Football: Shane Beamer News Conference 08/17/24

all right another good day uh out there um injury wise before anybody asked most of our guys scrimmage the guys that didn't were Brian Thomas Reed Mesa uh jakai Moore uh Nick elnes and Elijah Davis Elijah Davis Nick eles jaai Reed Mesa Brian Thomas all those guys uh should be fine would expect them back uh this week uh for sure nothing longterm during the scrimmage we had a couple hamstring issues that some guys weren't able to finish in the secondary but nothing long term so from that standpoint KN on wood but really in so much better health now than we were last year looking back at last year on this on this day last year we had I think it was 11 players that uh were not that did not participate in this scrimmage that started the preseason healthy and um this year uh uh all those guys Reeds hasn't really been healthy since we started so other than Brian jakai Nick and Elijah I mean that's four guys and they're all going to be back so we're in good shape from a health standpoint especially gratifying after a physical preseason camp that we've um that we've had we got a lot of plays in today uh 60 what we have 64 744 94 a little over 100 plays again today we wanted to make this as game line M as possible as I continue to say and I'm always going to be on my soap box we don't get a preseason game or a scrimmage against another team in college football so you got to make these as game likee as possible and last week we got a lot of plays run in in the pre in the scrimmage we call it preseason gamees in the preseason game last week we got a lot of plays run but not really uh game like in the sense that we got 130 plays run in an hour and a half that's not you're not going to be in this Stadium for an hour and a half so we did everything today just like a game uh the pregame schedule that we'll have on August 31st when we're at the hotel went through that we did it identical other than just being at the hotel went through the pregame warm-up routine so they can get a feel for that we went through coming in off the field after pregame warm-ups going into the locker room like we'll do we came out of the tunnel we played after 2001 then we played Sandstorm we got all of our plays run we had TV timeouts today where our guys could get used to there is a change of possession and there's probably going to be a TV timeout where it's going to be a three minute break and they've got to take that three-minute break and get ready to go play again we had crowd noise in there at times when during the TV timeouts we played videos on the video board we had a halftime so we tried to make it as game likee as possible without you know and we did other than just having not having another team across the sideline overall with the scrimmage uh was pleased you know defensively thought they played really well um and continued to just make strides and and get better we played most of our guys are going to be playing against Old Dominion they got a lot of plays today so whereas you know our starters did not play a bunch last week they played quite a few today so they'll be in the physical condition they need to be in order to play however many plays it takes against Old Dominion on August 31st to hopefully win the football game so we got a lot of plays run and with our top guys defensively thought they did a lot of really good things flew around tackled well uh just you know disappointing thing we gave up some third and long conversions defensively where they should have been off the field and we give up an explosive pass or an explosive run on Third and long which can't happen we dealt with that last season at times uh we've been really good about giving up explosives and we didn't necessarily give up explosives it was we miss a tackle and a GU runs for a first down or whatever it might be so we got to be better about getting off the field in some of those third Downs not many we had four of those so I think there were a bunch of third downs and most of our guy most of the time we were good but we had some instances like that where we didn't get off the field you offensively I thought we moved the ball well and did some good things uh we just uh too many negative plays from an offensive standpoint uh and when I say that guys I'm talking the first group the second group the third group everybody so in totality if you look at the offense with some young guys that you know that are were trying to you know get better as quick as possible possible we had some struggles in regards to just you know uh tackles for losses some penalties things like that where we got a drive going and then we we go backwards but thought coming out of the halftime that we had was really proud of particularly the offense the way they responded and put together some drives we did a two-minute drill at the end with uh lenorris and Robbie both and both of those you know resulted in being able to kick a field goal to win the game uh I know some of you were probably ask about the kicking situation Alex Herrera K hit some really good balls today I think those kickers had two good days um in a row we put them in some pressure situations last night we came in the stadium and did a practice under the lights and uh the all of our guys kickers really stepped up last night we put them in some pressure situations and then today uh as well tried to put them in as many situations as possible and thought they did a good job so we'll cranked up uh crank up um again next week we are really at the end of preseason camp classes start here at Carolina this week so tomorrow will be like normal inseason Monday tomorrow starts our mock game week so we'll go every go through a similar and