Cocky Takes: Can Gamecocks Offense Shock the SEC?

[00:00:00]Our last segment for today is going to be your cocky takes. Once again, one of my favorite segments. For those who might be new to the show or might need a reminder, cocky takes is uh whenever I post on X, usually about two to three, maybe sometimes four days before the show starts, asking for what are your bold predictions for the 2026 season. What takes are you guys cocky enough to say publicly about the 2026 season? And we have two here today that I'm going to discuss. Both of them are are kind of similar. Might be bringing up some of the same kind of points and mentions. However, uh a little bit different, and I actually like both of them as I like both of them as well, which of course I mean I picked them, right? However, let's go ahead and get into it. Firstly, from 2001 Roosta on X.

[00:00:47]And this this one I thought was interesting. This one was I think one of the more I guess one of my more favorite ones just because it's like, "Okay, that's a different that's a different way to think about it." And this one is LeNorris is sacked under 30 times.

[00:01:01]So, for reference, um ever since LeNorris came in as a starting quarterback at South Carolina, he's been sacked over 30 times in the season. As you know, we brought up earlier, um in last year, he was sacked 42 times. I think it was like tied for second to last or third to last in the country. Last year, in 2024, it was 33 sacks. So, obviously still had a lot of struggles going on, but wasn't as bad as 2025.

[00:01:27]So, being sacked under 30 times would be a little bit of a milestone for Beamer and Co. and for this offense and for Sellers. So, firstly, when I immediately think about it, I think, "Okay, offensive line, right?"

[00:01:39]Dramatic improvement, I think, is what you got to hope for, right? And I say that not necessarily to say that our offensive line has to be top three in the SEC or top 10 in the country.

[00:01:51]It's just I'm not saying that we're middle of the pack and we have to go super high. But saying when last year was so low, even going to just average seems like a dramatic improvement and I think it definitely is. Because the question is, how do you get worse than last year with 42 sacks allowed? You didn't have a run game, which only put more pressure on Sellers trying to do things himself or try to you know, put pressure on the pass game because they couldn't run the ball for Jack Delly squad.

[00:02:18]So once [snorts] again, just kind of reiterate that last point. I think it's going to get better. Might not be the best, but it doesn't have to be the best. It just has to be better than 2025.

[00:02:28]Secondly, the new scheme under coach Bryles, I think it's going to emphasize quicker releases, RPOs, designed runs for the quarterback. Schemes like this historically reduce sack rates. They get out the they get the ball out faster.

[00:02:39]You're using the quarterback's legs proactively rather than just letting him sit back there like a sitting duck and wait for the defenses to come to him.

[00:02:47]But also speaking of the quarterback, Sellers' experience and mobility, right?

[00:02:51]He's a third-year starter, has more reps reading the defense from last year. Um and his 2024 rushing production, I mean you look at like the 150 rushing yards he had against Clemson. Um 674 rushing yards on the season in 24.

[00:03:05]He can escape pressure when needed. He can make those plays. He's called the Superman. He got the nickname La Heisman at one point, the Superman, um for for those reasons. He can make those plays especially on the ground whenever it needs to happen.

[00:03:20]And speaking of 2024 though, the baseline was was already better. I kind of brought this up earlier when I when I go back onto it again. Sellers was only sacked 33 times in 2024. I say only 33, that's still a lot. That's still a lot.

[00:03:35]Still a lot. However, in comparison to the 42 that we saw that spike up in sacks. So I think if anything it shows that when Sellers is playing with even just um a I think slightly below average to average offensive line with that 2024 squad, I probably leaned more to a little bit below average, unfortunately.

[00:03:55]Um sacked 33 times. You still saw what they did. They went 9 and 3. Almost made the playoffs, right? And you saw the spike to 42 last season. And sometimes Sellers maybe um sometimes Sellers in his style just trying to which just comes with the style of his quarter of his quarterback play and trying to extend the play. I mean, obviously at some point those are going to be some of your reasons for your sacks. And that definitely contributed to it, right? However, this year I don't think he's going to have a linebacker running up him or running up to his face half a second after the ball snaps. Um at least once or twice a game like unfortunately we saw last year. So, just I'm looking optimistic. Now, I'm not trying to say that oh 2024 forget 2025 and only remember the good year we had.

