COLUMBIA — Wait a minute… did South Carolina just push Alabama around up front?
Yes, they did. For the first time all season, the Gamecocks’ offensive line opened running lanes and held their own in pass protection. The offense looked balanced, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers finally had time to breathe — thanks to simplified play-calling and some smart in-game adjustments.
The Gamecocks used maximum protection schemes, moved the pocket to shield Sellers from Alabama’s pressure, and mixed in blocking help from tight ends. The result? A noticeably sharper offensive performance than anything seen this year.
So what changed?
According to head coach Shane Beamer, the difference came from narrowing the focus and leaning into what the team does best — while benefiting from improved line play under interim offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.
“(Shawn Elliott’s) come in that room and he’s a different personality, and they’ve adjusted to his personality,” Beamer said. “Because it was Week 2, there’s now a better understanding of what to expect.”
With the line nearly fully healthy for the first time since Missouri, the blocking schemes began to click. Tight ends often lined up behind the line for added protection, and the linemen were consistently able to get “a body on a body,” giving Sellers just enough time to work.
Alabama still managed two sacks and four quarterback hurries, and Sellers once again had to use his legs to escape danger — but this time, it felt controlled. South Carolina finished with 111 rushing yards, including 67 yards and a touchdown from Sellers himself, many of them between the tackles — something rarely seen earlier in the season.
A change was clearly overdue, and while it wasn’t expected to pay off immediately, Saturday’s showing proved that the Gamecocks’ adjustments — both schematically and mentally — are finally taking root.
