Spencer Rattler excited by growth of offense after first week of fall camp
South Carolina started week two of fall camp on Monday, after topping off week one with the Gamecocks’ first scrimmage in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, speaking for the first time since practice started, said the team had a lot of fun during the scrimmage and that the offense is already starting to look good.
“We made some explosive plays, ran the ball well, threw the ball well and obviously we still got another week plus to work so we’re excited to see our growth,” Rattler said.
Although it’s still early in camp, Rattler said that the offense will be looking to improve its performance in the red zone.
The Oklahoma transfer said that the offense had several opportunities in the red zone during the scrimmage but just couldn’t get it done.
The early woes are likely a result of a lack of reps, seeing that Shane Beamer said the red zone schemes were installed in practice on Thursday before the scrimmage.
“I mean we’ve only had one day of red zone before the scrimmage so – not giving ourselves an out or an excuse – but we gotta rep it more, we will wrap it more,” Rattler said. “I know our coaches will get us in the right positions and we’ll rep it and get better at it and I’m super confident we’ll do that.”
Outside of some early red zone troubles, Rattler is excited at having more people to work with during fall camp.
He said that throughout spring and early summer he felt that several skill positions weren’t healthy, but since fall camp’s start more players have been healthy and able to work.
“We got everybody here now. We’ve been able to have a whole summer together, obviously a whole spring so you’re gonna see growth in the summertime because we’re working every single day,” Rattler said. “You see it every day, I mean, today, we had a good day and we’re just going to keep getting better and better and better. So I’m happy with what I’m seeing.”
Things like this often come with a period of growing pains where players have to adjust to playing with each other.
Rattler said that the Gamecocks have dealt with adjusting to the intricacies of the offense rather well and that extra reps in practice have helped.
“We’re doing a great job,” Rattler said. “We’re making big explosive plays, moving the ball when we need to and once we get to where we want to, hopefully that’s where it gets scary. We’re on the right path.”
Rattler also gave high praise to the tight end room, a group he calls “one of the best” in the country.
Guys like Austin Stogner, Tre Kenion, and Nate Adkins all fit the bill of the ideal tight end for Rattler who said they all can go up and get the ball while also having great route running skills.
“They’re all super physical,” Rattler said, “can run routes and are all smart as well.”
