Accountability is everywhere for South Carolina offensive line struggles

South Carolina made a change Sunday night with the firing of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley. Following the move, the Gamecocks moved tight end coach Shawn Elliott over to the vacant coaching spot.

Elliott has experience coaching the South Carolina offensive line. The Camden native coached the Gamecocks’ offensive front from 2012-15 under former head coach Steve Spurrier. The move has briefly eased fans’ concerns slightly, as they hope the change brings a stop to many of the issues plaguing the Gamecocks’ front.

However, some fans still wonder what’s most to blame. Is it mainly a protection issue, or is it a LaNorris Sellers issue? Head coach Shane Beamer said it’s a mix of both.

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“It’s a combination of everything. It certainly starts with the offensive line. I’m not going to say that it doesn’t, but again, we’ve all got a hand in it,” Beamer said Tuesday. “I mean, the other night there were a couple of pressures where, yeah, we got beat on the offensive line, and when you’re playing against a good SEC defense, that’s going to happen.”

“There were a couple of pressures the other night where a tackle should have been getting some help by either a tight end or a running back, and for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. He thought he had some help outside, and he didn’t, and we gave up a pressure.”

South Carolina ranks 125th nationally in sacks allowed (20). Additionally, the Gamecocks are 110th in tackles for loss allowed (37). Against LSU on Saturday night, Sellers was pressured on 60 percent of his dropbacks to pass.

“But, overall, yes, it starts upfront, but when I look at the pressure we’ve given up, we’ve all got a hand in it,” Beamer said. “Whether it be the quarterback not getting rid of the ball quick enough, or the running back, or the tight end, or (a) receiver running the right route. But we need to be better. It’s too much.”

Sellers agreed from an accountability standpoint. Protection issues are something that Sellers consults with the staff on to a degree. Additionally, Sellers and the offensive line meet on Wednesday nights and lift together. Then, they meet again on Thursdays before practice.

“Certain protections are zoned one way, when it’s man across the board. Or if they’re bringing a four-weak or something like that, I should see it. But everybody has a hand in it,” Sellers said.

The redshirt sophomore knows he needs to be better at getting the ball out quickly.

“You’ve got to make quicker decisions, really,” Sellers said Tuesday. “Like you said, they pressured a lot. We knew they liked to pressure. So, you just got to make quicker decisions and work quicker on the fly.”

The offensive front carries its accountability on its shoulders as well. Sellers said he doesn’t need them to constantly vocalize that they “got him” up front.

“I just trust them; I think everybody can do their job on offense,” Sellers said. “So, I’m glad to hear just knowing that they’ll be there. And if they make mistakes, they’ll be like, ‘Hey, that’s on me.’ I think that’s what I need more.”

Beamer also acknowledged that his team has ranked towards the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in sacks allowed every year.

“That’s not playing winning football,” Beamer said. “So whoever’s responsible for it, we’ve all got a hand in it, players and coaches, and it needs to be better. Confident that it will be here going forward.”

To achieve what they need to on offense, consistency matters, Sellers said. However, he feels in a better spot in his vocal relationship with his linemen and is ready to work going forward.

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