Shane Beamer is not yet ready to put a label on the 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks attack.
The matter was raised again on Thursday, during an interview with ‘3 Man Front’ on 94.5 JOX FM. Beamer’s response was relatively similar to what he said on previous media opportunities.
“For me, if you’re training high school, college or professional, it’s better to have a system that is multiple enough to fit the people you have each season,” said Beamer. “I’m not stupid. I watched the South Carolina game last year and the season didn’t go the way they wanted, but they still had a 1,000-yard rusher and most of the offensive line coming back with an athletic quarterback who ended the season in Luke Doty.
“Being able to do what you do best, which is up to our people, this is our crime.”
There is a completely new team for Beamer, with Marcus Satterfield call moves and train defenders. Greg Adkins (offensive line), Erik Kimrey (tight ends), Montario Hardesty (running backs) and Justin Stepp (wide receiver) complete the coaches on the field to that side of the ball.
In addition, they still have about a month to go before they start the field for the first time to open spring training. Protecting the ball will be your primary concern each season.
In 2020, South Carolina committed 15 total turnovers, drawing eighth in the SEC.
“You need to have an attack that has the ability to run and shoot,” said Beamer. “You have to be able to create explosive moves in the passing and racing game today, and that is football in general.”
Gamecocks were 13th in the SEC in attack passes last season. They were sixth in the race, although Kevin Harris finished with the league lead in yards per game (113.8) was second in run touchdowns (15).
Harris has a prominent role in the South Carolina offense again in 2021. And even though Mike Bobo stuck around, instead of fleeing to Auburn, there is no guarantee that the Gamecocks would have the same style of attack this season.
“I used the example when I was in Oklahoma,” said Beamer. “Our 2018 offense with Kyler Murray was very different from the 2019 offense with Jalen hurts and the 2020 offense in Oklahoma with Spencer Rattler it was different than it was with Jalen hurts and Kyler Murray.
“Each year is different. Each quarterback is different, the people around those quarterbacks. … 2018, very rarely did we have two tight ends on the field at the same time in Oklahoma. In 2020 in Oklahoma, two tight ends were all we did, so I think I just find your people and, at the end of the day, take the ball to your game creators.
“I hired an offensive coordinator that I’ve known for 20 years and I’ve been a coordinator, I spent the last season with the Carolina Panthers and Joe Brady and that 2019 LSU offense, then being able to match some of those concepts with what we did in Oklahoma that works for us and elsewhere where our team has been. “
The South Carolina team will begin to have a better idea of exactly what that looks like in about a month. Spring training is scheduled to begin on March 20.