a what's the word I'm looking for exact schedule that we'll do when we play Old the minion we'll go through that this week so our guys can get a feel for what a game like game week is like in this program because we do have a lot of new players so we'll tomorrow is like a normal inseason Sunday we won't practice but we'll just come in watch the tape meet and lift and um um and then Monday will be their NCA required mandatory day off so we always take Mondays off during the season and then I think I get to visit with these guys on Tuesday right so we get to have a press conference on Tuesday we'll practice Tuesday Wednesday Thursday then we'll be at Carolina calls on Thursday night at Backstreet grill for the first call-in show of the year so hope to see you guys at that and then um Friday will be a normal Friday and then we'll give our guys off Saturday next weekend to just kind of get away for a day or so if they want and then we'll come back in here a week from Sunday in the game week ready to roll so I apologize that's probably the longest opening statement in the history of press conferences but hopefully I got a lot of questions answered and we can fire away David Shane a couple for you one rocket wasn't on your injury list how did he look today great um we uh we uh like I said last week we held him and again going into the going into last Saturday he had practiced and had been fine and in the in the preseason game last week we did some seven on seven before the scrimmage started and he participated in that we just put didn't put him in the actual play in part of it today we did we wanted him to get tackled that happened some in practice this week where we tackled in practice and he got tackled a couple times and then it happened today I thought he looked great he's uh he's a pro ran the ball hard he's people don't talk enough about him in pass protection like he's really good in pass protection and that's so critical obviously at the running back position he runs good routes in the passing game he can catch he's just a really good overall running back we got him some carries in there today and um I thought he showed that he's rocket Sanders and also do you have an official Declaration on qb1 yet does that mean need to wait a couple days I'm wait a couple days we'll get in here once I leave you guys I'll go back across the street and watch the tape um of everything tonight I thought both those guys including Davis Beville he did some good stuff today for us and came in and made some nice throws and and did some good things uh Robbie and Lenor took the bulk of the reps with the first couple groups and um thought they both flashed and and did some good things in the Run game and the past game uh particularly you know we're not running the quarterback in scrimmage but some scramble situations where they broke out of there thought they showed what a weapon they can be uh when things do break down uh we'll look at the tape and then get into next week and kind of see where we are but I knew know we have you know more than one quarterback that we can win football games with is there one area today or maybe a couple where you feel like you took the biggest jump from scrimmage last Saturday to this week um not really um like I said I was pleased with the way we kicked the ball for the most part I know I said last week that Kai was kicking the putting the crap out of the ball and he continues to and then Alex is doing a nice job or did a nice job and then William Joyce I believe got in there and kicked some um Mason love got in there and kicked some so I feel like we've gotten better there and we really wanted to come in in today Allan and and be able to throw and catch a little bit you know we coming into today if you say okay we kind of know who our top couple running backs are let's get these other guys some carries and see what they can do and uh and then we said let's really kind of figure out what our receivers can do so let's throw and catch the ball a little bit more than maybe we did last week and uh saw thought some receivers flashed today and and did some good things but and I'm and overall and I told the team this last night we got better as a team this week There's no question in my mind from last Saturday when I talked to you guys after this pre-season game to today we really got better in practice this week and and feel like everybody made strides and still have a long ways to go don't get me wrong but like what like the progress that we made this week Shane you just talked about the offense throwing the ball a lot more today on the flip side of that how did the DBS look the secondary look um and I know you guys have a battle going on over there with who might be going opposite of a guy like OD Fortune do you have an idea of maybe who that could be yeah opposite OD is either going to be judge CER Emery Floyd or viari Swain you know so it's going to be one of those three guys all those guys uh we feel confident with I feel confident saying all three of those guys are going to play against Old Dominion at corner and uh they were really judge has the most experience judge came in and and started games last last year for us as a true freshman at corner you guys know how long and athletic he is and he can run uh he's you know been good Emory's done some really good things vicari's done some good things you know back there it's just the the consistency part of it because one mistake and that's a 80 yard touchdown pass over your head so we've got to be consistent back there and and thought um thought those guys uh at corner you know competed and and showed and and made some plays EQ continues to be you know Mr steady and Mr consistent love everything he's