[00:04:42]I'm not trying to imply that. I guess what I'm trying to imply is that 2024 showed what you can do with just a bare-bones kind of bare minimum offensive line, right? You saw in 2025 the much more negative side like worst-case scenario almost or honestly worst-case scenario. I'm not going to try to beat around the bush. Worst-case scenario for your offensive line. 2024 I'm not trying to say is okay, just look at the good year we had 9 and 3 woohoo, you know, yay yay yay. It's more so just look at what they did with that in 24 and what it could mean for 2026. So, that's what I'm kind of trying to point with that. And speaking of this 2026 offensive line, um you got some really nice additions when it comes to pass protection on the line. Um I mean, first of all, you're bringing Coach Clements, 35-plus year veteran in college football. He's worked with Coach Rhule in multiple places: Arkansas, TCU. Um I think they both worked under Art Briles at Baylor. Guys who already know each other, right? That helps accelerate the the process of getting your offensive line ready, especially under your first year in a program. As much you know, even quicker, which is something you of course you love to hear.

[00:05:48]But, you bring in a ton of guys with talent. Jaquarious Peak, who as of right now, still as of right now, I think he's going to be good for the for the beginning of the season, which is what Coach Beamer and the staff has have reiterated. And even if not, you still have two games against Kent State and Towson. No disrespect to those programs.

[00:06:04]That's just two more weeks for him to get healthy, more get acclimated before an SEC opener at home against Mississippi State in week three. Um but, Jaquarious Peak, Emmanuel Koku, a guy who I'm really high on, did an article on him when he first transferred here from ECU. Carter Miller, very experienced guy. I'm going to imagine him probably playing center this year in 2026.

[00:06:24]So, some very talented additions. You have um you know, a guy who's returning from South Carolina last year. Met his grandparents at the Garnet and Black Spring Fest. Very nice people, by the way. Just so just shout out to his grandparents there on the side note.

[00:06:37]However, you got you have some talented guys. You have some talented guys on this offensive line. You have experienced guys on this offensive line.

[00:06:45]And I don't think the question, or at least I don't think the question should be posed this year is how good the offensive line's going to be. Now, obviously, you're like, "Well, well, duh. I mean, you want to see how good the offensive line's going to be." And I know people some people might be saying that. I think the question is because I I don't think they're going to be number one in the SEC. I don't think If you say they're not top three or top five in the SEC, I'd be like, "Okay."

[00:07:06]I mean, that that that wouldn't surprise me. I think the question more so is how how quickly can they gel?

[00:07:13]How quickly can they gel? Every time we I bring up the offensive line, I tend to bring that up, right? Because you know, you have those first two weeks against Kent State and Towson to kind of get the kinks out. Not just on the offensive line, not just on the offense, but the entire team in general, right?

[00:07:27]Two weeks to kind of get ready before your home opener against Mississippi State, which no disrespect to the Bulldogs.

[00:07:33]Um you know, it's probably one of the best teams you kind of had SEC-wise to open up against at home. Um So, how quickly can they gel?

[00:07:42]And really how effective can we get? How how effective can we get this offensive line especially as we head into the back half of the season with Oklahoma, Georgia, Clemson typically causes problems for us unfortunately over the past couple of years with games like that. And honestly it feels it feels very contradicting because everything I think like everything I think about this offensive staff, especially the offensive line with coach Clem, and these and these players specifically, it's like I want to be positive about this offensive line. Like according to Matrix Analytics, we talked about this last show, ranked coach Clem as the number one offensive line coach in the SEC. And one thing that was noted was a big jump in performance from offensive lines the year before coach Clem came in in that first year they played.

[00:08:33]Or first year they played under coach Clements as their as their offensive line coach. And once again, experienced players. They are second in the country in returning snaps on the offensive line. Second in the country. They have almost 9,000 returning snaps. This only team ahead of them is Virginia with like 11,000 something. Just insane number by the way. But they're second in the country in returning snaps. Now, obviously they all were not at South Carolina or playing together, but they these guys know what it's like to play college football.

[00:09:03]And I'll once again bring up the point that coach Clements and coach Brass have worked together in so many places. I do think that helps with the general just chemistry, understanding um how to work with each other, how things work with each how things work with each other, and how the schemes need to line up for a successful 2026 season. So, overall overall this is something I think is very likely. Um however, I do give it a five and a half.

[00:09:27]I do give it a five and a half.

[00:09:29]The the you know, the very positive the side of me and even I'd say more of the just objective part of me because objectively I do like what I what I'm hearing out of this offensive line room.

[00:09:39]I I definitely want to hear a lot more good things to feel like I'm more feel more confident about it in preseason camp and in the fall, especially about Jakaius Speak injury-wise and his health, of course. Um and just everything, just seeing where how it all shakes out. And especially, you know, Darius Gray coming in as a freshman, interested to see uh the dynamic with him and how uh he might fit in this first season. But, kind of back to the main point I was getting off little sidetracked there. Um I I think it can happen.

