How South Carolina's blockers paved the way vs A&M
A breakdown of the key plays in a big day on the ground for the Gamecocks.
Last Saturday night in Columbia, South Carolina the Gamecocks won 30-24 defeating the Texas A&M Aggies for the first time in program history. Leading the charge in the effort on offense was a rushing attack that produced three touchdowns two of which came from all-world Tailback MarShawn Lloyd. But while the Running Backs and skill positions in general always get the flashy highlights and stats the blockers (be it OL TE FB or even WRs) typically go without their due. Well not anymore as I look to highlight the dirty work done in the Gamecocks’ fourth straight win.
Starting with the first touchdown, on offense, the Gamecocks scored
South Carolina lines up with Left Tackle Jakai Moore, Left Guard Vershon Lee, Center Eric Douglas, Right Guard Jovaughn Gwynn, and Right Tackle Dylan Wonnum in pistol formation with two Wide Receivers at the top, Christian Beal-Smith at Tailback behind Quarterback Spencer Rattler, with Tight End Austin Stogner lining up on the line of scrimmage while fellow Tight End Nate Adkins is in the backfield as an H-Back. Texas A&M is stacking the box and sending pressure off the edge with their backs up against their own endzone attempting to blow up the A Gap. So, to make this work every person up front for SC is going to need to win their battle.
The Slot WR motions to the left and as the ball is snapped immediately the men up front for SC get to work. Nate Adkins works inside to pin while Austin Stogner moves to engage A&M’s weakside edge. The OL itself gets moving with the RT, RG, C, and LG engaged in zone blocking to the right while the LT Jakai Moore begins to work A&M’s Defensive End.
As Beal-Smith gets the ball the play begins to become more fleshed out. On the left side Stogner is washing out the edge and Lee is moving the nose down the line but what’s really interesting is how Moore leaves the DE and moves to the second level leaving him open to get pinned by the incoming Adkins. On the right side the Douglas and Wonnum’s guys move up field allowing them to wash them back and Gwynn just begins mauling his guy. The motion by the slot WR and H-Back along with Stogner’s blocking and Rattler’s handoff being on his left side has the defense expecting a run to the left and you can see the Linebackers and Safety react to that.
This is where the genius of the playcall and blocking shine. Everyone’s blocking is being executed perfectly as the rushers on the right have been neutralized either by being blown away from the play (Douglas and Wonnum) or by completely being handled (Gwynn). Meanwhile the LBs and Safety have effectively taken themselves out of the play by reacting to the motion and Adkins seals off the back end with his pin. There are two holes and Beal-Smith recognizes it and takes the one to his right with a cut getting into open space with no one to touch him as the Cornerback is occupied by the outside WR as he walks in for the TD to put South Carolina up 17-0 just a little over five minutes into the contest.
TD #2
We fast-forward to late in the 3rd Quarter as A&M has closed it to a 17-14 game.
South Carolina is in a much more spread look with the ball in the A&M redzone after just five plays due to a poor punt. With four WRs, with a stack on the right and a slot and another on the left, A&M counters with a lighter package on defense (especially compared to the first TD) having just four players in the box with a NT over the Center and two Ends down in stances over the Tackles and a single Linebacker in the box. MarShawn Lloyd is to the right of Spencer Rattler in the shotgun.
As the ball is snapped the second man in the stack and the slot WR both act as if they’re preparing to receive a pass as Rattler is scanning the defense to freeze the second level. Up front the depleted box works immaculately in SC’s favor as Moore engages his end head on and Lee works to the second level (which leads me to believe this isn’t an RPO as if it was that would be an illegal man downfield) to get the lone LB on the left, Douglas takes the nose, and on the right side Gwynn and Wonnum take the end in a combo block and begin to punish him.
Rattler hands off to Lloyd and as he follows the play Gwynn and Wonnum are driving the DE on roller skates, Douglas is holding his own against the nose (and importantly not being sent into Lloyd), Lee has engaged the LB with appropriate levels of violence, and Moore has his end. There is however one thing SC has not accounted for which is Texas A&M LB Chris Russell Jr.
This is where having MarShawn Lloyd helps out as all it takes is one move and Russell is just as eliminated as the threats in the box. Now for the hard part as Lloyd attempts to bounce this outside. There’s some things in football that you just do not come to expect and one of those things is WR blocking. Jalen Brooks has a relatively easy path and a good frame (6’2” 205) but the slot WR is 5’9” 167 pounds of Ahmarean Brown.
Brooks’ man flips and goes outside while Brown is right in the thick of the action. Meanwhile A&M Safety Jardin Brooks is attempting to hawk down Lloyd.
Brown delivers a big hit to bump his man down the field and Jalen Brooks washes his man out of the play with a devastating hit that disrupts Jardin Brooks’ pursuit. Lloyd slips through for the touchdown all thanks because of a 5’9” slot receiver. 24-14 Gamecocks with 3:25 remaining in the 3rd.
TD #3
Now all the way into the 4th Quarter with a little over three minutes remaining South Carolina’s lead has been cut to 3. This drive started on SC’s own 20 yard line and 7 plays later (after a heavy dose of run plays) the Gamecocks are knocking on the door with a critical 3rd&2 play. If they’re stopped a massive decision awaits Shane Beamer and the rest of the coaching staff but if they get a first down or even score it completely changes the outlook of the game.
Back in a familiar place Carolina leans on the formation that scored their first offensive touchdown just flipped. With two WRs and H-Back to Rattler’s left and a TE on the right side of the OL. A&M is even more familiar and after a drive full of SC’s punishing ground game they are more than motivated to get off the field in this key spot. The Aggies bring six men into the box with three down linemen and three LBs with two guys creeping off the edge as well just outside of the box. Over the top sits our old friend Jordin Brooks with two Cornerbacks outside with the far one pressed up and substantially more cushion on SC’s slot WR.
Just like the first play we looked at the slot man comes in motion and as the ball is snapped organized chaos erupts. The H-Back Adkins pulls to the right as SC’s OL begins to engage in three(!!!) combo blocks. Moore and Lee on the left take their end, Douglas and Gwynn take the center, and finally Wonnum and Stogner take their end hoping to wash them all into a mass of bodies in the second level disrupting any players like Brooks from helping out.
Lloyd takes the snap and immediately South Carolina’s plan is working to perfection. The combo blocks and taking the Aggies front down the line meaning all that stands between Lloyd and the end-zone is if Adkins can execute his pull and open the hole while also cutting off A&M’s Jaylon Jones from doing anything as Lloyd cuts up field.
Adkins meets his man in the hole but all of the sudden A&M’s linebacker bursts through the line for half a second meaning this play could go from a TD to a huge tackle for loss forcing SC into either going for it on 4th&Medium or kicking a FG and giving Texas A&M the ball back with a chance to take the lead.
Dylan Wonnum makes a game saving block and chips the linebacker just as Adkins makes a huge block allowing Lloyd to spring into the end-zone giving the Gamecocks a 30-21 (PAT blocked) lead they would not relinquish in their first victory in program history over Texas A&M.
What is to come.
South Carolina looks to continue this momentum, not just on the ground, as they face 3-4 Mizzou this weekend at home. The Gamecocks sit at 5-2 and are ranked at #25 which is their first ranking since the 2018 season.