Three under-the-radar storylines as camp hits final stretch

With one scrimmage down and a second and final scrimmage set for this Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina is rounding into the final stretch of preseason camp.

Some of the storylines and position battles have been beaten into the ground at this point, but several other talking points have remained a bit more under the radar.

Today we’re looking at three of those that could play a factor in the season.

What will this offense actually look like with new influences and personnel?

There’s been plenty of talk about LaNorris Sellers, the favorite to be South Carolina’s starting quarterback, and stud transfer running back Rocket Sanders — but what will the offense they’re operating out of actually look like?

Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has said since the spring that it will surely look different than last year as the Gamecocks go from the pass-first scheme headed up by Spencer Rattler and Xavier Legette to one with a more athletic quarterback and more proven running backs.

Loggains has said from the moment he arrived in Columbia that he wants to build his plan each year around the quarterback’s skillset. But again, details on the scheme, approach, and identity have been few and far between — and frankly South Carolina probably wants it that way.

As Loggains puts together his plan he will have plenty of experience around him to lean on, particularly experience with a running quarterback. New run game coordinator Shawn Elliott helped Steve Spurrier re-invent his running game the first time Elliott was in town. And Elliott proved his mettle as he consistently produced successful offense with a running quarterback at Georgia State.

Loggains, while not the playcaller at the time, was also the tight ends coach at Arkansas when then-offensive coordinator Kendal Briles had KJ Jefferson and the same Rocket Sanders in the backfield, which also could present some ideas of things the Gamecocks may attempt on offense.

Additionally, new senior offensive assistant Mike Shula has experience working with both Cam Newton and Josh Allen in the NFL.

Ultimately, it’s Loggains’ offense and he’ll call the plays. But there’s plenty of help around him to build this thing if he wants it.

How will the LB rotation shake out?

The buzz entering the spring was that South Carolina had the chance to be significantly better at the linebacker position and that belief has only continued through the summer and into camp.

The Gamecocks should be faster, more athletic, and deeper at the position, but what will this rotation look like when the games hit?

Debo Williams remains the fearless leader of the group. Bam Martin-Scott came on strong at the SAM position during the final quarter of last season when Carolina shifted to a three-linebacker base defense. And he proved this spring that he can also play the MIKE, allowing him to get on the field even when Carolina reverts back to its two-linebacker personnel.

Will Carolina choose to play Martin-Scott there in order to get him on the field more (in both the 4-2-5 and 3-3-5) or will the emergence of transfer Demetris Knight Jr. at the MIKE result in Knight starting there in both packages?

There should also be plenty of reps to go around for incoming transfer Bangally Kamara, who has the versatility to play the MIKE and WILL.

Additionally, Mo Kaba returns from injury and will be in the mix while freshman JayR Johnson has impressed from the moment he arrived on campus and has a big future ahead of him.

It’s a good group and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the staff decides to use them all.

Will new sideline technology affect how the game is played?

College football is moving into modern times.

For the first time ever, the Gamecocks and every other team will have a communication device in the helmet of one player at any given time (it will likely always be the quarterback on offense) and iPads on the sidelines featuring replays of recent plays.

The coms devices will allow the coaches to communicate with the quarterback (or likely one of the linebackers on defense) from when the previous play ends right up to when there’s 15 seconds left on the play clock or the ball is snapped (whichever comes sooner).

Loggains, with his NFL background, has plenty of experience operating with direct communication to his quarterback and said last year he was in favor of the change.

Additionally, most high school sidelines (at least in South Carolina) are rigged with an HDTV and video playback system, allowing coaches to give real-time feedback on what’s happening on the field in between drives. So not only are many players used to having that data, but it made no sense for there to be more technology in the high school game than the college game.

Most consider the changes to be an overall positive, especially in the wake of the Connor Stalions sign-stealing controversy. But the new technology won’t come without growing pains and new logistics with which to deal.

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