about and and um you know really for us it's just trying to develop depth so yes wanting to throw and catch some we did that and we completed some passes and then we also had some passes that were certainly defended against us today by a you know pretty good secondary that's led by a pretty good front seven in front of them in my opinion just for clarity uh no hits on quarterbacks in the scrimmages no okay we did that um in the springtime and pre and fall Camp last year and we did I guess we did at fall Camp last year as well um outside of with lenorris but not today we did not do that um I think Lenoris probably would wish we would and so would Robbie because like every time I blew the whistle they swear they didn't get tackled and things like that and every time the defense gets near him they Sor they sacked him you know so it' be easier for me if they were getting tackled but but um I try and like in catty sha with Ry Dangerfield I try and keep it you know keep it fair keep it keep it honest or whatever he said that line in that movie so and from from a run game standpoint what what have you seen over the last couple of weeks and and coming out of today that gives you some encouragement about U Beyond just having rocket there but what what besides just rocket gives you some encouragement an improved offensive line uh that's a year older with the guys that played last year minus Nick guard julo everybody's back uh true freshman that played last season in tro and tree who are a year older and better uh of the return of a true freshman that probably would have been a starter for us last year if he hadn't gotten hurt and Marquee Anderson and the arrival of you know some pretty talented uh freshman uh led by Josiah Thompson um as well and then the arrival of tus ell Simkins and Kamar Bell on the offensive line I really like you know I would say we have a solid eight right now I wish we had more a solid eight that we feel comfortable winning SEC football games with we need more but I like that eight so that makes me feel better their Improvement I like what our tight end group is doing that certainly helps in the Run game and uh and then certainly when you have a quarterback that can make plays you know with his feet uh was the replay of one of our game I no I was watching one of our games from last year in my office yesterday just looking back at some things from that game and there were some plays and I love Spencer to death but there were some plays where Spencer scrambled and got tackled and I'm watching it thinking to myself well lenorris and Robbie probably are going to make that guy miss this year as well so just that element when things do break down at least in the passing game and that quarterback you know has to scramble and hopefully it doesn't break down we got a guy that can make some plays with his feet as well so that gives me um a more confidence for sure you uh and sorry Jord and John the just the running back Improvement as well you know obviously bringing back ju guu but now you're talking about Oscar you're talking about rocket you're talking about joren you're talking about DJ Braswell returning Bradley Dunn returns Matthew Fuller really had some nice runs today I'm excited about his future uh as well so more depth at running back I mean you guys remember we went into the it was a Kentucky game last year I think we had two scholarship running backs in that game so hopefully we don't end up in that situation this year but we have more depth at the running back position also sorry uh no you're good uh two things uh first last week you mentioned the drops with the wide receivers how was that today and and how did the wide receivers look uh we had fewer did we have some yes um when you have 100 plus plays you're going to have some drops and um we did some of those that that that um there isn't an excuse for because they should have been caught uh but at the same time we've worked really hard at that you know we've spent more time this week on just you know not Elementary like catching drills and catching the ball but just more time and walkthroughs just working on a catch circuit where everybody on the offense just going around and just catching more passes in practice and then walkthroughs uh and it's paid off as well thought they did some good things and and all of them I think flat at times and and all of them certainly had some moments they would like to have back but pleased with it and now we really got to get and and it'll be better for them too Jordan as we you know we've thrown the whole offense at them the last offense and defense the last uh two weeks of practice I mean everything that we do we've thrown at them so now we start to get into game planning and having a smaller game plan of plays and things that they have to know each week we'll to continue to eliminate the clutter in their head and allow them to play faster and then as far as the depth chart how with a a group like the offensive line where you said there's eight guys when do you like to tell them like where exactly they stand on the depth chart and you know if they are a starter yeah good question uh we'll start to have those conversations this week now having Sid that too you guys know me and it's not like coach speak we we're all about competition and we continue to compete and we'll I'll tell the team on Tuesday morning when we have our 8 A.M team meeting I'll tell the team that today we're going to start doing some scout team STP type stuff and this is where your role is right now but it doesn't mean that that's mean that that's where your role is going to be in three weeks or four weeks or five weeks you'll determine that I mean I tell the story all the time