Better or worse? Comparing USC’s key football statistics from last year to now
Five games into the 2023 season, South Carolina is 2-3. It’s not the ideal situation, but USC has faced three ranked opponents — four if you include FCS Furman — in its first five games.
Comparing this 2-3 South Carolina to last season’s 3-2 South Carolina, there aren’t too many differences. Here are five elements of the Gamecocks’ offense and how they compare to 2022.
Rattler’s INTs: Better
3 - 2023
9 - 2022
Rattler has said since the start of the season he’s felt more confident with the South Carolina offense. Maybe it’s that confidence, or a heightened maturity level, or even both, but the starting QB has made smarter choices on the field.
Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said multiple times that Rattler’s like “spaghetti sauce,” meaning Rattler is good at making things up on the fly or hiding errors as each play develops on the field. Loggains more recently said that Rattler’s ability to scan the field before passes is improving.
Passing yards per game: Better
340 - 2023
257.4 - 2022
Despite being down starters Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. sporadically since Week 1 and Ahmareon Brown for two weeks, Rattler has averaged 83 passing yards more per game. The Gamecocks’ offensive scheme has focused on passing this year, and coupled with the explosiveness ofXavier Legette, it makes sense the average is higher than 2022.
However, through five games last season, South Carolina had eight touchdown receptions with those 257.4 receiving yards. This season, Rattler hasn’t dipped below 200 passing yards a game. USC has six touchdown receptions so far this season, with three of those going to Legette.
Rushing yards per game: Worse
75.8 - 2023
138.2 - 2022
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. USC has struggled since the beginning of the season to establish the run game in any capacity, but thanks to the efforts of Mario Anderson the past few weeks, it’s shown some improvements.
Still, the lack of production from other running backs has hindered the ability for South Carolina to become a more two-dimensional offense.
Sacks allowed: Worse
23 - 2023
10 - 2022
Shane Beamer has worked through offensive line issues for the last two years. While the line had a strong performance against Mississippi State in Week 4, Beamer put it simply: They played one good game.
The offensive line still struggled against North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. There are two true freshmen starting — Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh — but there’s still kinks to work out, likely giving receivers enough time to get open for Rattler to throw the ball.
Beamer said the hope with the bye week is to rest up a few injured lineman (Cason Henry and Jakai Moore to name a few) and to hopefully bring some more experience back into the trenches.
Points scored per game: Worse
28.5 - 2023
35.6 - 2022
A large part of this comes back to the lack of two-dimensional offense. The good news is that it’s a one-score difference, so it could quickly improve.
Again, the hope with the bye week this week is that the injury list gets smaller so that there’s a little more depth in the receiver room. It could also allow Loggains to reevaluate how to get tight end Trey Knox the ball more often, and alleviate the pressure on Legette to score every game without Wells Jr. in the lineup.
South Carolina team could still become the team fans saw in the back half of last season. Statistically, they’re not far off from where they were last year. This off week can be a much-needed breather, to regroup and collaborate how USC wants to attack Florida and beyond.
