SB Nation - Mike Matulis

Looking ahead to the Gamecock football team's 2013 two deep (Part 1)

Connor Tapp — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:10:52 -0000

In case you don't understand what the titles of blog posts are for, this one is going to be about me looking ahead to the Gamecock football team's 2013 two deep. Yes, I know the 2012 football season hasn't started yet. Yes, I know the first depth chart of the 2012 season hasn't been released yet. Yes, I've been referred to a mental health professional.

We'll start with the offense today and pick up with the defense next week:

QB
1) Connor Shaw (Sr.)
2) Dylan Thompson (Rs. Jr.)

RB
Brandon Wilds (Jr.)
or
Mike Davis (Rs. Fr.)

WR
1) Ace Sanders (Sr.)
2) KJ Brent (Rs. So.)

1) Shaq Roland (So.)
2) Kwinton Smith (Rs. Fr.)

1) Bruce Ellington (Jr.)
2) Damiere Byrd (Jr.)

TE1
1) Jerrell Adams (So.)
2) Kelvin Rainey (Rs. Fr.)

TE2
1) Buster Anderson (Jr.)
2) Drew Owens (Rs. So.)

LT
1) Brandon Shell (Rs. So.)
2) Corey Robinson (Rs. Jr.)

LG
1) AJ Cann (Rs. Jr.)
2) Will Sport (Rs. So.)

C
1) Kyle Harris (Rs. So.)
2) Clayton Stadnik (Rs. Fr.)

RG
1) Ronald Patrick (Rs. Sr.)
2) Brock Stadnick (Rs. Fr.)

RT
Mike Matulis (So.)
or
Cody Gibson (Rs. So.)

Read my analysis after the jump.

Notes: This, of course, assumes that Marcus Lattimore will decide to go pro after a successful 2012 campaign. Even accounting for that immeasurable loss, the Gamecocks could still return as many of 9 out of 11 starters on offense in 2013, including four out of five starters on what, by then, will be a talented, experienced, and deep offensive line, something South Carolina fans are only accustomed to admiring from afar. The offensive line's only anticipated loss will be four-year starter T.J. Johnson, who will need just eight games to eclipse Cliff Matthews as South Carolina's all-time leader in games started. That loss, though significant, will be abated by the talent and quality depth that should return around him.

With that much returning from an offense in 2012 that I anticipate to be among the top four in the SEC in yards per play, the Gamecocks might be primed to have one of the best offenses in the country in 2013. For that to happen, however, someone will need to step forward at wide receiver. Between Roland, Brent, Byrd, Smith, and Ellington, there are enough bodies with enough upside that you have to think at least one or two of them will step forward and become a nice complement to Ace Sanders in his senior campaign.

The tight end position figures to join the quarterback and offensive line as one of the position groups with the most certainty, with 6'5'' Buster Anderson and 6'6'' Jerrell Adams returning as dangerous, towering pass-catching options.

Obviously, if Lattimore decides to return in 2013, Steve Spurrier's offense would be a cinch to be among the truly elite nationally. (Unlike with Jadeveon Clowney, Spurrier is at least not openly acknowledging the inevitability that he will leave early.) Even if he does leave, the running back depth that has been recruited to Columbia should allow them to not miss much of a beat. Brandon Wilds (4.54 ypc) proved himself a worthy Lattimore placeholder during the second half of 2011 and will be a contender to replace him when he eventually leaves. Mike Davis came in as a highly-regarded high school back with excellent blood lines, has looked impressive for a freshman in fall practice, and has the potential to make the South Carolina rushing record books very confusing. And don't forget about Shon Carson, who was Lattimore's backup before getting the Knee Ligament Tearing Party started in the Georgia game last year.

What Could Go (Somewhat Unexpectedly) Right: The 2012 Gamecock Football Team

Connor Tapp — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:48:28 -0000

Last week I highlighted a number of things that could be reasonably foreseen to break the wrong way for the Gamecocks in the 2012 football season. Today we'll buy into all of the preseason coachspeak and take a look at some areas where South Carolina could exceed expectations. To take an example from last year, most were expecting Melvin Ingram to turn in a nice senior season in 2011, but few (if any) foresaw that MI6 would become a nationally recognized name and a first round NFL draft pick when all was said and done.

Keep reading after the jump.

Connor Shaw builds on his success during the final four games of 2011 and becomes a 70% passer.

Steve Spurrier and Shawn Elliot commit heavily to the read option, resulting in a lethal 1-2 punch with Connor Shaw and Marcus Lattimore running the ball out of the backfield.

