Marcus Lattimore: Marcus Satterfield is calling good plays
On the newest episode of the podcast series “BLEAV in South Carolina” with me, Marcus Lattimore, and Nick Klos on the BLEAV Network, Lattimore shared what’s stood out to him about South Carolina’s offense so far this season.
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“I want to emphasis the fact that Marcus Satterfield is calling good plays,” said Lattimore. “He’s putting us in situations where quarterbacks and receivers can succeed. What people need to remember is he’s seeing the game from a sideline view and he’s calling (plays) based on what he sees. Sometimes protection breaks down. Some times Spencer’s eyes might be in the wrong spot. This takes time. This (will be) their sixth game together. Satterfield is calling plays because things are open.”
After putting together back-to-back 50-point games for the first time since 1995, USC has averaged 240 yards rushing the past two weeks. They’ve also improved their third down conversion rate. After starting the year 10-of-37 through the first three weeks, South Carolina is 10-for-18 in their last two games. But it’s not just these past two weeks that have stood out to USC.
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“I go back to Arkansas. The first three or four plays, we were clicking. We were moving the ball down the field. Then it came down to a third-down. Quite frankly, we missed a read. We had an empty formation and stick concept. Stick concept is just the tight ends pretty much playing forward or center in basketball and just trying to get open in the middle of the field. He was open and we missed it. What’s evident to me is that we’re able to drive the ball on people. But can we finish those drives? Can we finish on those third down situations because we’re gonna be in a third-and-six or third-and-seven on that first drive against Kentucky.”
But that doesn’t mean Satterfield is out of the clear when it comes to criticism.
“Unfortunately, like Bryan McClendon a few years ago, he was calling plays that he thought were open but the quarterback would miss that. Sometimes (the offensive coordinator and quarterback are) not on the same page and they’re not seeing the coverage the same way. Unfortunately, that’s still on the offensive coordinator. It is what it is and that can sometimes lead to job changes. That’s just football. That’s just SEC football. Either you’re executing plays or you’re not.”
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Taking on what Lattimore referred to as a “stingy” and “physical” Kentucky defense, it’s clear to him what needs to happen if USC wants to upset the Wildcats.
“Let Spencer Rattler be who he is. That’s how we’d be able to get off to a good start. Obviously, he’s a guy that likes to throw on the run. I love how we started the game against Arkansas. We hit two or three high percentage passes. Then we rolled out, had a little bootleg or some play action, whatever you want to call it, and Rattler is on the move. Allow him to be on the move, using his legs, and give him some patterns where guys are running across the field. Allow him to be him because that’s when he’s at his best.”
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The Wildcats rank seventh in the county for pass efficiency defense. For those unfamiliar to this stat, it measures:
- Opponents pass completion percentage
- Number of interceptions
- Interception percentage
- Opponents total yards passing
- Opponents yards per pass attempt
- Opponents touchdown passing percentage
“Kentucky is gonna put pressure on us. So what can we do? We have to find a way to get him out of the pocket but it’s not gonna be easy. But we have good players too. It’s not an option, we have to get the running game going.”