in 2021 TJ Sanders is on the scout team and every day I'd walk into a staff meeting and tell our defensive coaches like what in the heck am I'm missing because this guy over here we can't block him over here on the offensive field he can't help us on Saturdays and uh shows what I know cuz uh I was right um for one but he just was a guy that continued to get better as well uh jiren Willis you guys have his whole story last year jiren Willis started playing last season for us because he was on the scout team and when we do that in practice not to get deep and philosophical about how we practice we don't do a ton of scout team work I mean we do it much more like good on good during the week and I I believe in that because that's how you get better but there will be periods you know if we're out there for two hours on Tuesday which we will be 15 minutes of that total is going to be scout team so we'll have those conversations look you're going to go there but we're going to continue to develop you and work with you and we do that throughout the season so we'll have those conversations with some guys you know as we go into next week because we really start to hone in on Old Dominion but we do so much you know good on good in practice and trying to develop younger guys throughout the year that aren't quite ready that that uh everybody has a chance to improve their their role and everybody if they don't continue to improve has the opportunity to to lose that role too going back to the quarterback for a moment uh W would you say the competition between lenorris and Robbie um was close enough and tight enough in the camp where you've you've got to make a decision you got to think about some things or as you sit here tonight you have a pretty clear idea in your head coming off today like who it's going to be no I meant what I said a minute ago when I said I feel like we have quarterback we got multiple quarterbacks that I feel like we can win games with and I mean that I mean when you talk about uh Davis and Robbie you're talking about two guys that have started games in I guess with Texas or with Oklahoma now being in the SEC they've started SEC games it was a big 12 game at the time but they've started SEC games so they have that experience and and uh no I do because I feel confident in all those guys and and we'll sit back and kind of look at everything and that's not to say that Lenoris hasn't continued to improve he has I mean lenorris has had a great preseason I feel like Robbie and Davis excuse me continue to get better uh without a doubt at the quarterback position and and all those plays would like to all those guys would like to have plays filled that they could have back over the last uh whatever it is 14 practices that we've had so you know certainly like the group and and we we uh we are all about competition and love to compete and those guys have done a great job of competing and pushing each other and they will continue to no matter what no matter who goes out there for the first play against Old Dominion in two weeks sticking with the QB theme obviously limiting hits is a necessity but when you have guys like you mentioned that bring such an extra element of their size and Mobility is it add a challenge for you in evaluating them when you're not able to see them at that full speed to kind of show that off yeah um you know we've um we've seen Robbie on tape do that in games you know where he's had you're talking about the quarterbacks right yeah uh so we've seen Robbie do that on tape in games we've seen lenorris do it in games out there against Vanderbilt you know last year and and uh uh in practices where we've made him live we've done that not just in uh you know in scrimmages we've done that and then some periods in practice where we've made it live not this year but leading into this year so we got a pretty good idea about that you know when you're 240 pounds and run close to 22 miles an hour you got a pretty good idea of when he gets rolling that he'll be hard to bring down and um uh the thing for him is all those guys just continue to develop throwing the ball and and everything else that goes into the Run game as well which of the first year freshman do you guys feel like you know like right now they're going to be a part of the game plan and playing here in two weeks uh man it's good question um I did so we're allowed to take we got 119 players on our team right now and we're allowed to take 74 to SEC away games so I did last week kind of a preliminary if we we played Kentucky today and we can take 74 players who would be on the trip and there's um there would there would be freshman literally at every position um other than probably defensive tackle right now that would be going on the trip as two fresh as true freshman so we're trying to get them all ready to play and uh I like the Freshman Class um it's a talented group and and um there's going to be a lot of those guys out there in in in game one for sure you guys will have to wait for the the depth chart that y'all wait all year for for it's like release hot off the press to kind of see I know it is I know it is I put a lot of time into it and when does that go out does that this week or is that next Monday next Monday wow all right uh but I mean that no seriously like every position um uh I think you'll you'll I know you'll see guys in the second you will at linebacker you will at defensive end obviously you will at offensive line you will at running back you will receiver you will and tight end you will that they'll be freshman there playing and who knows there may be more positions as well but that's kind of where we are right now Andrew one of my questions about the receivers but more