Gamecocks offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains addressed the media, Wednesday, as South Carolina prepares for its road trip to Missouri.
Despite the recent loss to Florida, the Gamecocks’ offense did some good things against the Gators, showcasing a balanced attack of 313 yards passing and 183 yards on the ground. Quarterback Spencer Rattler threw four touchdowns, receiver Xavier Leggette posted another 100-yard game, tight end Trey Knox caught eight passes and running back Mario Anderson (98 yards) had another productive game. Loggains simply lamented that his group “didn’t finish the game,” failing to score on its final two possessions as the Gators completed the comeback. Loggains did praised the play of the offensive line, however, and pointed to the unit’s improvement in both pass protection and in the running game.
Anderson’s emergence has forced defenses to plan for more than Rattler and Leggette. As the Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3) embark on the second half of the season, the ability to hurt teams with the pass and the run should open up the playbook for Loggains.
Loggains told the media that he was always sure of Anderson’s talent and confidence, he just needed to adjust to life in the SEC following a record-setting career at Newberry, “That’s why it took him a little bit to play, because he was still learning how to play at this level. Now, he’s earned it. Usually, when you go through something really hard, you come out of the other side better and you get forged in the fire …. That ability to get through adversity is showing up on the field.”
Anderson has gone for 287 yards on 5.1 yards/carry in the last three weeks against Mississippi State, Tennessee and Florida. Rattler, Anderson, Leggette and the Gamecocks offense will next square off with a Missouri (6-1, 2-1) club giving up just 3.7 yards/carry and 24 points/game.
Kickoff from Columbia, Mo., is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern, Saturday.