[00:10:04]And if you told me that they allow less than 30 sacks, I would like I'd be like, "Okay." That like that's great. I wouldn't be like, you know, shocked like the like the painting or I don't I don't remember who painted it, but like he's like all this like shocked. I wouldn't be like that.

[00:10:16]However, with how the offensive line has been in the Beamer era, I think I can say this not for just myself, but I think I can speak for a lot of South Carolina fans, where unfortunately, when it comes to this offensive line room, I need to see it to believe it.

[00:10:31]I just we haven't had it yet under Coach Beamer in Columbia. I need to see it to believe it. The offensive line room, you know, I'm like like like last week I talked about Coach Gray. Or I think it might have been last week or the week before I talked about Coach Gray. Um then I said, you know, when it comes to the defensive back room, I give him the benefit of the doubt. He's one of the best coaches in the country. Look at our defensive back production over the past couple or during just in uh the entire time with Coach Beamer coming into Columbia and Coach Gray coaching as well.

[00:10:58]I said I give that defensive back room a benefit of the doubt. But, with this offensive line room, I just can't yet. I haven't seen it. You know, once I see good things, I'll be like, you know, like I'll be on the train. And I'm not trying to say that it won't happen. Like I think it like odds are if I had to make a guess faded the universal lawn, I would say this offensive line's going to do that. I think it's going to be good.

[00:11:19]I think it's going to be a lot better than people expect. I can say that confidently. I think it's going to be I think it's going to surprise a lot of people, especially outside of the South Carolina community, on how good this offensive line is.

[00:11:30]However, unfortunately, the room just hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt yet. As much as I would like to give it to them, as much as I would like to be able to say that, I still need to see more, at least at least out of fall camp, before I can confidently say things about this offensive line. However, do I think it's outrageous to say that they allow under 30 sacks this year?

[00:11:50]No, I don't think so. So, overall, I'm going to give that a five and a half out of 10. So, once again, to the 2001 Rooster, thank you for a your cocky take submission. That was actually one of the ones I actually enjoyed the most. I enjoy all of them.

[00:12:04]Not trying to pick favorites. However, I I did like talking about that one.

[00:12:09]And the second the next one and the last one for today is from Ben at First and Goal from On3. And he said there's one South Carolina is going to have a top four offense in the SEC.

[00:12:23]Now, when I thought about this, with the top four offense, I just a lot of things ran through my mind.

[00:12:36]A lot of things ran through my mind. A lot of things to think about. Um Firstly, really quick back to literally what we were just talking about, the offensive line has to gel in year one. Yes, I know I just brought up the offensive line, but now that we're talking about the whole offense, once again, it starts in the trenches, right? Even with the strong portal additions, the transfers, the new coach, even with the chemistry thing I brought up, it still takes time, right? Especially against SEC defensive fronts, against tough road environments, tough home environments, you know, with the with how crazy it can be at Williams-Brice. Um and and honestly, you know, a lot a lot of people I would say that this year's schedule for the Gamecocks is more favorable, I think, in the timing and like the schedule itself.

[00:13:18]However, there's still a lot of tough teams we're playing. You don't get an easy schedule as at the University of South Carolina in football. Um I mean, you go to Tuscaloosa, you go to Norman uh play Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma is going to be really good this year. You play Texas A&M at home. Once again, their defense.

[00:13:35]You play Georgia. Georgia comes to town.

[00:13:37]The the game before the week before we head to the upstate and play Clemson.

[00:13:41]So, that's an emotional game already.

[00:13:43]You might be thinking about the Clemson game already. Um or at least from a fan point, I think they'll certainly the players will certainly be focused on Georgia as they come to town.

[00:13:52]However, those are some tough defenses to play against, right? So, maybe maybe South Carolina is one of the top offenses in the country or not country, in the SEC. However, when you got to play defenses like that, maybe statistically it might hurt you a little bit. And unfortunately with recent history under Coach Beamer, the program has had flashes, had some really good offensive games and performances, but it just hasn't been a sustained effort or it's not sustained effort, a sustained offense, top four offense in the SEC during his tenure. So, makes that kind of that leap. Feel a little bit optimistic. Now, for for those who might be a little bit more on the optimistic side, um on the more sunshine and rainbow side, obviously, I mean, you talk about Coach Briles, Coach Clement, Coach Drayton, who I'm really high on, just the running backs coach in general, coming in from Penn State. Like, I'm really high on the staff. I think we finally have a college college quarterback friendly offensive coordinator. Um bringing in some really talented guys like Coach Klein, Coach Drayton, bringing a lot of talent to the transfer portal.

