Short yardage a key in 2024

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has been on record numerous times that the Gamecocks’ run game needs to be significantly better this season.

In addition to the eye test, there is plenty of statistical evidence of how much USC struggled in this department.

The lack of a consistent early-down rushing attack means that USC was frequently in third and long situations. In 2023, the Gamecocks’ average distance to go on third downs in SEC play was 8 yards, per The Game’s Tyler Head.

Facing that type of down and distance consistently is not sustainable for offensive success. Predictably, South Carolina converted just 31 percent last year on third downs. That ranked 118th out of 133 programs.

Yes, the staff chose to lean on the arm of Spencer Rattler and the hands/legs of Xavier Legette because those were the team’s strengths. Not being able to stay balanced by running the ball effectively hurt everything.

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Whether it was early downs, second downs to make up some ground, or third and shorts on the rare occasion USC got to it, there was not much confidence in the run game from a playcalling situation. In fact, the Gamecocks just didn’t run the ball as often as needed. The team ranked 118th out of 133 teams nationally in rush percentage.

When we say short yardage is a key in 2024, that’s not even just second or third and short. It’s really the ability to move the chains without losing ground and having confidence to call runs that will result in positive yardage.

Looking back over USC’s playcalling in ’23, there were lots of passes on downs that would ideally be rushing downs.

There are some reasons to think this could be a more successful department this season:

A revamped running back room

There’s no doubt the personnel picture looks much different this season. Combining returners, a four-star freshman, and three experienced transfers, there’s now more talent and depth.

Shane Beamer has pointed out that folks have forgotten how good Rocket Sanders was in 2022. If he returns anything close to his form that season (1,400 rushing yards), that could key quite a turnaround for the Gamecocks in this department. Simply put, there are more guys on the roster who could make things happen.

Better OL?

One of the biggest question marks on the team, to be sure. Many want to just see it instead of hearing about it, and indeed this unit will be tested early and often against this schedule.

It’s another position in which more experience has been added. It’s a group that was decimated by injuries last season and is now healthy. Even just a solid performance – not great – by this group would be an improvement.

The Elliott Effect

Shawn Elliott is the tight ends coach, yes. But he’s also the run game coordinator, and he’s going to bring some of his plays to this offense. He has lots of experience with mobile quarterbacks during his career, and there have been some introductions of those concepts to players.

We will see how much of an influence there ultimately is this season, but it should be a factor. It’s also interesting to think about this in conjunction with Dowell Loggains’ time at Arkansas when the Razorbacks had Rocket Sanders and KJ Jefferson in the backfield. Here’s to thinking we’ll see some of that, too.

LaNorris Sellers

A big, athletic, smart quarterback in the backfield can be a game changer. Sellers’ size and ability to run opens up plenty in the run game, including the fact that the defense will have to account for an extra player in the backfield.

South Florence High is surely different than the SEC, but Sellers was automatic in short yardage situation in high school. There’s some reason to believe that he has traits that can carry over to this level, too.

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