Coach Muschamp Speaks After Saturday's Scrimmage

March 18, 2017

University of South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp addressed the media following Saturday’s scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Overall:

“We got practice eight in the books today. It was kind of a half-practice, half-scrimmage. We got a lot of good things accomplished today. We got the coaches off the field and let the players play. We had about 75 live scrimmage snaps, which we need. We had counted on about 40. I was pleased with the tempo and some things we were doing, so we kept on going. We’ve got a long way to go, but we are certainly much improved from where we were.”

On the offense:

“We’re better on the offensive skill, although we do have some guys out. Randrecous Davis had sports hernia surgery, so he’ll miss the rest of spring. I’m disappointed for him. He’s going to be a really good football player for us. Bryan Edwards and Or’Tre Smith have been limited, but have been partaking in most of practices. I’ve been pleased with both of those guys. A.J. Turner has been out with a hamstring injury. He has not practiced this spring, but we’re hoping to get him back next week. We’ve got to get all of our offensive skill all together on the field at once. That’s what’s been frustrating offensively.”

On the defense:

“Chris Lammons sprained his foot, but he’ll be fine. He’ll be back next week. Skai (Moore) had an ankle today, but will be back next week. We need to continue to come up front and improve. I’ve been pleased with the play of Skai (Moore), Bryson (Allen-Williams) and T.J. (Brunson) for the most part. We’ve got more competition in the secondary than we’ve had, which will certainly help us.”

On the special teams:

“In the kicking game there have been some positive things that I’ve seen. We’re just far too inconsistent snapping it, kicking it and punting it. We’ve got to get much, much more consistent.”

Comparing this team now to the same time last year:

“It’s night and day. More than anything, we’ve got some depth on the offensive line. We’ve got some depth in the front seven — not at linebacker, but in our front four. We’ve got more depth at defensive back. We have more options as far as skill guys are concerned.”

On the right tackle position:

“I think that Zack (Bailey) is a guy that feels comfortable at right tackle. Obviously, it’s a learning curve when you’re going from a confined area as a guard to now when you’re on the edge. I’ve been pleased with his progress. Blake Camper is doing extremely well. Blake’s playing his best football since we’ve been here.”

On the left side of the offensive line:

“Donell (Stanley) and D.J. (Park) both need to be more consistent day-in, day-out. Malik (Young) and Sadarius (Hutcherson) are battling it out at left tackle. Competition is our best friend as coaches because you’ve got some guys who know they have to perform every single day.”

On the wide receivers:

“Or’Tre (Smith) and Bryan (Edwards) have taken part in the individual stuff and a lot of the skeleton stuff, just not the full 11-on-11, although Or’Tre did today and he’s progressing extremely well. Korey Banks has done some nice things, Chavis Dawkins has done some nice things, Terry Googer has. We need to be more consistent in those positions. I think Deebo Samuel is having an outstanding spring. I’ve been extremely pleased with him and how he’s come out and worked.”

On the backup quarterbacks:

“Michael (Scarnecchia) can throw the ball extremely well. He missed an entire year with the labrum. He missed an entire year of taking snaps, reading the coverages and doing all the things you do, so this is really his first year in the scheme and system, but he can really throw it. Jay (Urich) was here today and certainly will be here in the fall to compete. Bailey (Hart) and Danny (Gordon) have done some nice things. We’re going to have to have some other alternative looks to what we need to do. We’ll continue to work through that.”

On the pass rush:

“We need to improve. We need to get better. We need more fast-twitch up front. We’ve got to get more edge guys. I’ve been very pleased with Dennis Wonnum. He’s had a good spring for us. Dante (Sawyer) has done nice things for us. Daniel Fennell has had two back-to-back good practices for us. We’ve got to have him come along for us. Taylor (Stallworth) has done some nice things inside. We’ve got to get more guys we can count on front. We’re very thin from a standpoint of experience and guys we feel we can win the SEC East with.”