Talking Tuesday: Beamer prepping #Gamecocks for physical Texas A&M team (AUDIO)

Shane Beamer addressed the media, Tuesday, as his team prepares for a showdown with tenth-ranked Texas A&M. The Gamecocks are coming off an open date while the Aggies will roll into Columbia fresh off a victory over LSU.

Beamer has been impressed with what first-year Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0) coach Mike Elko has accomplished, so far, with the Aggies rattling off seven straight wins following their season-opening loss to Notre Dame and sitting at the top of several conference statistical categories.

South Carolina (4-3, 2-3) is in good shape health-wise, with wide receiver Jared Brown expected to return to action, Saturday. USC dropped its first nine meetings against A&M before Beamer took them down 30-24 in 2022.

Kickoff between the Gamecocks and the Aggies from Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

Key comments from Shane Beamer:

• Points out Texas A&M is at the top or near the top of SEC in several crucial metrics including turnover margin … Says #Gamecocks are in great shape healthwise …. Looking forward to the “insane environment” at Williams-Brice Stadium
• Every coach in America says “they remember November.” I was hearing that from Phil Fulmer when I was on his staff …. I told the guys a story about being 6-1 here in 2007, but then losing games down the stretch including at Vanderbilt and missing out on a bowl trip
• On Texas A&M playing two QBs: It’s a challenge. We prepared for both QBs at OU, but they were similar. A&M’s QBs are different. Reed makes defenders look silly in the open field. They’ll do different things with them and we have to be ready to defend both of them
• We didn’t perform well last time coming off a bye, so we’re trying to learn from that … On second bye week: Coaches were commented that the guys had some extra energy, which is what you’d expect. Having two bye weeks has also been beneficial to our mental health
• On Texas A&M physicality: Those d-linemen are freak shows. LBs and DBs have size. O-line is impressive and their RB is a downhill back. He’s averaging 5 yds after contact. If you love tough, gritty, physical games, you’ll love Saturday’s game
• On Gamecocks’ late-season success: We focus on improvement both at practice AND in the weight room. We do a lot of “good on good” in practice and that helps to make us a better team as the season moves on
• On self-scouting during bye week: Not wholesale changes to scheme, but always looking to get better in all phases. What’s next step? If we’ve been doing something, you try to take the next step up. We won’t look like a different team, Saturday, but there will be tweaks

Shane Beamer previews Texas A&M