Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox talking Gamecock's reaction, thoughts and analysis to the football team losing to Ole Miss. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:52] Okay, going to start this episode a little differently here as I had recorded the episode with my reaction and thoughts following the Ole Miss game. And then pretty much as soon as I hit save, I saw the breaking news that you no doubt have heard by now that Mike Shula has been fired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at usc. So going to just unpack this and talk about it for a little bit and then I will kick it back to myself for thoughts on the Ole Miss game.
[00:01:24] I end up rambling a lot in that and you will probably hear me talk about the play calling and maybe doing something with Shula and things like that. So you can call me a, a medium here because I kind of called this one. But no, it's. It's the right move, absolutely. To move on from Mike Shula. It was clearly not working. It was not showing noticeable signs of improvement.
[00:01:49] And if there was a time to do it. While I lament it being this late in the year, there is the bye week coming up. So now you're going to have some extra time to prepare whoever that is going to be calling the plays. I haven't seen that yet.
[00:02:03] And get a little bit more time for the players to adjust. So a couple of things to look at that like, November, it's a new month, there's three games left. Can you make a big enough change in philosophy and what you're doing game to game with the play calling, the game plan, etc. To rattle off a couple in a row like maybe. But you certainly probably are a more formidable opponent, certainly to Clemson, you know, A and M. Now there, there's a question mark about what kind of film can they watch, lack thereof. So you definitely become a trickier opponent in these last three. But, you know, look the Mike Shula higher.
[00:02:46] I was buying into it, but I think looking back at it, it just, you know, felt like you probably could have had your pick of the litter with ocs. Who would have wanted to come to Carolina and work with Lenoris? I understand the concept of keeping the continuity and things like that, but he just wasn't the man for the job. And it's a shame that we see some regressions this year in Lenores. We are not seeing those clutch moments by the offense like we did last year. And we're seeing, you know, a dead last scoring in the SEC offense. Not a lot of moving the ball, you know, Just not good offensive ball. So it was a decision that, you know, I'm sure Shane Beamer did not take lightly. First time he's fired a coordinator, you know, sat pseudo got fired but he went to Nebraska. Dowell took the App State job. So first time we're seeing that from Shane Beamer.
[00:03:46] Going to be interesting to see what he does with this remaining time. But it just is going to be an incredibly, incredibly important offseason to get this next hire right for his own sake. Beemers, that is so. Yeah, I mean it was a tough go at it with Shula. You know, you're here, what are we, nine games into this thing?
[00:04:10] And you know, it just, you know, the proof was in the pudding and you know, some folks are saying too little too late. And I certainly understand that. I wish this happened a week or two ago. I think if it was anyone else, anyone else. But if it was a, you know, more of an average looking offense, you know, there might be one or two, maybe even three games that South Carolina wins without him. But you know, we can't go backwards. We can't play the what if game. It was an interesting hire. It was a mistake.
[00:04:42] It was a mistake. I think Beamer will be the first one to say it. I think we look at it now, it was a bad hire. Keeping it in house was not the correct decision.
[00:04:51] Needed to do something differently. You know, I know Beamer likes this concept of having like a similar system that like no matter who the play caller is or like who the players are, like this is what he's gonna run.
[00:05:03] It just he was not, not the man for the job. So yeah, I'm, he did the right thing. I was, I am surprised he did it mid season. I really didn't think he was gonna. And we'll see what the next three weeks bring. But yeah. Breaking news. Mike Shula out as the offensive coordinator at usc and we'll see what the next few weeks bring. Alright, I will kick it back to myself for my reaction to the Ole Miss game. It feels like the Twilight Zone here. I mean it's like, it's like that, that Brian Kelly meme when they lost that opener a couple years ago in Vegas and he's like, we're sitting here having the same conversation again. And that's what I feel like right now. I'm not gonna bang the table and make my water bottle jump, but like it's what it is. Like we're sitting here Sunday with the same thoughts and it feels like we're watching the Same game over and over and over, over again in a season that is down the tubes, has been down the tubes, has gone so sideways and you know, frankly, there's just not a lot to say.