The read option has been an element of Spurrier's offense ever since Eric Wolford's one-and-done season as offensive line coach in 2009. (Thanks for the correction, Gamecock Man.) But Stephen Garcia, while more mobile than most, was never a truly explosive threat as a ball carrier. Connor Shaw changes that, and will force crashing defensive ends to stay at home and respect him as a threat to keep it and run outside, opening up opportunities for Lattimore to take up the middle and utilize the superior field vision that is his hallmark. Sure, this won't be that much different from what we saw at the end of last season, but we only got to see Shaw and Lattimore on the field at the same time for 9 quarters in 2011, and I think we could see a real step forward on offense now that Connor has had some time to settle into the role of starting QB. If the bodies of Shaw and Lattimore can hold up to the rigors of an SEC season, this squad could be in the conversation with the likes of Arkansas for best offense in the league. (This may come as a surprise, but the Gamecocks were fifth in the conference in yards per play despite having a tough time of it for much of the 2011 season.)

The question of whether DeAngelo Smith and D.L. Moore will finally show up in meaningful games becomes moot when true freshman Shaq Roland proves to be an above average SEC wide receiver from day one. Damiere Byrd finally shows the ball skills needed to fully utilize his elite speed.

The buzz coming out of fall practice has dampened where it concerns freshman Kwinton Smith of late (who now appears headed for a redshirt), but things seem to be really clicking for Shaq Roland. After hauling in a number of impressive catches during the first week and a half of practice, it's looking like Shaq may have the ball skills to make an impact right away. Damiere Byrd has also looked good in fall practice, but I'll believe it when I see it in game action.

The backup offensive linemen get a lot of reps in the first five games as South Carolina coasts to decisive victories in at least four of the first five games.

The number of career games played among South Carolina's backup offensive linemen will be either 8 or 10, depending on whether Cody Gibson or Mike Matulis emerges from fall practice as the starting right tackle. None of the other backups (Broome, Harris, Robinson, and Sport) have any game experience.

Victor Hampton validates glowing reports coming out of fall practice and becomes an All-SEC cornerback, and Akeem Auguste bounces back from an injury-stricken beginning to fall practice to record a start in 90% of the contests in 2012.

Each additional report coming out of fall practice seems to solidify Victor Hampton's status as a solid option at the boundary corner position. Everyone who watched the Georgia game last year would like it very much if Akeem Auguste was able to stay healthy enough to preclude Jimmy Legree from becoming a starting cornerback.

Tyler Hull becomes the best punter on the team the first day he steps on campus and never looks back.

So I've been sitting on this entry since the middle of last week and, in that time, Hull has already taken significant steps toward solidifying his role as the Gamecocks' starting punter, with Steve Spurrier intimating after Monday's practice that Hull has the inside track to win the job. Hull told the media that he'd be satisfied with averaging in the low 40s on his punts. After bearing witness against their will to the Joey Scribner-Howard experiment, so would a lot of Gamecock fans.

How good can the Gamecocks be if all of these things happen?

A national championship contender. Games that the Gamecocks will be favored in but not by much (Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee) get a little more comfortable and toss-up games against Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida would start to tilt slightly in South Carolina's favor. Surviving all of that and LSU unblemished would still be tough, but one loss and a trip to Atlanta would seem highly probable. And if the Gamecocks can make it that far, Clemson and either LSU, Alabama, or Arkansas will be all that stands between them and a spot in the BCS Championship. And, of course, Marcus Lattimore will likely have been a finalist for the Heisman trophy.

South Carolina Football: Garnet and Black Game Preview

Gamecock Man — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:39:50 -0000

I'll have to admit that, as usual, I'm somewhat ambivalent about the spring game, which will take place today at 1:00 PM. On the one hand, it's a fun experience for the fans who make it out. You get in a little enjoyment at the stadium at a time when everyone is itching for football. On the other hand, the game itself is usually pretty uninteresting. Due to injury concerns, the top players don't spend much time on the field, and while they're in, the play-calling is as vanilla as it gets. Once the third- and fourth-strings are in, the game can be exciting at times, and there's usually a player or two who has a nice performance. Sometimes that player ends up having an impact in the fall, but usually not.

The practices leading up to the game are usually also pretty uninteresting. The coaches seem to view them principally as an opportunity to see which of the previous year's backups are ready for a bigger role, which is important, but again, you generally don't get as much information about the key players as you'd like. This is particularly true because just about any player with the slightest of injuries is out. Many key players didn't see much or any of the field this spring, including Marcus Lattimore, Shon Carson, Akeem Auguste, D.J. Swearinger, Shamier Jeffery, Mike Matulis, and others.

