South Carolina opens preseason training camp today, and improving a defense that ranked 13th in the SEC last season is the biggest task at hand.

To that end, the Gamecocks brought in new co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke this offseason to help cure the ills haunting the Gamecocks.

Hoke, who spent 13 seasons coaching in the NFL, says his focus is on the Gamecocks excelling at four things.

"There are four things that are going to drive the defense every day, whether it’s a zone blitz or just base coverage, and it’s always going to be about assignment, alignment, technique and key," Hoke told the Charleston Post and Courier. "If we can do those four things well, we’ve got a chance to improve."

Read more about Hoke's efforts to improve South Carolina.