The South Carolina Gamecocks lost to the Texas A&M Aggies at home by the score of 52-28. For USC, they must regroup and move past this bad loss. To do that, here are five things learned from week 1 of the college football season that the Spurrier led team must address:
1. Fundamentals Must Improve – For USC to win any games in 2014, the Gamecocks must get better with tackling, pursuit angles, filling the gaps and getting leverage. Basic stuff.
2. Better Defensive Production – The Gamecocks gave up 52 points to Kevin Sumlin’s Aggies, allowing first-year starting quarterback Kenny Hill to go 44 of 60 through the air for a school-record 511 yards and three touchdowns. Besides the Aggies’ offensive tempo clearly wearing down the Gamecocks’ defense, the team’s young cornerbacks were exposed throughout the night. And the pass rush was often nonexistent, providing Hill with a consistently clean pocket to pick on the young secondary. That recipe is not going to win many games in the SEC.
3. Run Game must Exist – The Gamecocks finished with just 67 yards on the ground. Not good. For USC to win, a balance attack is needed on the offensive side of the ball. Hello Mike Davis, can you be the running back we expect please. Oh, and get David Williams some reps.
4. Dylan has to Step-up – Quarterback Dylan Thompson, who completed just 50 percent of his throws, has to realize he is the man in 2014 and there is no Connor Shaw to rescue him. Dylan, be the man we know you are capable of.
5. Mental toughness must improve – The Gamecocks, from boosters to coaches and from players to general fans, must get there head back into reality. USC must realize that no team is going to roll over and that every snap demands effort.
