"Inside The Chart" with Andy Demetra - October 24, 2012

In truth, Byron Jerideau should have left town with the South Carolina State Fair. With tree trunk thighs and Popeye arms, the 6'1," 316-pound defensive tackle from Green Pond has performed feats of strength worthy of a sideshow tent. Last Spring, the redshirt senior set a program record with a 485-pound bench press, proving he can not only replace Travian Robertson on the depth chart, but in the record books as well.

But strength alone doesn't cut it on the football field. Bench presses and dead lifts don't always translate into sacks and tackles for loss. Without technique, strength is sa parlor trick. But in his final season in Garnet and Black, Jerideau is becoming known as much for his impact plays as his Strongman reputation. Despite being hobbled by a sprained ankle, Jerideau has strung together two of his best games as a Gamecock. Against #9 LSU, he tallied a career-high 6 tackles. In Saturday's loss to #2 Florida, he added four tackles and his first blocked extra point.

Jerideau credits an improved understanding of the game for his improved production.

Byron Jerideau (left) has enjoyed two of his best games back-to-back.

"[I'm] just playing fundamental football. I've started to use my hands," Jerideau told me. "I've just learned to depend on the people beside me. I would sometimes jump gaps, and the ball might go up my gap. If you stay in your gap, you'll play smart."

Jerideau's "gap integrity" has played an important role in South Carolina ranking 4th in the nation in tackles for loss (64.0). By plugging his gap, ballcarriers have to decelerate or find space elsewhere, leaving extra time for his teammates to pounce.

It has made for a satisfying season for a man who grew up a Gamecock fan outside Walterboro. But make no mistake: Jerideau still takes pride in his freakish strength. He first discovered his talent in the sixth grade while playing for his middle school football team. The then-140-pound Jerideau and his teammates began a weight-lifting program under the supervision of their future high school head coach.

"We started with the bar [approximately 45 lbs.], and everybody had to [lift] it as many times as they could. Everybody was doing it, like, 40 times. I went and did it probably 120 times," he said.

"My coach said, 'Wow, this guy has some power.'"

And plenty more, as Byron Jerideau has shown this season.

More notes as we prepare for Tennessee (9:00 a.m. EST airtime, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Where's The Beef? With Jerideau holding the pocket, and Jadeveon Clowney masquerading as Jeff Driskel's personal backpack, South Carolina has moved up to 3rd in the nation in sacks (29.0), affirming Lorenzo Ward's prophesy that the Gamecocks would blitz more. They'll receive their toughest test yet from Tennessee: the Vols have only allowed 3.0 sacks all year, tied for 2nd-lowest in the nation.

South Carolina Defense: 29.0 Sacks (#4 NCAA)

Tennessee Offense: 3.0 Sacks Allowed (#2 NCAA)

The Volunteers not only returned experience to their offensive line, but heft: their starters average an industrial-sized 317.8 pounds, one of the highest averages in college football. Of the Gamecocks' opponents to date, only LSU's offensive line (316.4 pounds per starter) compares favorably on the scales. Those Tigers smashed open running lanes and limited the Gamecocks to a season-low one sack, which came from linebacker Shaq Wilson. Can the Gamecocks redeem themselves against a line whose - ahem - robustness belies its record?

Fumbled Opportunities: Both figuratively and literally, a shot at victory slipped out of the Gamecocks' hands Saturday. A series of four fumbles dealt Florida short fields, and wiped out any momentum the Gamecocks tried to build. Not even Gainesville's notorious humidity was to blame.

Carolina's hands may get clammier at this: Tennessee has forced the seventh most fumbles in the nation (16). It's the highest total by a Carolina opponent to date.

Damiere Byrd (right) watches as a fumble slips away vs. Florida. (photo courtesy: florida.247sports.com).

On the bright side, Tennessee has only recovered four of those fumbles (25.0%). Of teams that have forced 10 or more fumbles, UT's recovery rate is second-worst in the nation behind.... South Carolina (3 of 14, 21.4%).

Chained Down: South Carolina's third-down defense has cratered the last two weeks - in consecutive losses to LSU and Florida, the Gamecocks have allowed 55% conversions on third downs (17 of 31).

Tennessee may have a 3-4 record, but the Vols have shown an uncanny ability to convert third downs away from Rocky Top. The Volunteers rank 11th in the nation in third-down conversions in road or neutral-site games (23 of 46, 50.0%). In home games, Tennessee plummets to 112th in the nation (18 of 56, 32.1%).

Tennessee Third-Down Conversions

Site Conversion % NCAA Rank

Road 50.0% 11th

Home 32.0% 112th

Tennessee used that skill to its advantage against #1 Alabama. Despite scoring only 13 points, the Volunteers manufactured 4 trips inside the Alabama red zone. The Crimson Tide had only allowed 8 red zone trips in its first 6 games.

Third-down stops not only enliven a crowd, they energize a defense. Can the Gamecocks regain their stride against an opponent that has been a surprisingly tough "out" on the road?

And Finally... Saturday won't be the first time Tennessee plays on Steve Spurrier's field. During preseason camp, the Volunteers barnstormed around the state, practicing at various Tennessee high school fields. Among the schools they visited was Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn. Science Hill plays its home games at - you guessed it - Steve Spurrier Field.