South Carolina Football: Report card vs. Tennessee

D+. The Gamecock defensive line got whipped most of the night against the Vols. Tennessee ran for 238 yards rushing, and the only Gamecock sack came courtesy of linebacker Bam Martin-Scott. The defense had no other tackles for loss other than Martin-Scott’s sack, and most run plays had at least one missed tackle, often starting with a defensive end or defensive tackle being unable to bring down the ball carrier. Really poor “setting the edge” technique was common on the night, as well, and players like JT Geer and Tyreek Johnson consistently got beaten to the outside when they were in the game.. . South Carolina Gamecocks. DEFENSIVE LINE

. South Carolina Gamecocks. LINEBACKERS . C-. The Gamecock linebackers didn’t play particularly well against Tennessee. The first half was particularly bad as poor angles and bad run fits led to just one solo tackle combined for starters Debo Williams and Stone Blanton. The play in the middle of the defense was a little better in the second half, but there were still several instances in which Williams and Blanton simply could not make a play on a Tennessee ball carrier. Bam Martin-Scott had a nice sack to help salvage the grade a little bit, but USC will need more from this unit, especially if the defensive line keeps struggling.

DEFENSIVE BACKS. B-. The Gamecocks were much better in the secondary against Tennessee than they were against Mississippi State. Some of this is because Joe Milton struggled on Saturday. Jalon Kilgore, Nick Emmanwori, and DQ Smith combined for 36 tackles, but Smith had a couple of costly whiffs in the open field. Marcellas Dial and O’Donnell Fortune had some good moments in coverage, but Carolina conceded a lot of underneath passes, especially on slants over the middle. Smith and Kilgore both had interceptions, but those came on poor throws by Milton.. . South Carolina Gamecocks

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