All that said, there are a few things you can watch out for tomorrow. I won't promise you'll see anything interesting on any of these scores, but these points top my list:

--Connor Shaw. He won't be in the game long, but I'll be curious to see if his pocket presence has continued to improve. Of course, the likelihood of us doing anything remotely interesting with the pass rush is nill, so it might be hard to get a good look at this. If that's the case, let's just hope we see some accurate passes and few mental mistakes.

--Dylan Thompson and Seth Strickland. This might be the best part of the game. Not that I think either of these guys will see a meaningful snap next year unless Shaw goes down, but these are the current candidates for backup QB, with Thompson currently in the lead. My understanding is that Thompson is the much better athlete, while Strickland has a better grasp of the offense but lacks a legitimate SEC arm. I'll be curious to see how they perform.

--Wide receiver play. One of the biggest story lines this spring has been our difficulty in finding a good replacement for Alshon Jeffery. Ace Sanders is entrenched in the slot and looks to be our best receiver, but who replaces Jeffery's production on the outside? There are a host of candidates, including the injured younger Jeffery. It would be nice to see one or two of those guys step up. Of course, Shaq Roland might be the guy by mid-season.

--Bruce Ellington. I expect a more experienced Ellington to have a bigger role in the offense next year. I'm curious to see if we get a chance to look at his role tomorrow, although the fact that we'll probably throw the ball nine out of ten plays will mean that we won't run much wildcat.

--Secondary. With Swearinger and Auguste out, we will get to see some of our younger guys line up across from our top receivers. I've heard particularly good things about Victor Hampton, who looked good at times last year and needs to become a shut-down guy this fall. Would love to see him and others play well for an inexperienced unit.

--Defensive line. This is our best position, although I doubt we see much of Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor. I am curious to see more of Byron Jerideau, who really needs to step up for next year.

--Linebacker. Something of a position of weakness early last year, we got better throughout the year as Shaq Wilson returned to form and Reginald Bowens grew into his role. DeMario Jeffery has also reportedly improved this off-season. Again, the scheme will be vanilla, so while Lorenzo Ward will be more aggressive than Ellis Johnson, don't expect to see anything wild tomorrow. However, I am curious to see how this group does.

Well, that's more or less a wrap on this one. Enjoy the game, folks. Just don't put too much stock in what happens.

South Carolina Gamecocks Spring Game Preview: Offensive Line

Gamecock Man — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:55:48 -0000

As with the defensive line, the offensive line was a sore spot for Steve Spurrier's early Gamecocks teams. Due to a combination of poor player development and a failure to emphasize the position in recruiting, we had some very bad lines during this period, culminating in 2008, when Carolina had a putrid, 108th-ranked rushing offense and we had to witness varying combinations of Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia running for their lives every time they dropped back to pass. After 2008, embattled OL coach John Hunt was dismissed, and Spurrier promised improvement at the position, particularly when it came to the running game.

Unlike the defensive line, though, the offensive line is still a work in progress. True, Eric Wolford and then Shawn Elliott, both hired with their success leading effective read-option rushing offenses in mind, have had a measurably positive effect on our performance at the position. The 2010 line was pretty solid all around, and we were good at times last year. Elliott was reportedly courted by the Florida Gators recently, which should tell you something.

That said, the years of bad recruiting under Hunt have often left us with uneven experience on the depth chart, and that has led to uneven performances at times. Last year, when Kyle Nunn went down midseason, things got hairy for a while as Elliott plugged in various freshmen in Nunn's place. It's no coincidence that our two losses (Auburn and Arkansas) occurred while we were trying to find our way, even if Garcia's poor play probably had more to do with the first and poor defense with the second than the offensive line.

This year, some question marks remain. The projected starting lineup as of right now is as follows:

LT: Brandon Shell
LG: A.J. Cann
C: T.J. Johnson
RG: Ronald Patrick
RT: Mike Matulis

That's not a bad lineup. Johnson and Cann are both potential All-SEC candidates. Shell came in as a very highly touted recruit and has reportedly made major progress growing into his body and learning the offense. Matulis is a solid player whose insertion at left tackle late last season played a big role in helping us get the offense back on track. Patrick is inexperienced, but I've heard good things about him.

However, these guys have reportedly struggled mightily against the pass rush this spring. Now, that's undoubtedly in part because they've been going up against Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor, but one would hope to see one's first-string line hold its own, even against the talents like Clowney and Taylor. We do play LSU next season, after all. In the SEC, it's a matter of course that you need to be able to block against elite defenses.