[00:06:11] So really jumping right into this here, but of course, talking about the football team going to Ole Miss Saturday night and dropping yet again another game to move to 3 and 6 on the year, losing to the Rebels 30 to 14. So, I mean, there's, there's a few things to unpack with this game. And I gotta say again, again that here we are minus, you know, a little bit at the end there. The defense showed up like one side of this team is continuing to show up and Clayton White is probably coaching himself into a head coaching job next season. Like, they have come to play pretty much every week and frankly, they are the reason why these games have been kind of within reach, you know, for most of these games Here, of course, in, in the fourth, kind of late in the fourth, things went a little, you know, sideways. But you know, I think at a certain point the defenses, I saw someone say that the defenses is drowning on social media and I think that that's a pretty fair way to describe, I think, what happens over the course of time with this unit. But yeah, I mean, they came to play right out the gates, like, you know, forced that three and out, but not really a three now, but because, you know, Ole Miss did the, the fake punt but then stood right back up, stopped them and allowed the team to, to take an early lead here. So starting with the good, right, like, I think the defense for 90% of the game played really well, was able to contain Ole Miss for the most part, limit their explosive plays. Like, of course there are a couple you want to get back, but you just have to shout out that unit. Clayton White has those guys playing. I thought the linebackers looked really good on Saturday night. Like Jo was jumping off the page. You saw Fred Johnson make, make a couple of big plays. So I, that was good to see because they had, they've been a decently solid group, but I, I felt like this was the first week in a while where they had really jumped off the page. The secondary played well, made some plays, created some turnovers. Like they did their job right.
[00:08:30] And so you have to tip your cap to them. Clayton White, that whole staff has really gotten, gotten their, their guys to play. And I, I think they, I've said this before, but they reflect the, the leadership that they have. I think Clayton White is a very prepared, buttoned up coach who has his guys bought into the system. They know their job. They know what they're supposed to be doing.
[00:08:55] And it's kind of the opposite of what we're seeing on the offense. I mean, things started off well, right? Like, again, like, it's just so frustrating. You take that early seven nothing lead, you go into the second quarter, you're only down three.
[00:09:10] You go into the half 17 to seven, and, you know, you're thinking, like, yeah, you know what? We're. We're still very much in this game. You know, that opener, you know, the opening drive was a little meh, right? But then you get really fortuitous bounce with that punt, recovered it. You did exactly what you have to do in that instance, which was get into the end zone. You leaned on your star quarterback to run it, use his legs. It's a big skill of his to get the end zone. But then things just kind of stalled, you know, like, yes, in the third, nice pass, you know, passing catch from Lenores to Nick for that big touchdown.
[00:09:50] But that was kind of it. It was just, like, sputtering. You know, you'd get, like, a couple of plays here. You know, you'd get a nice conversion. I thought, you know, kind of, for the most part, like, you know, try to do a decent job of keeping it in second and third and manageable. Of course, there was a couple of really bad penalties, these. But there's a lot you can look at here that I just didn't really like about the offense. I mean, I thought the offensive line did not have their best night. I mean, late in the game, Carolina still within reach. You got to get that score to, you know, really make this a game. I think at one point, Ole Miss rushed three and still sacked Lenores to, you know, kind of put that game away, put it on ice. And that's really disappointing to see.
[00:10:37] But Lenores himself, I mean, we have to talk about it, you know, like, everyone is accountable on this thing. Like, we can talk about Mike Shula till we're blue in the face, but when you're not able to make the plays, it doesn't matter who's calling them. You know what I mean? Like, he had an off night, and it's okay to say these things. Like, maybe there's a, you know, a different world where there's a perfect system for him, but right now, we are where we are.
[00:11:02] Lenores was off, you know, 16 for 30. That's, you know, a tick over 50% completion rate. The two picks. I just think he did not have A really good touch on a lot of his passes. There were, there were a few that were just at the receiver's feet. There were a few that you kind of saw him throwing into traffic, which didn't make a lot of sense. There was a couple where guys were pretty open and he just missed them. So he was off.
[00:11:29] He was off. And, you know, the decision making at times wasn't the best, but.
[00:11:33] And so you're, you know, you're, you can only do so much, right? Like I sit here and I, before these games and I'm just like, okay, well, you know, in theory you have this star caliber quarterback who should keep you in the games. And so if he plays well, you can hang around, you can do some things. And he has those moments, right? Like he got that rushing touchdown, he had that, you know, pass to Nick. But when you're not crisp and then on top of it, you're going with this system and this OC who's kind of been holding you back all year, it just is a, a little bit of an avalanche. So. Didn't love that.
