South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula met with the media this week to assess the Gamecocks' offensive growth and preview Saturday's matchup at Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, as South Carolina looks to rebound and find more consistency on offense heading into a tough environment on the road.
Shula emphasized that the offense preparation and staff collaboration have not changed throughout the season. The Gamecocks have maintained the same volume of plays across all situations, first and second downs, third downs, and red zone, though not every play is called in games. “We’ve been pretty consistent with everything we’ve done all year,” Shula said. “Whether or not we call every play, we practice them all.”
While Shula saw progress and positive movements in the previous game, he said that it is hard to feel satisfied after failing to close out a win. He noted the increased comfort level among young player, many of whom have gained more experience in recent weeks. “We had the ball in our hands with two minutes to go and came up short,” he said. “But you can see the comfort level growing with the guys who’ve gotten more snaps.”
Shula highlighted quarterback LaNorris Sellers' mobility and decision-making outside the pocket. He praised Sellers' ability to keep his eyes downfield while scrambling and to make smart choices between passing and running, using his athleticism effectively. “He’s done a really good job of keeping his eyes downfield,” Shula said. “If it’s not there, find your outlet and at worst, use your legs.”
When asked about replicating successful performances, Shula stressed the balance between building on what works and avoiding predictability. He explained the importance of having counter plays and variations off previously successful calls to keep defenses guessing. “There’s a fine line between running plays that have had success and running them one too many times,” Shula said. “You’ve got to have something off it.”
Seven players caught passes last week, and Shula said that's intentional but also situational. While the goal is to involve multiple weapons, he doesn't want Sellers to force throws to specific players. Flexibility and smart decision-making remain the priority.
Although Sellers' completion rate was statistically low, Shula said that metric can be misleading. The staff grades Sellers more on decision-making, timing, and accuracy than raw numbers. Shula emphasized that avoiding the negative plays and sustaining drives as the true measures of progress. “Stats can be misleading,” he said. “We grade his decisions: is he going to the right guy, getting the ball there on time, and doing it accurately? That’s what matters most.”
As the Gamecocks prepare for Ole Miss, Shula's tone was measured but confident, South Carolina's offense isn't hitting the panic button just yet. It is about refining, not reinventing. The goal remains simple: finish drives, score points, and keep evolving around the quarterback.