Limiting turnovers 'a big emphasis' for South Carolina offense against Texas A&M

Happy to win the game? Of course. Knowing it could’ve been better and there’s still work to do? Most definitely.

Dowell Loggains was pleased with South Carolina’s 35-9 win over Oklahoma heading into the team’s second bye week of the season. How could he not be? It’d be crazy to feel indifferent about a huge road win. But while certainly happy, he wasn’t fully satisfied nor content with the team’s performance, specifically on offense.

“It turned into a game that got lopsided real fast,” said the second-year offensive coordinator. “You get frustrated because you feel like you lose your edge a little bit when you’re looking out there and it’s 21-0 in the first quarter. I was okay with the way we played in the first half. But I wasn’t happy with the way we played in the second half.”

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Within the first six minutes of that game, the Gamecocks were already leading by three scores, thanks in part to two defensive touchdowns. This allowed for South Carolina to not have to play its best hand. It could hold its best punches and still find a way to win, which of course, it did.

In some ways, it could be seen as a benefit to not have to worry about playing a great game on offense. South Carolina only compiled 254 yards of total offense that day. But that’s what bothers Loggains is that the Gamecocks didn’t do more in the game when they had some chances.

“I thought we lost our edge a little bit and lost a little intensity to finish out that game because it was out of hand and lopsided early,” he said.

Although, it wasn’t like he was completely unhappy with the offensive performance. If anything, he was extremely pleased with the fact South Carolina didn’t have a single turnover against Oklahoma’s defense. Before that game, the offense had turned the ball over 12 times in six games, a number Loggains certainly wanted to lower.

“We knew that game, I think (Oklahoma) were seventh in the country in creating turnovers. We knew that game wouldn’t be won on third down, but it could be lost on third down,” Loggains said. “When you go back and watch, that’s a really good defense. … So, I give a lot of credit to LaNorris (Sellers) for taking care of the football.”

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Eight of South Carolina’s turnovers have come via fumbles lost. Four more from interceptions. It was just one game, but it showed what can be possible when you take good care of the football. Heading into the next five games of the season, that’s going to be one of the top priorities for Loggains’ offense.

And the Gamecocks will have to be at their best, just like they were against Oklahoma, when Texas A&M comes to town on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ABC). The Aggies are tied for 17th in the country in turnover margin (7) with 13 defensive takeaways and only six from their offense.

“That is a big emphasis for us,” Loggains said. “Our style of play right now is if you’re run the ball well and you’re taking care of the ball then you’re going to have a chance to be in every game in the fourth quarter and have a chance to win in the end.”

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