In Week 1, South Carolina, especially defensively, was embarrassed in the 24-point blowout loss to Texas A&M, with the Gamecocks giving up a school-record 680 yards to the Aggies in the process.
As expected, USC is “tweaking” said defense.
Following practice Thursday, defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward announced several changes will be made to the starting lineup for Saturday’s game against East Carolina. Included in those change are three “new” starters, with the possibility of a fourth depending on the health of another player.
“Skai (Moore) will go back and start at WILL linebacker,” said Ward in quotes distributed by the school. “T.J. Gurley will start for Chaz Elder at safety. Rico (McWilliams) will start at corner. Depending on David Johnson, how his toe is, he could start at (defensive) end for Darius (English). But that remains to be seen.”
The Aggies did most of their damage through the air -- Kenny Hill passed for a school-record 511 yards -- so it would make sense that two of the changes involve secondary personnel. ECU may not be A&M, but don’t sleep on the Pirates offensively in general or aerially specifically.
In the season opener last weekend, ECU accounted for 582 yards of offense, including 374 yards passing. Granted, that performance came against an FCS team, North Carolina Central, but quarterback Shane Carden last season was seventh nationally with 4,119 yards passing.
