USC defensive coordinator Clayton White knows his unit is under scrutiny as the Gamecocks prepare to host Florida this Saturday for “Homecoming.” He also understands that criticism may be warranted as Carolina ranks towards the bottom of the SEC and nationally in both scoring and total defense. However, White believes his squad isn’t as far off as you might believe. As a matter of fact, the Gamecocks’ fortunes could change on just a couple of plays.
“You can’t have thirty-seven good run fits and then four bad ones,” White illustrated on Wednesday. “It’ll be 200 yards before you know it in this league with the backs that we face.”
That slim margin for error will be stressed again this weekend by the Gators, who pose a challenge both in the run game and through the air. QB Graham Mertz is completing 80% of his passes with nine touchdowns and only two INTs. Meanwhile, Montrell Johnson, Jr., and Trevor Etienne are a talented one-two punch out of the backfield for the Gators.
USC enters Saturday’s 3:30pm kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium as a slight favorite over the Gators.
