Four burning questions: South Carolina at Tennessee
South Carolina heads up to Knoxville with a big test on hand against a top-25 Tennessee team. This game is certainly winnable, but there are a few questions that need to be answered if that is going to happen.
Here are four burning questions as the Gamecocks get ready to take on the Vols.
Can South Carolina be disruptive?
The Gamecocks weren’t very good to start the year creating havoc–plays that end with a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, or a turnover–with just a 10.3 percent havoc rate through the first two games.
[Win a custom wooden Gamecock flag]
The last two games have gotten better with a 17.3 percent havoc rate, including a season-best 26.8 percent havoc rate against Mississippi State.
The goal now is to take that and carry it over to Knoxville. South Carolina needs to stop the run against what can be a potent rushing attack and limit the explosive plays in the passing game.
Tennessee operates at its highest level when staying on schedule and Joe Milton really struggles against pressure and when having to push the ball downfield.
Milton is just 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) under pressure and averaging nine yards per attempt with two scores and a pick. On throws of at least 10 yards downfield, he’s just 17-for-50 (34 percent) while averaging 7.9 yards per attempt with five touchdowns and a pick.
So not only will the Gamecocks have to create tackles for loss in the run game but also create pressure and get Milton off his spot to force miscues.
How well can Spencer Rattler handle pressure?
Speaking of pressure, Spencer Rattler handled that incredibly well through the first four games. Rattler is completing 47.1 percent of his passes and averaging 8.4 yards per attempt when pressured while completing 74.5 percent and averaging 10.8 yards per attempt against the blitz.
[Get breaking news from GamecockCentral]
In two SEC games, Rattler is 11-for-23 (47.8 percent) and averaging 8.5 yards per attempt with two touchdowns and one pick. When blitzed, he’s completing 69 percent of his passes while averaging 12.2 yards per attempt with four touchdowns.
Tennessee, though, has 75 pressures–17 sacks, 14 hits and 44 hurries per PFF–and will be a test for a South Carolina team potentially starting two freshmen up front.
How Rattler handles pressure and the blitz will go a long way in South Carolina’s chances to win.
Did South Carolina clean up the secondary issues?
The good news is the Gamecocks defended the run at a good enough clip last weekend but did give up 304 yards through the air on explosive pass plays.
Tennessee hasn’t been as explosive in the pass game compared to last year but the potential is there for it. And the Vols use a ton of play action (42.3 percent of dropbacks) which cost South Carolina last week.
If the secondary plays better and can make some plays on the back end, it limits the explosiveness of that Volunteer offense.
Can the Gamecocks sustain drives?
One of the biggest reasons South Carolina won last year was because the offense played good situational football and stayed on the field to keep that Tennessee offense off of it.
The Gamecocks were a combined 10-for-15 on third and fourth downs, went a perfect 8-for-8 with eight touchdowns in the red zone and held Tennessee to 78 total plays.
[NEW! GamecockCentral Business Network]
South Carolina is going to have to sustain drives and tire that Tennessee defense out with longer drives up the field while keeping that offense off the field.
If the Gamecocks defense has to play 80 to 90 snaps cause the offense can’t stay on the field for extended periods, then it could be a long night.
Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!
The post Four burning questions: South Carolina at Tennessee appeared first on On3.