The real worry, though, remains depth. Cody Gibson is there to step in if one of the tackles goes down; Matulis outplayed him last year, but at least Gibson can provide experienced backup. After that, we're pretty thin. The good news is that because Spurrier and Elliott have put a premium on bringing in a few OL each class, we shouldn't have to play any true freshmen like we did last year. However, whether guys like Corey Robinson or Kaleb Broome are ready to make a positive contribution remains to be seen.

To make a long story short, it looks likely that we may be in a similar position to where we were last year--good with the starters, but in big trouble if a key player goes down, particularly at guard, where neither of the currently listed backups give me a lot of confidence. We're probably in a slightly better position than 2011, but not much. The good news is that we only graduate one current starter and should be much better in 2013. That's when I feel we'll really begin to reap the benefits of Elliott's efforts.

Spring Game Preview: Quarterbacks

Connor Tapp — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:26 -0000

The Gamecocks enter the Garnet & Black game on April 14th with perhaps as clear of a starting quarterback picture as Steve Spurrier has ever had at South Carolina. So maybe you think you've heard that before, BUT NO REALLY WE MEAN IT THIS TIME. Barring some sort of Freaky Friday scenario resulting in Stephen Garcia inhabiting Connor Shaw's body unbeknownst to the Ol' Ball Coach, there's no reason at all to think that Dylan Thompson, Andrew Clifford, Seth Strickland, or Tanner McEvoy will challenge him for the QB1 spot on the depth chart.

That doesn't mean that the incumbent Shaw is without areas in which he needs to improve. Though he got more efficient and explosive as a passer with each successive start following Garcia's dismissal in 2011 (see graphs below), Connor still needs to get better at knowing when to get rid of the ball, when to stand tall in the pocket, when to take off, and when just sliding over would be sufficient to avoid pressure and make a throw. This was still an issue for Shaw as of last Saturday's scrimmage, in which - by Steve Spurrier's count - he took four sacks* in just 9 attempted passing plays. Shaw told the media that he's been watching film of Drew Brees to learn how to improve his pocket presence. Spurrier is a big believer in using spring practice to get the younger players ready, so it will be interesting to see how many snaps Shaw takes in the spring game before giving way to the backups.

Once you get past Shaw is where it gets... uh.... interesting. None of the backups on scholarship have impressed Coach Spurrier this spring. He told the media after Saturday's scrimmage that redshirt senior walk-on Seth Strickland might be the leading candidate to back up Connor Shaw right now. Strickland seems to have the mental aspect of quarterbacking down, but doesn't have the arm strength to make the throws that Spurrier wants him to make. He's been very efficient so far in the scrimmages, completing 12 of 16 pass attempts for 97 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. Dylan Thompson was expected to be the clear number two going into the spring, but neither he nor Andrew Clifford have done much to impress the Head Ball Coach.

Redshirt Freshman Tanner McEvoy came into spring drills with many expecting him to gradually improve throughout spring and fall practice with the hope that he would eventually overtake Thompson, Clifford, and Strickland as the clear backup to Shaw during the 2012 season. That expectation hasn't exactly materialized so far, as McEvoy has yet to convert his considerable physical tools into football skills. At 6'6'', 209 pounds, McEvoy is an exceptional athlete who enters just his third year playing quarterback, having previously played at wide receiver and safety for his high school team. McEvoy has a cannon for an arm, but he doesn't always know where it's going. That has come through in the spring scrimmages, in which he has completed just 7 of 18 pass attempts for 81 yards. If McEvoy can improve his throwing mechanics and overall accuracy, he'll have everything he needs to succeed in South Carolina's read option offensive scheme. The early returns suggest that he's still a long ways off, but there's no question that he has the most raw talent of any non-Shaw quarterback on the Gamecocks' spring roster.

*Part of the issue here may be the injuries to the offensive line that had the only returning starters from last year - T Mike Matulis, C T.J. Johnson, and G A.J. Cann - watching the scrimmage from the sidelines.

2012 South Carolina Gamecocks Potential Two-Deep: Offense

Gamecock Man — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:37:19 -0000

Let me know if I'm missing something and whether you disagree with any of these projections. I'll have a few thoughts / concerns below.