so um how do you feel with the tight end position do you feel like you're talented and deep enough to run 12 Personnel a lot this year and a second question mainly for you coming into your fourth year what can you take from the first three years and not only become a better Coach but help this program Elevate to the next level yeah um tight end wise yes I wish that Reed Mesa and Nick elness had been healthy today and able to practice because when we talk about was that one two three four five guys out that's two tight ends so the majority of the guys that got work today were Josh and Brady and Michael and mo Maurice Mo and coner Cox as well and Lucas Vose who's one of our tight ends also so we'll um I do for sure to answer your question in regards to having two tight ends on the field at one time uh absolutely uh Brady's been great Josh has been great Mike's been really good as a true freshman there's one of your true freshman Hill um Mo Brown will be is I talked about last week is going to help us there so I think we can do some things with those guys and and U allow us to do some things in the Run game and pass game both because they're not just your big prototypical tight ends they're just big guys that can block they can help us in the P game as well and then three years going into four um you know I learn you learn every year I learned after 21 going into 22 I learned and going into 22 and three and then three going into four and whatnot you know I think for for me it's just um trying to and I've talked about this before just looking at lessons from last year and just being able to tweak things in regards to preseason for example and how we do things are as far as what we do in practice isn't really different but the structure has been a little bit different this year in regards to what we've done the last two weeks in the daily schedule you know I learned and realized okay we need to be better coming out of the gate in September we haven't been good enough in September against Power five teams power four now uh in the month of September and we need to be better so let's tweak some things maybe in August to allow us to be better that's one thing this this thing today you know last year we didn't do this last year last year we did what we did um what we did today as far as the pregame routine we did on Friday eight days before the first game just we do like a situational practice and cover every situation known to man that can happen in a football game we'll still do that this Friday don't get me wrong but we did this whole routine today just so we're hopefully more prepared for game one and we don't just get out there and it's new to us because we haven't been out there in a scrimmage situation for 3 hours we're usually out there for an hour and a half and today we wor just things like that so hopefully hopefully it's good we'll see Shan I was wondering up you know starting the mock game week did did you have to have the second scrimmage today was there a possibility maybe to push it off until next week or do you is there a rule about that no you could do whatever you wanted to do um I would prefer we don't do it next week just because I don't want to do that so close to a first game so we could have done it any time um David what what we try and do is Javari Ellis and Eric Douglas we here today and I think about this because in year one we on the Saturday before the first game we practiced and we had like a situational practice the day the week before the first game I remember Jabari coming in my office and he's like hey man I'm not going to be here next year but maybe next year here's something I've learned maybe next year this Saturday week before the first game is really the last domme we're going to have a day off before the off week it'd be nice maybe next year for the guys if you gave them Saturday off so they could go home if they wanted to and then come back on Sunday and I'm like you you're exactly right coaches are tired players are tired so that's what we started doing so we do it today kind of like the NFL back when they played Four preseason games that third preseason game would always be the one where the starters play the most and then they got a week off and then they go play so that's what we're doing we'll do a physical regular practice Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday this week will be the situational practice and then we'll be done by 6 o00 on Friday evening and then the players will be off Friday night all day Saturday Sunday morning and then back in here on Sunday and a less analytical question today was moving day over on campus I know you love engaging with the student body didn't know if you had any message for them about joining the Gamecock family and hopefully getting excited to come support the team yeah I am um I went over on Monday night and got to speak to the band at Colonial Life Arena which was pretty awesome uh those guys are and ladies are a fantastic group The really you know uh much respect for them the sacrifices that they make that on a Monday night in the arena they're in there practicing for August 31st so I got to tell talk to them and talk to them about just what a big part of what we do out there on Saturdays they are and the environment that they create and then the message to uh the students would be the same thing I know I'm meeting on I think uh Monday meeting with some student leaders on Monday uh just to tell them the same message just how important they are to creating a great environment in Williams Bryce on football Saturdays and it's a greatest environment in college football and our students our fans our band the cheerleaders everybody they're a integral part of that and