[00:12:15] On, on, on the ground. I mean, look at this here. 50 yards, like, it's just 50 yards on the ground, 180 through the air. It's just, that's just not going to get it done. Like, you're not able to move the ball up and down the field consistently. You know, like, you get a couple of flashes here and there, but just not being able to do that like, kills your time of possession. You know, you can't get a flow, your defense is going to be gassed. It just all leads to that. Sewell was the leading rusher here, 12 for 52.
[00:12:48] I was screaming at my TV, just get Matt Fuller more involved. I don't know what happened to that.
[00:12:52] You know, I, it kind of felt like we found something a couple weeks ago with him.
[00:12:56] You know, you, you do these occasional pop passes to him. You get a running back going around. Like, I, I don't know, but like, you know, it just. I would have liked to see him get more involved and. Yeah, shoot, you know, I'm just looking at the box score here, but, you know, Brian Rowe, he had, he had a nice game. You know, I think there was the one pass he wishes he had back, but there was also that one where he was pretty open and Lenores just missed him. Nick, you know, he had a pretty good game, but yeah, it's just, again, like there's not a lot to say. I know this isn't a very substantive Is that, like, maybe not the most substance to this episode, but it's just a case. Like, it's. That's just like, it is what it is. Sitting here at 3 and 6.
[00:13:42] Oh, my goodness gracious. Like, what.
[00:13:46] What way this season has gone, you know, I mean, so now here you are, right? You're nine games through this.
[00:13:54] You're going into a bye week, which I think everyone really needs. I think the fans need it for our mentals. I think the players need it for their mentals and their physicals, and everyone just needs to take a little bit of a breath. And, you know, I mean, you know, Shane Beamer say, you know, we're still fighting for a ball game and that's what you want. You know, I mean, I know if you scrape up a six and six year, yeah, you're going like the Independence bowl in, you know, Fayetteville or, you know, wherever, but it's. That still means something. But you. Now you're at a point where just like, is that even doable? You know, I mean, it's crazy. Like, so, you know, sitting here after this stretch, it puts everything into question, right? Like, I. I only could tweet the one thing after the game. I just. I'm tired of it. Like, I'm sure y' all can relate. Like, it's just been a tiring season to still try and get excited for these games, you know, Like, I look forward to it. You know, like, I know this season has been tough. I look forward to these games. You know, it's. I'm. I'm a ride or die fan. I fan big with all of my teams. I feel big with them.
[00:15:11] You know, South Carolina sports and South Carolina football has been a source of a lot of joy in my life. So I look forward still to those couple of hours where I can sit down and watch my team.
[00:15:22] And it's just been a long season of seeing this, right? Like, look, like it's just you. You were there. Like, this was a game, right? Like, going into the fourth quarter, you're. You're. It's a one score game, 20 to 14, right?
[00:15:42] And even after they got that field goal at the beginning of the fourth, you know, you're. You're right there. 14 to 23. So it's another instance where South Carolina has hung around with these good teams. Ole Miss is a playoff team.
[00:16:00] Like, they very well can win out and go to the playoffs. They have a. They have a good squad, right?
[00:16:06] And hanging with a good team and just not being able to make that big play to just slide in the door, you know what I mean? Like Oklahoma, you kind of hung with them a little bit, you know that. You know, you hung with them for a bit, but, you know, you really couldn't get that big play to. To get in that game. Alabama winning the game for most of it, but then you need that one big play to get you over the hump there. Not able to get it done. Okay, Missouri going back to Mizzou in that game. Weren't we winning that ball game going into the fourth? Let it slip through your fingers. Not able to get the big stop. Not able to, you know, get the. Get that big drive to help put it on ice this game.
[00:16:53] Right there. Right there. You know, you scored in the third, right? You know, maybe a little bit of momentum on your side and just. Just not able to get it done. Like. And I think that's what's so frustrating with this team is that we're losing and these final scores don't look pretty right.
