COLOMBIA – They knew coming in that it would be a development process. After four years with Bryan Edwards, and the last three with Shi Smith also on the pitch, South Carolina defenders always had someone to pitch to.
Smith would be the primary target in 2020, and while there was no one known to the rest of the receiving body, there was a lot of potential. Edwards and Smith were also not established receivers until they entered the field and started receiving passes. Therefore, USC was sure that someone other than Smith would emerge.
In nine games, this hasn’t happened yet.
“Injuries are one of the reasons. Guys not being able to stay healthy, ”said interim coach Mike Bobo. “Another would be limited spring practice, where guys can learn a new attack and understand how to execute route concepts versus different coverages.”
The injuries increased, the Gamecocks losing Keveon Mullins and Xavier Legette in the second half of the season and Smith losing last week’s game due to a concussion (he is questionable for Saturday’s regular season finale in Kentucky, but trained on Tuesday contactless shirt). The USC lost OrTre Smith and Randrecous Davis to withdrawals before the season, and Chad Terrell, recovering from a torn ACL and said to be back in the middle of the season, played nothing.
However, Gamecocks are still not receiving anything from the remaining receivers. Smith was an All-SEC player with 54 receptions for 605 yards. Jalen Brooks, who did not qualify in the first four games of the year, recently arrived with 10 catches.
The production of the rest would have to improve to be labeled as average. Josh Vann has 10 catches, Legette has seven before he falls, Dakereon Joyner has three, while Trey Adkins and Rico Powers have two each. Ger-Cari Caldwell had his only chance in last week’s loss to Georgia.
Falls have been a problem. Bobo said the USC will not just throw it on the field when the receivers are not open, hoping it will magically do so while the ball is in the air.
“Some growing pains, but that is part of learning the game. I am learning a lot from Shi. I try to take that and distort it my way, ”said Joyner. “I think it comes down to, whether you want to or not. Things happen, adversity comes, you just have to keep moving forward, making progress ”.
There is no specific reason for the lack of reliable receivers, but the solution covers all weaknesses.
I just have to get better.
“Many of these receivers are guys who played different positions in high school. You have Dakereon, who was a quarterback, he is a quarterback / receiver here. He passes to the receiver full time and is just learning to play in that position, ”said Bobo. “Rico Powers, who was a receiver at the school, but performed flight movements and jet sweeps and didn’t get many passes on routes. It was one more thing behind the line, giving him the ball.
“Unless you’re just a freak, in terms of size and speed … it’s going to take a little time.”
Gamecocks have had some “freaks” in their history. Sterling Sharpe, Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice would fit that profile, while Edwards and Jermale Kelly had the size and speed after capture to make way for “strange” territory.
But other great recipients emerged from humble beginnings. Low but fast players like Deebo Samuel, Pharoh Cooper and Ace Sanders. The comprehensive talents of Bruce Ellington, Nick Jones and Kenny McKinley. Even Damiere Byrd, who managed just 68 passes in four years at USC, has built a beautiful career in the NFL.
Crazy or not, it has been a struggle for anyone to enter the field consistently and stay there. From freshman to veteran, USC administrators who aren’t called Smith are as anonymous as they were at the pre-season camp.
“If you don’t have elite speed, it takes time to learn to be a coach,” said Bobo. “The team’s speed has to improve on this football team. The explosive power in skill positions on both sides of the ball, in my opinion, has to improve in order to be able to compete where you want to compete. “
It is a recruitment cycle, a spring training and another pre-season camp far from happening. And considering that the USC has already missed six appointments from a poorly classified class, there is no telling whether the pandemic will allow the practice of spring and Smith has already told Bobo that he plans to move forward after this season, Gamecocks recipients may get even worse. in 2021.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.