can't wait to see them all in in uh um two weeks as well a couple you said didn't go last week but W on the injury report today Juju McDow and Ben Martin Scott how did they look to you good they both played they both did everything um ju guu JuJu's Juju full of energy did a nice job uh bam same thing really excited about him and the the year he is um about pois to have you know I think he's he he had a really good day how clear is your vision on how you want to use ju guu and Luke Dodie good question um those are two guys that I feel like we are uh better when they are on the field because of the kind of players and people they are and I think in regards to how we use ju guu and Luke will be very you know game plan specific in a lot of ways I don't think I wouldn't you know I wouldn't say that Juju is just a whatever type running back that's going to get 10 plays a game I mean I see him as more than that and he's had a really good preseason Luke is a leader of our offense and leader of our football team and and works really really hard so both those guys are you know going to help us on special teams Juju may end up being our punt returner there's a sneak preview on the depth chart for you fellas um as well so he's going to be in the mix as a punt returner and obviously you know he had the great long kickoff return against East Carolina in 2021 so he can help us in the return game he can help us at running back Luke is going to be able to help us on special teams and help us at at receiver as well so you know I wouldn't say it's a Clear Vision of here's exactly what we're doing with these guys each week and and I say that meaning I feel like we can do whatever we need to with them as well there's nothing that you say okay well those guys can't can't necessarily do that uh they can do a lot that those other you know running backs and receivers can as well two more got two for you if that's okay um starting off with the offense I know sorry Steve um I know it's only been one week since the last scrimmage but was there like a big difference in something you could kind of pinpoint uh with with the way the with the way in which the offense operated today um going back to last or from last Saturday you mean yeah from last Saturday to this week uh not really I think think maybe just more um familiarity and don't get me wrong I mean there were things last week that we needed to be better at there were things this week that we need to be better at probably just an overall understanding of everything I mean we when we came back we kind of threw everything at them last week and it wasn't like we added a lot of new stuff this week we did situational stuff you know Sunday we went out and we did um uh backed up so you're the offense and the ball's on the two yard line and you got to get it out and you're on the road and the crowd was going crazy we did that scenario and then between Tuesday Wednesday Thursday we worked um overtime we worked into the game where we have the lead offensively and you're trying to run the clock out we call it 4minute defense is trying to get the ball back we worked a lot of two minutes so we worked a lot of situational things this week in practice uh so we weren't adding a lot of new things so from last week to this week there should be a better understanding of what we're doing schematically because there wasn't a lot of new stuff so if anything I would just say that and then how good do you feel about the offense's ability not just to be able to run the football but also be versatile enough to also pass the football mix it up a little bit I feel good are we where we need to be no do we have a first round draft pick out there and a NFL quarterback like we did last year with Spencer and no but we're we're we're going to be good enough I think those receivers continue to get better I mean you you think about it two of the top receivers that we're counting on this year Nick Harbor and and Dale Von Campbell and Van dravus Jacobs and none of those three were even here during spring practice so this is literally their 14th practice as a Gamecock in 2024 or Gamecock ever if you're the two transfers and we're counting on those guys so they're continuing to get more and more comfortable with our quarterbacks they continue to flash and make plays uh they've had some really good moments in practice this week those three in particular but all of our guys you know Gage Payton mangram caught a ball today and had a long touchdown run after catching a pass I mean he's a guy that we have a lot of confidence and faith in so we'll be fine at receiver and then you add the tight end element to it as well uh that can help us in the passing game so I feel good don't feel great but you know you never feel great it's always a work in progress uh Mar missed some time obviously earlier during Camp yeah how how's he coming along is it anything related to stuff that he's dealt with in the past he's coming along nothing really related to anything in the past just kind of banged up and aggravated he didn't do a whole lot today he was out there and did a little bit uh hadn't done a whole lot hadn't done a whole lot this week trying to get him like as close to 100% before we go into uh this week and hopefully we can really have a good week with him Tuesday Wednesday Thursday because he's a guy uh that we we need out there like I said if he had been healthy last year I feel confident saying he probably would have been a starter for us at the guard position or one of the Guard spots and certainly would have played and somebody that he's a really talented guy um if we can just get him where he's 100% healthy and um keep him rolling thank you you got it thank y'all thank y'all