South Alabama a perfect win as Gamecocks prep for Clemson

South Carolina defeated South Alabama 37-to-12 Saturday.

It was not an overly impressive win but, The State newspaper claimed: “South Carolina didn’t put the

SC's defense had a good game versus
South Alabama. 

game away until the fourth quarter.” That's total rubbish. The game was never in doubt.

And while it was a sloppy performance, the easy win for the Gamecocks was a boost in perpetration to play Clemson.

In one regard, the Jags two quarterbacks were replicas of the two QBs who could play for Clemson.

The Gamecocks saw a passing quarterback in SA's Hunter Vaughn. The Gamecocks much-insulted defense intercepted Vaughn four times. Clemson has a passing QB in Cole Stoudt, and Vaughn and Stoudt are similar in their style of play. To play Stoudt helps the Gamecocks.

The Jags also played QB Bandon Bridge, who is less of a thrower, and more mobile. The Gamecock's D, the most suspect part of the team all year, defended Bridge well. His style of play is what the Gamecocks' could see if Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, who was injured last week versus Georgia Tech, can play.

The USC defense also held South Alabama out of the endzone time and time again, even after the Gamecock's offense turned the ball over.

The Gamecocks got some much-needed live action to help them get ready for the Tigers.

Also, it was a good day for USC to have its five turnovers. To get those out of your system when it does not hurt you, is a positive. Chances are, the Gamecocks were looking ahead to Clemson, and did not have their head in the game versus South Alabama. That was likely the cause for so much careless play. That will not be the case versus Clemson.

Another thing USC did that will help next Saturday at Death Valley is running a wildcat offense. Not only did Pharaoh Cooper run the wildcat, so did RB Brandon Wilds. And RB David Williams ran the wildcat, too. That has to have the Tigers thinking about all the possibilities it will have to defend. The same with SC QB Dylan Thompson catching a TD pass from Cooper.

While the Gamecocks were not so sharp, the team mixed it up to where your head was spinning after watching.

It was a good game and a no-stress win. It was exactly what the Gamecocks needed before trying to get the sixth straight win over the Tigers.