 yards per game (100th nationally)
Passing defense: 192.5 yards per game (40th nationally)
Key Players
LaNorris Sellers, QB
1,010 passing yards, 4 TD, 2 INT, 64% completion, 70 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
Rahsui Faison, RB
54 carries, 231 yards, 3 TD
Vandrevius Jacobs, WR
20 receptions, 341 yards, 2 TD
DQ Smith, DB
32 tackles, 1 INT
Dylan Stewart, DE
27 tackles, 9 TFL, 3.5 sacks
Bryan Thomas Jr.
21 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks
Peyton Williams
22 tackles, 2 INT
Early Observations
— Struggles on the offensive line
Essentially every statistic paints the picture of a South Carolina offensive line that has struggled mightily this season.
The Gamecocks ranks 124th in sacks allowed (20), 108th in tackles for loss allowed (37), 112th in rushing offense and 125th in yards per carry (3.19). Per Pro Football Focus, the Gamecocks rank 123rd in run blocking and 106th in pass blocking.
The Gamecocks actually finished with 193 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry in last week’s loss to Florida, but that’s a bit misleading. That output includes 72-yard run from Matt Fuller. Take out that play, and the Gamecocks finished with 121 yards on 2.8 yards per carry. The offensive line also gave up five sacks.
The Sooners’ defensive line should have the advantage in the trenches.
— Little success in the passing game
The passing numbers for Sellers and the offense have been bad across the board. There’s just a lack of efficiency and production.
There hasn’t been much explosiveness, either. Sellers ranks 91st in passing plays of 10-plus yards (40) and tied for 73rd in plays of 20-plus yards (16).
The biggest thing for OU’s defense will be keeping Sellers contained in the pocket, and not allowing him to escape and utilize his rushing ability.
— Room to run for OU‘s offense
It’s no secret that OU’s rushing attack has been abysmal. The Sooners rank 106th in rushing offense, and it wasn’t good last week against Texas.
But if there is any time for the run game to have success, it might have to be this weekend. The Gamecocks have struggled mightily against the run. They’ve allowed at least 146 rushing yards in three of four games against SEC opponents. Last week, LSU finished with 166 yards on 5.5 yards per carry. Missouri ran for 285 yards on nearly six yards per carry against this South Carolina defense.
It’s probably not reasonable to expect OU’s rushing attack to turn into a juggernaut, either this weekend or the rest of the way. But this should be a game where the Sooners can at least find something on the ground.
— Limit South Carolina’s defensive ends
If there’s been a strength for South Carolina, it’s been at defensive end. Stewart and Thomas have combined for 14 TFLs and 6.5 sacks.
That’s not exactly ideal for an OU offensive line that ranks 87th in sacks allowed and just surrendered five against Texas. It’s also unclear if right tackle Derek Simmons, who left the Texas game early, will be available this weekend.
The Sooners have to find ways to keep Stewart and Thomas from disrupting things on offense.
— Winning the turnover margin
The Gamecocks rank eighth in turnover margin. They’ve forced 12 takeaways, which has helped offset the six turnovers they’ve committed on offense.
The Sooners are still sputtering in the turnover margin. John Mateer threw three interceptions against Texas, bringing the offense’s turnover total to nine on the season. The defense has only forced two takeaways on the season.
The Sooners learned last week how difficult it is to win in the SEC when they lose the turnover margin. That’s gotta change this weekend.
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