After ‘lethargic’ start, USC defense finds energy and answers against Charlotte

Sometime around the start of Saturday’s second half, frustrated South Carolina linebacker Brad Johnson turned to defensive lineman Zacch Pickens on the Gamecocks sidelines.

“We gotta get off the field,” Johnson told his teammate. “We need the ball back.”

Long before the final whistle blew on USC’s 56-20 win over Charlotte, Saturday’s game had the makings of a shootout. The Gamecocks (2-2, 0-2 SEC) led by just six points at halftime, and the USC defense seemed powerless against quarterback Chris Reynolds and the 49ers. Every time the USC defense seemed poised to get off the field, some sort of mistake would follow.

Three times in the first half, a South Carolina defender was flagged for pass interference. A fourth call was declined in the end zone after Charlotte scored. Twice, USC defenders had an interception in their sights only to drop it. Most frustratingly for USC, the 49ers converted all seven of their first seven third-down attempts. The Gamecocks didn’t force their first punt until the very end of the first half.

Head coach Shane Beamer called the first-half defensive performance “lethargic.” While he usually spends halftime bouncing around from position group to position group, Beamer spent the entire period with his defense, listening in to defensive coordinator Clayton White’s message. The Gamecocks weren’t going change their game plan, but they were going to adjust their effort. White, Beamer and the USC staff challenged their defense to channel their competitive spirit.

They listened.

The second half opened with USC forcing its second punt of the game — buoyed by a first career sack from edge lineman Gilber Edmond. On the next drive — moments after Johnson told Pickens that the Gamecocks needed a turnover — the veteran linebacker recorded USC’s first interception of the game and first USC pick since Week 1.

Defensive lineman Jordan Burch raised his arm and deflected the pass from Reynolds, then Johnson corralled the ball and returned it 15 yards to set up an easy scoring drive.

“Defensive plays — they come in bunches, especially like turnovers and stuff,” Johnson said. “So just with Gil making that play, boosting our momentum on defense for a good start coming out of halftime, I think that just added fuel to the fire.

“I remember me and Zacch were talking on the sideline, and I told him, like, ‘Look, we gotta get off the field.’ ... Speak things into existence. That’s the power of the tongue.”

As it would turn out, Johnson’s interception was only the start. Maybe there’s some truth to turnovers coming in bunches.

Starting with Johnson’s pick, the Gamecocks recorded interceptions on three consecutive drives, scoring each time on the other end to salt the game away. Freshman DQ Smith of Spring Valley was the second Gamecock to record an interception after he just narrowly missed two previous chances in the first half. The third pick came from a familiar face in veteran defensive back Cam Smith.

After back-to-back losses at Arkanasas and at home to reigning-champion Georgia, Beamer lamented USC’s lack of turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, forcing turnovers one of South Carolina’s obvious strengths. The Gamecocks ranked first in the SEC and 15th in the country in turnovers gained last season, en route to a 7-6 season and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl win.

Before Saturday, USC had just one pick all season — by Marcellas Dial in Week 1’s win over Georgia State.

Beamer said he and his staff have tried not to talk about turnovers too much during practice, not wanting their players to press or to force plays that aren’t there. But after consecutive SEC losses, USC’s three interceptions Saturday could provide an injury-maligned defense with a much-needed jolt. The three picks are the most USC has recorded in a game since the team’s Oct. 17, 2020 win over Auburn.

“It’s nice to see those things start to fall in place, man,” Johnson said. “Because you work so hard for it, and you talk about it a lot, and you practice it. So you just really want those things to manifest in the game where it actually counts.”

It took some time — more time than they would’ve liked — but the Gamecocks finally found their defensive groove.