[00:14:56]And I think once again, just like the offensive line, it kind of just comes down to gelling. How quickly can they get things sorted and start playing their game, especially, you know, as you enter conference play, especially the back half of the season. And but kind of go back to what I was saying earlier in my last little note on this. Like I said, you go to Norman, you have Texas A&M and Georgia come to town. You play some tough defenses, right? It's the SEC. Whatever, get used to it. However, statistically, when you look at teams from the past couple years, going to go ahead and see if I can pull this up real quick.

[00:15:31]Um Okay, I can't pull it up right now.

[00:15:34]However, actually, yes, I can.

[00:15:39]So, I'm going to go ahead and pull this up for y'all just for as a reference.

[00:15:46]See if it's on the screen. So, these were the top offensive stats in 20 25 in last year. Right? So, South Carolina, unfortunately, down there, you know, don't don't really want to talk about that part right now. However, when it comes to being like a top four offense, right? I mean, you have a team like Ole Miss who averaged almost 500 yards per game. Right? Now, will their offense be as good as it was last year? We'll have to see. However, they still have Trinidad Chambliss.

[00:16:10]Um It's I think it's going to be very interesting to see. And you saw how they performed in the playoffs without their uh without Lane Kiffin.

[00:16:18]I mean, you still have Ole Miss to think about. They could could take up one of the spots in the top four because, you know, we're still trying to stay focused on whether they will be top four or not for this take. Um Texas A&M um right there outside top five.

[00:16:30]Could Marcel we taking that even a bigger step next year? Um Texas, you know, I think everybody is expecting an offensive step up with, you know, Kam Coleman coming in and everything.

[00:16:39]Averaging almost 400 yards per game. Um Mississippi State last year up there. Um you know, despite their record, Georgia, of course, up there. Missouri was up there last year. Like there's uh Arkansas was there last year. You wouldn't think so with their record, but they had an insane offense when it comes to yards per game and points per game.

[00:16:56]It's just unfortunately, their defense couldn't hold on in way too many scenarios. So, like and then Vanderbilt, of course, Tennessee to think about. So, it could be, you know, Ole Miss, Texas, and Texas A&M could, you know, be the three main guys or three main teams uh offensively.

[00:17:13]And maybe two of them make the top four in the offen- offensive uh like stats. But, you know, you could have some other risers as well. Now, could South Carolina be one of those where they shoot up, make top four, top five rankings next year similar to like how Vanderbilt did this year?

[00:17:29]That's why we play the we play the games for a reason. But, those are just things to think about that it's not only dependent upon whether South Carolina's offense is good enough or make is good enough to be top four.

[00:17:43]It's just also dependent upon I just depend upon how other teams play as well, how other teams rack and stack offensively as well. So, overall, I'm going to give this an eight out of 10.

[00:17:57]Um maybe a seven and a half if I had to be a little bit I'm I'm going to go ahead and say an eight out of 10 for now. I I think about this thing is I believe we have the talent. I believe we finally have the coaching staff offensively to do it. I believe the schedule, despite a tough back half, has plenty of opportunities to get a top four offense in the SEC running. But, once again, it can be dependent upon how other teams play. Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas and Vanderbilt popping up last year, I'm just going to name a few other high-caliber offenses in the SEC. And you know, I think I is I think I maybe maybe I catch myself doing this a little bit.

[00:18:32]Um when it comes to I guess in general getting stuck on, you know, well, the new offensive coordinator, the new running back coach, new this and that's going to be very good, very good.

[00:18:46]However, just have to remember there's still going to be mistakes. It's still the first year in the program, you know, first year kind of interacting, working with these players on the field, you know, you know, and plus it's a game.

[00:18:56]The the other team is improving and working as well. So, top four, I think if I think if South Carolina is top four in the SEC on offense, I think I think that you feel very good about how we ended the 2026 season where whatever that may be, whatever postseason we may have. Top four in the SEC would be very encouraging to hear if future me told me that. Um, but overall I'm going to give it an eight out of 10.

[00:19:20]Definitely going to be interested to see what you hear out of fall camp with how I guess how far on the progression track this offense is, whether it's offensive line, wide receiver room, um, running back room, whatever it may be, just how far along they are with this new offensive coaching staff.

[00:19:39]So, um, once again to 2001 Roosta and to Ben at first and goal.

[00:19:45]Um, big appreciate appreciate y'all for your cocky take submissions for