USC Struggles to Find Answers in Run Game After Missouri Defeat

A Disappointing Performance and the Questions That Follow

Shane Beamer had to watch the tape again, this time enduring another painful look at what might be one of the worst rushing performances in South Carolina history. The Gamecocks ended a game with negative rushing yards, which is an alarming statistic that raises serious concerns about the team’s offensive strategy and execution.

In their 29-20 loss to No. 23 Missouri on Saturday at Faurot Field, South Carolina managed just minus-9 rushing yards. Even if you remove the five sacks on quarterback LaNorris Sellers, the numbers remain troubling: 17 carries for 37 yards. Beamer acknowledged the issue during his weekly teleconference, stating, "Little bit of everything." He admitted it's difficult to pinpoint a single cause for the problems, but he knows the solution may require more than just minor adjustments.

There were multiple issues contributing to the lack of progress on the ground. At times, the perimeter blocking was inadequate. Running backs sometimes chose the wrong path—either going inside when they should have gone outside or vice versa. Additionally, some players leaned the wrong way, and the Mizzou defense made several standout plays. These small details are what Beamer is focusing on as he tries to fix the problem.

However, the bigger questions remain unanswered. Why did Sellers only run the ball five times in the game? While it's clear that defenses are targeting him, is there any option offense that can at least threaten his running ability? Does the team even value Sellers’ athleticism, given his size and potential?

Another major concern is whether the offensive line is capable of handling SEC defenses. South Carolina shuffled its starting five before facing Missouri, and then two starters went down with injuries, forcing further changes. The question now is whether this group can hold up against the level of competition in the SEC. If not, are the tight ends able to step in and help with blocking? According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), tight ends Jordan Dingle and Brady Hunt were among the team’s four-worst run blockers against Missouri.

The running backs also come under scrutiny. Are they being used effectively? Are they even capable of performing at the SEC level? Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy, who transferred from Louisiana-Monroe, rushed for 138 yards and forced 16 missed tackles. In contrast, South Carolina’s Rahsul Faison, a seventh-year player from Utah State, managed just five yards and broke one tackle. He was the only Gamecock rusher to break a tackle against Missouri, per PFF.

This lack of production isn’t just a one-time issue. Through four games, South Carolina has accumulated only 321 rushing yards, averaging 80.25 yards per game—last in the SEC. For comparison, in their first four games of 2024, the Gamecocks had already gained 769 yards (192 per game) and produced two 100-yard rushing games.

Faison’s 74 yards against Vanderbilt is currently the team’s highest total. Beamer pointed out that teams are loading the box and forcing the Gamecocks to throw, which they did successfully. However, the run game wasn’t consistent enough to create balance. Sellers completed 18 of 28 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, but he missed key throws, including a deep ball to Mazeo Bennett early in the game and several critical passes in the fourth quarter.

Missouri didn’t seem overly concerned about stopping Sellers’ arm. They blitzed on just four plays (11% of the time), yet still managed to sack him five times. This suggests that the Tigers could rely on their defensive scheme to shut down the Gamecocks' offense, offering a blueprint for other SEC teams to follow.

Beamer admitted that the team needs to take a step back and evaluate everything. “It doesn’t mean blow stuff up,” he said, “but there’s a four-game body of work showing we’re nowhere close to where we need to be.” As the season continues, the pressure will mount for the Gamecocks to make significant changes and find a way to turn things around.