Everything Joe DeCamillis said ahead of South Carolina's matchup with Clemson

South Carolina special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the team’s Palmetto Bowl matchup against Clemson, which is set to kick off at noon on Saturday. Here’s everything he had to say.

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You mentioned your father-in-law (Dan Reeves) last week. Did he ever mention his experiences in the Carolina-Clemson rivalry to you?

“Yeah. I mean, he did not like orange, even though he was with the Denver Broncos. I can tell you that much. It was always an emotional deal for him. He’d always watch it, and we’d talk about it and stuff like that. They weren’t the greatest teams when he was here, obviously, but he always did not have a lot of great things to say about the Clemson Tigers, that’s for sure. But, this time of year, it’s good to be thinking about it.”

There have been some key special teams moments in Carolina-Clemson games in recent years. How critical, in a game like this is, it to be on your P’s and Q’s that way?

“Yeah, it’s really critical. Last week was sickening to me at the end of the game. When that happens, I think that was a total lack of focus and a total lack of concentration on our part at the end of the game. Guys are not really thinking about what they should be at that time. I think we just kind of fell asleep. And if that happens against this crew, you’re in trouble. So, I don’t see that happening, and I think they’ll be focused and ready to roll.

“But I think it’s a one-down mentality the whole time in the kicking game. Every play is critical in the kicking game. You don’t get first and second down to do it over on, you know what I mean? Like, you have to be good on fourth down. I think our guys understand that for the most part, but they didn’t last week. So, we got to get that corrected quickly, for sure.”

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With one game left, how would you evaluate how William (Joyce) has done this season?

“Really good. Out of all the things that we’ve done, obviously, Vicari (Swain) was very positive throughout the year. I think everyone talks about the touchdowns, but they don’t talk about him getting the ball on the 35-yard line against LSU with about a 25-yard return. They don’t talk about Oklahoma, where he got, I believe, three returns over the 50-yard line. So, he’s done a great job there.

“But William’s done a heck of a job for us. I think him coming in and doing what he’s done is a real credit to William and how hard he worked. He had some disappointment last year and came back and did a heck of a job.

“And then, Mason (Love), too, he’s struggled the last couple of weeks. But, probably, for a freshman punter, I’d say he’s had a pretty doggone good year.

“And then, the last guy is Cole Rasmussen. There were not a lot of people in this program that thought that he was going to be our snapper this year, and he was not to be denied. He came in and did everything he was asked and more. Really, really professional attitude going in. I’m really proud for him. He’s really done a good job, and keep it up for one more game.”

If you still keep a little bit of an eye on the NFL, are you amazed at some of the distances we’re seeing in field goal kicking these days?

“Well, from my understanding, and talking to some of those guys, they said that they’re starting to work the balls again. So, that’s a huge deal. The NFL ball is… They took us being able to work it and do those things with it before the game. Like, we’re putting in the dryer, we were deflating it, then putting it back up, and all that kind of stuff. You could really hit the ball. And now, they’ve started to let them do that again. So, with the great kickers that are in that league right now, it doesn’t surprise me.

“Now, to see a 73-yarder and a 70-yarder and all that? Yeah, that surprises me. But it doesn’t surprise me that they’re hitting it further than what they were because of that rule, in my opinion.”

You haven’t hit a field goal over 49 yards this year. Do you need to have a kicker in this day and age that can hit it from 52, 53, 55? Are you looking for someone like that? Can you develop someone like that?

“Yeah, I think so. I don’t know how many of those times we lined up for it. I think we lined up one time for over 50 with Mason, I believe, the one try he had, right? That was early in the season. But I think we’ve had a lot of those shots to where we’ve been in that situation, if we didn’t go for it, or if something was happening there.

“I do think, with Max Kelley, we’re gonna have a chance of that. He actually hit a 63-yarder in practice the other night. So, I think he’s right on track. He’s gotten better as the year has gone on. I think having him as our kickoff guy’s helped. And, hopefully, him being in practice and seeing William the way he works and the way we’re doing things there, it’s helped him out. So, we’ll see.”

William’s had five attempts from 47 yards out. Have you seen anything like that, where a guy just consistently gets to a number like he’s been doing these last few weeks?

“I haven’t really seen that, I think, before. But when I saw the stat, I was like, ‘Wow, from 47 five times. It’s hard to believe.’ I hope he keeps banging those 47-yarders. Hope we can get one to, hopefully, help us this week.”

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