[00:17:13] But it doesn't tell the whole story. The story of this game is that you were hanging with Ole Miss on the road. Like, this was, you know, a close game, and then you just can't get out of your own way. Right? You get a couple of untimely penalties on offense. You can't get that long drive. Like, it's just these flash in the pan moments offensively that are just. You're not sustaining any of it and you end up with a. What is that? 16 point loss.
[00:17:41] Yeah, math is not my strong suit, but I think that is it. So that's what's frustrating with it. And that's what, you know, it's too late to, you know, say, like, well, we can. We. We can fix that if we can just finish. Like, it's too late.
[00:17:54] There's three games left, you know, and people are asking Beamer, like, you know, well, your teams tend to get better as the year goes on. Like, what? Are you sure? Like that. Where? When? Like what? Like, we haven't seen that, you know. Yeah, offense looked better against Alabama. Not great, but they were. Looked better.
[00:18:10] You know, here they weren't quite as consistent as they were against Bama, you know, last Saturday here. But, you know, certainly wasn't, you know, as bad as we've seen, but still not good. You know, it's only 14 points. That's not going to get it done.
[00:18:26] You know, it's just like the brand of football is just not a winning brand right now. Like this, whatever the game plans are Offensively, and then special teams, too. Like, there were some sloppy mistakes there. It's just, you know, it's just like.
[00:18:44] I don't know, it's tough. It's like, it just. I don't know what this coaching staff, like, truly, I don't know what they're doing to get in there and fix some of this stuff. You know, there's a lot of good words being thrown around Beamer, Shula, and all this Jazz. But, like, you know, where is it?
[00:19:03] And, you know, we're sitting on the cusp of a wasted season.
[00:19:09] It's tough, man.
[00:19:11] It's just tough, you know, and so you got three games left after the buy. You know, it's November now. Like, if you're looking for that hope that, you know, the hope is that, yeah, after a bye week, something happens and clicks with this team, like we've seen in the past, you know, where November, late season need. Need a spark, needs a magic. And you see it. It hasn't happened every year, but we have seen it before.
[00:19:43] But, yeah, I mean, this team, it really has their backs to the wall. And, you know, you got to take this week to regroup, refocus, retool.
[00:19:54] I mean, if I'm Shane Beamer, honestly, I. I let someone else call the plays if they're up to it, right? Like, I've seen people say that Furry had, you know, called plays when he was at Limestone. If he's up to it, frick it, like, let him, you know, like, you got three games left. Like, clearly what you got now is just not working right? And there were communication issues on that front, too. Like, it's like, you know, having to take a bad time out, you know, like right up against the delay games multiple times, you know, Like, I. You kind of looked at it like, I was like, okay, I like the occasional time they went tempo, but then they're all looking at each other like, Lenoris is directing traffic. It's like he's the only one that knows what's going on.
[00:20:34] That's on Shula. It's like, you got three games left. I think if you're going to make a change, like, just say, you know what? During the bye week, we're changing it up. Like, Mike's going to stay on staff. He's going to do his work with the quarterbacks, and he's going to help game plan. But when it comes to it, so and so is going to call the plays here for the next three games. Like, what do you got to lose?
[00:20:59] You know, I. I don't know if Beamer has that in him.
[00:21:02] And, you know, the hope is that there's a big change. And the hope is that, you know, looking ahead, you're going to get to Texas A and M and it's an early game. Like, maybe, you know, it's. Again, it's just like, maybe you can hang with them. Will you be able to finish? Like, probably not. Proof's in the pudding, and then we'll just see where it goes from there. I mean, Coastal, at this rate, Coastal is. Is no gimme either. They've. They've won a couple of games lately, and they had Medieval Times at their halftime show. One is an outright dog. I don't know. I don't know.
[00:21:38] I'm rambling at this point, but the point is something has to give because there's only three games left.
[00:21:45] And we've seen this same thing play out multiple times where you've been in a position to either tie it, win it late, something along those lines. Right? And not able to get it done.
[00:22:00] Right. Breakdowns late in the game have killed this team on at least three games. Right. And just think of it like, even if one of those closed, you're in a much different boat. Right.
[00:22:12] Still bad, but a much better boat.
[00:22:16] I don't know. Until next time. That wraps up this episode, please follow me on social media, Twitter or X is Cox Gamecox. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please, like, subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'. All go Cox.
