South Carolina Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Alabama in Week 3

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: Shi Smith #13 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 24: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs through warmups prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3. Get pressure on Tua

Tua Tagovailoa is an elite quarterback with elite wide receivers. If he has all day in the pocket, Jerry Judey will eventually get open and Tua will pick you apart. You have to bring pressure in unique ways without showing your hand, as well. It’s a tall task to ask of South Carolina’s defensive front-seven.

If the Gamecocks’ front-seven can make it happen, there is success to be had. Last season in games where Tua was sacked one or more times, his completion percentage was 62.85. There are plenty of quarterbacks that would love to have those numbers without pressure. However, in games that Tua was not sacked, his completion percentage was an astounding 78.46 percent. That swing in percentage could make the game interesting.

Javon Kinlaw, the defensive tackle for South Carolina, will be the guy with the best shot to beat the interior offensive linemen for the Tide. He will need to get pressure up the middle and force Tua outside of the pocket to slow down the passing attack.