What South Carolina coach Shame Beamer said about upcoming matchup with Alabama

No. 4 Alabama’s matchup this week is against South Carolina, as the Crimson Tide will travel east to Columbia for the contest in Williams-Brice Stadium (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC).

On Wednesday morning, South Carolina head coach Shame Beamer joined the weekly SEC coaches teleconference to share his thoughts ahead of this weekend’s game.

Here’s everything he said about facing Alabama:

On Alabama’s offense under Ryan Grubb…

“I think it’s a lot of the same stuff. That entire offensive staff is still there. Last year, those guys coming from Washington are a part of that system. Coach DeBoer being the head coach, nothing has changed. Certainly when you have a new play caller you have a bit different flavor and style. There’s certainly a lot of similarities, but there’s certainly things you look at and some things that are different. Different style quarterback, last year it was Jalen Milroe, and some of the quarterback run game and things they’re doing. Now with Ty Simpson, he’s still an athlete and can certainly hurt you with his legs, but the dropback pass and what he can do from that standpoint, running the ball, playing behind a phenomenal offensive line that is doing a great job protecting quarterbacks. They look similar, have some differences. One thing that obviously jumps out is the efficiency they’re operating at. Look at their time of possession, their offense has had it 38 minutes, 35, 32 and 31 if I’m not mistaken. They’re doing a great job at operating at a high level.”

On South Carolina’s health entering the game…

“We played the Oklahoma game last week, when I did this teleconference last week we had three offensive linemen we knew that probably weren’t gonna play against Oklahoma. During the game we lost three more offensive linemen. So there’s six offensive linemen that weren’t able to finish the game that had started games for us this season. All those guys we expect to play this week except for one, that would be Cason Henry, that’s who started at offensive tackle against Missouri. But yes, it’s the healthiest we’ve been, certainly since the Missouri game last month. I’m not saying those guys are 100 percent, but the anticipation is they’ll be able to play this weekend as we sit here on Wednesday.”

On Alabama defending LaNorris Sellers…

“They did a good job. They make it tough on you with the looks they give you and there were times last year where they mix it up, or they’re playing coverage and they have a spy on him, which they did some last year. Or they’re zero blitzing us and bringing everyone and they know the ball’s got to get out of his hands quick, they rally up and make a tackle. Which is what they did some last year. They do a great job, Coach Wommack does a really nice job mixing things up, keeping you off balance. They did that last season, and we certainly have to stay ahead and be able to operate efficiently offensively.”

On recruiting Ty Simpson…

“Obviously it starts with his dad, I got a lot of respect for his dad, and him as a coach. At the time, our offensive coordinator was Marcus Satterfield who was at UT Martin with Jason Simpson, so we had a natural connection. Then I knew Jason also. We started recruiting him, obviously fell in love with the kid, coach’s son like myself. Just a great personality, dad’s awesome, mom is awesome. Someone that I really enjoyed recruiting, and you know is gonna be a successful player wherever he goes. Knew that if he didn’t come to your school he’s making a decision for the right reasons to go wherever he went. He went to Alabama, waited his time patiently, and he is certainly taking advantage of it now. He’s a heck of a talent.

“I texted his dad a couple nights ago sitting there and watching their offense on tape. Some of the throws Ty has made this season, they’re as good of throws as I have seen in a long time. Whether it be clutch plays on that fourth down against Missouri where they’ve got great coverage and he makes a heck of a throw, or some of the pressure he was under at times against Tennessee the other night, he’s able to sit in the pocket when Tennessee has great coverage on a receiver, and Ty literally puts the ball where only the receiver can catch it. It’s literally like the perfect throw when he’s under duress. To say that he’s hot right now is an understatement, and that’ll be a challenge for us. I think the world of him as a young man, and I think the world of his family also.”

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