Joe DeCamillis Previews Gamecocks’ Special Teams Ahead of Kentucky Matchup
South Carolina special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media on Wednesday to discuss the Gamecocks’ special teams play and preview Saturday night’s Week 5 clash with Kentucky. Here are the key takeaways from his comments.
On kicker William Joyce’s development:
“He’s done a good job. He’s really worked hard during the offseason and then during the summertime. I think the operation’s gotten better. Cole [Rasmussen] has done a really good job with his snaps, and I think we got a good operation so far between the three of them,” DeCamillis said.
“That’s really what helps kickers more than anything else: great operations. So, if that can continue, that’ll help us. He’s had some shorter field goals that he’s made. So, hopefully, we can keep that going. And if it gets back, he’ll make some of the longer ones, also.”
On young players Mike Tyler and Donovan Darden getting opportunities last weekend:
“You’re always looking to try to get young guys out there — like we did Fred [Johnson] last year, like we did with [David] Bucey last year,” DeCamillis explained.
“In my opinion, part of my job is to help those guys develop as players down the road, and the only way you get better is by playing football. And football is special teams. You block, you tackle, and you do all the things that you do on offense and defense. So, all those guys have showed up in practice.
“You might see some other guys out there this week, too. You saw Jaquel [Holman] have the four returns when they kicked it to him, decided to kick away from Nyck [Harbor] and went to Jaquel. So, I think some of those young guys are getting some reps. Hopefully, we continue that way. But [I’m] pleased with where those two guys are at, for sure.”
On Missouri’s unusual drop-kick punts last week:
“I thought they handled it well. You got to field the ball, and they decided to go to him [Holman] over Nyck — which, that’s fine. We’ve done that before. We did it last year, if you remember, with Kai [Kroeger]. We had a good feel with him,” he said.
“They were trying to keep it away from Nyck. I think our average start was the 32-yard line, so that’s our decision, if that’s what they want to do. I mean, field position’s field position, so if we can get it at the 32 and average that — I think, on the last one, we started at the 40 — if that’s what they want to do, that’s what they want to do. And I thought our guys did a great job of adjusting to it mid-game, for sure.”
On starting punter Mason Love through four games:
“Obviously, you’re always going better, no question about it, but he’s done well. I’m pleased with where he’s at,” DeCamillis said.
“I thought they controlled field position at the start of the game. We get the one down at the eight — which wasn’t a great punt, but when you’re going into the sideline, that helps us. And then, the one that he gets on the half-yard line, they got a great drive on that. Hopefully, next time we get him on the half-yard line, it stays back. But he’s done a good job of controlling field position from where the punts have occurred for him — you know, what we’re asking him to do. So, if he can continue to do that, we’ll be in good shape.”
On Jaquel Holman’s skill set if opponents avoid Nyck Harbor:
“He’s an aggressive kid. All through camp, he showed some toughness and showed some real burst, some real athleticism,” DeCamillis noted.
“He played at running back in high school — and did a heck of job with that — so, obviously, he’s doing the same thing running back kicks. But I think he’s only going to get better as a cover player and all those things, too. Hopefully, that experience will help him become a better defensive player down the road. And I think it will.”
