5 Reasons South Carolina Football Will Be Better on Defense in 2024:
Updated Philosophies
The first three-fourths of the 2023 season saw the Gamecocks really struggle on defense. USC allowed at least 21 points in their first nine games, including six times giving up at least 30. They also gave up at least 400 yards in 7 of those first 9 games.
Something had to change.
Clayton White and his staff shifted from a 4-2-5 defense that occasionally utilized a 3-3-5 to a 3-3-5 defense that sometimes shifted back to the 4-2-5. The results were drastic as the final three contests (home games against Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Clemson) were the three lowest scoring outputs and three fewest total yardage and yards-per-play games from opposing offenses. 7 of the 19 3-and-outs forced by the 2023 Gamecocks came in those final three games.
While running a 3-3-5 as its primary defense, the Gamecocks' pass rush was significantly better. The 3-man front allowed defensive line coach Travian Robertson and EDGE coach Sterling Lucas to play the matchups and move their players around the front. Second and third-level rushers added another element as a Gamecock linebacker and/or defensive back blitzed nearly every play. Carolina only had 4 sacks in those final 3 games, but they hurried the quarterback a lot and forced 6 turnovers.
Part of the shift to the 3-3-5 included fewer "nickel island" situations for the defense. Earlier in the season, as the team's three safeties rotated at nickel, man coverage in the slot was getting the Gamecocks killed. However, as Jalon Kilgore settled into the spot and the defensive philosophy changed, things got better. In fact, the pass defense's best three performances came down the stretch as USC gave up just 375 total passing yards to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Clemson.
There has been no clear word from the Gamecock coaches about how much of each scheme the defense will use in 2024. However, the staff's willingness to make a change (paired with improved personnel) should provide the fanbase with legitimate hope that things will be better on that side of the football next season.