With South Carolina being ranked 110 nationally in scoring offense and 101 in total offense, it is easy to assume the 3-8 Gamecocks will throw everything at top-ranked Clemson, including the kitchen sink, when the two rivals hookup this Saturday at high noon in Columbia.

But despite Carolina’s putrid offense, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables says they can leave the kitchen sink at home.

“I don’t think they need the kitchen sink to beat us,” he said.

What?

Clemson’s defense ranks fifth nationally in total defense, third in passing defense and leads the country in third down conversion defense, three-and-outs, first downs allowed and completion percentage defense. And Venables is worried about South Carolina’s offense?

“We need to come out and play well,” he said.

No problem says linebacker Ben Boulware. The junior, who grew up in nearby Anderson, says the kitchen sink is not enough.

“We will have a game plan to stop it. We will be prepared for anything,” the weakside linebacker said. “We have been prepared for that every week. We know teams are going to have to do that. They put in a new game plan for our team because they know how good we are.”

The last time someone threw everything they had at Clemson, including the kitchen sink, the Tigers were not ready for it. With a fifth-string quarterback, and a walk-on nonetheless, Syracuse ran the triple option out of the pistol as the Tigers allowed a season-high 242 rushing yards.

“They can (run it) if they want to,” Boulware said. “We got it corrected and we know how to fit it up.”

The Gamecocks are not as likely to run the triple option or anything like that, but they will use wide receiver Pharoh Cooper in many different ways. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound wide receiver has been used as a quarterback, a running back, in the wildcat, and of course at wide receiver.

In other words, Cooper is literally a threat to score or throw to someone for a score every time he touches the ball.

“They are going to keep doing what they do. He runs the ball. He throws the ball. They do that wildcat stuff. They are going to keep with their DNA,” Boulware said. “They incorporate him in their offense in every single way that they can. We are ready for anything they do.”

Cooper leads Carolina with 62 catches for 887 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also thrown a 17-yard touchdown pass, and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry when he runs the ball.

“We know he is a good athlete. We know that he can do a lot of different things,” Boulware said. “We are going to put in a game plan to stop it. We don’t really care that he can throw it well. He is not going to play quarterback the whole game.

“Well, you never know, they will probably end up playing him at quarterback the whole game.”

In last year’s game, Cooper scored on a 20-yard run. He also caught two passes for 45 yards and completed both of his throws for 27 yards.

“We need to come out and play well,” Venables said. “We have to get off the blocks and tackle. We have to line up right, play with discipline, play with mental and physical toughness. We have to bring it for sixty minutes.

“Those are the things we have to do, regardless of what they throw at us.”