QB: Connor Shaw; Tanner McEvoy
RB: Marcus Lattimore; Brandon Wilds / Shon Carson
FB: Dalton Wilson
WR1: DeAngelo Smith; Shaq Roland
WR2: Ace Sanders; Nick Jones
WR3 (slot): Damiere Byrd; Shamier Jeffery
TE: Justice Cunningham; Rory Anderson
OT: Cody Gibson; Brock Stadnik
OT: Mike Matulis; Brandon Shell
C: T.J. Johnson; Ronald Patrick
OG: A.J. Cann; Kyle Harris
OG: Ronald Patrick; Joe Harris

--Runningback will be an interesting position to watch next year. First of all, we've yet to see how quickly Lattimore will recover from his injury. If he's not 100% by the opening of the season, that will open the door for more playing time for Wilds, Carson, or, potentially, Kenny Miles. The other thing to watch is who the main backup is once Lattimore is back to full strength. Wilds would be the obvious choice, but his profile is similar to Lattimore's, so I wonder if you'll see us use Carson more for a change of pace. Of course, we might run both Lattimore and Wilds as primary backs and work Carson in behind the two of them.

--I only listed one FB. We currently aren't running a lot of I formation, so I'm not sure how much you'll see Wilson. With Shaw under center and lots of talent at WR and TE, I expect you'll see more spread sets.

--WR is another position to watch. First of all, you have the Bruce Ellington situation. If he comes back, he'll be in the mix for a starting position in the slot. However, I have a feeling he may stick with basketball. You also have Shaq Roland. DeAngelo Smith was Alshon Jeffery's backup this year and has shown flashes of potential, but can he lock down a starting spot with Roland nipping at his heels? Maybe not for long. Then you have some other interesting questions. Ace Sanders and Damiere Byrd have both played slot in the past, but you have to imagine that they'll be on the field together quite a bit. They're too good to sit much, and plus both are useful on the jet sweep, which will likely remain a part of our offense the more we trend towards the read-option. I also wonder what we'll do to get talented players like Nick Jones and Shamier Jeffery on the field. Jeffery, by the way, may be the wildcat option if Ellington doesn't return.

--We're loaded at TE. Cunningham is the clear-cut starter for his blocking skills and reliable ability to catch the chain-moving balls, but we'll also find time to get Anderson as well as incoming guys like Jerrell Adams onto the field early and often. I expect to see some two-TE sets quite often next year.

--Offensive line play should be better next year. We lose Watkins, Campbell, and Nunn, but it's also much less likely that we'll have to play any unprepared freshmen for extended periods of time. I like the experience we have coming back.

Clemson at South Carolina Post-Game: Carolina Shines in All Phases in Rout of Clemson

Gamecock Man — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:20:01 -0000

This is going to be a fun post to write, because, with a few of what turned out to be minor exceptions, this was a nearly flawless performance by Carolina.

Coming into the game, I (and everyone on both sides of the rivalry) said the game would be won up front. Carolina's offensive and defensive fronts had played well since the Arkansas game, while Clemson's had been exposed since midseason. The game played out precisely according to plan, and Carolina won the battle, controlling the line of scrimmage throughout. With a few exceptions, our offensive line played about as well as you could hope for from a patchwork outfit. Putting Mike Matulis back into the lineup has turned out to be one of the best personnel moves Steve Spurrier and Shawn Elliott have made this season, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Matulis develop next year. As far as the defensive line goes, it was complete mayhem in Clemson's backfield for most of the game. After trash talking our defensive line over the course of the week, Tajh Boyd got happy feet just about every time someone came near him, and he got hit hard early and often. The USC defensive line ended the day with five sacks and numerous hurries and forced throwaways. You really couldn't ask for a better performance from this group of stars.

A great pass rush always helps your secondary out, and that was the case yesterday. However, our defensive backs did their part, too. Other than a would-have-been TD that Sammy Watkins dropped, we never let a receiver break free and generally did a good job of contesting Boyd's deep throws, all of which were either dropped or broken up. At various points in the game, both Stephon Gilmore and Martey Markett covered Watkins, and both did an excellent job. DeVonte Holloman also shined, picking off a key pass to set up our final score and generally getting around the field a good bit.

Special teams, with the exception of the poorly snapped, blocked punt in the second quarter and the long Andre Ellington return in the second half, played well. Joey Scribner-Howard had a couple of excellent punts with his back to the goalline. Those were moments when field position could have given Clemson a chance to get back in the game, and our punter's leg kept them with their backs to the wall. Jay Wooten, after getting very few FG opportunities over the course of the year, hit two big ones last night. Kickoffs, outside of the aforementioned Ellington return, were solid.

On to the offensive skills positions. Needless to say, Kenny Miles had a special game. The coaching staff decided to let him stay in the game instead of Brandon Wilds after Miles showed a hot hand early, and Miles played well running, catching, and blocking. (Wilds's whiffed block on Andre Branch's sack may have had something to do with the staff's decision. That's one thing he'll need to work on during the off-season.) I loved seeing Kenny get this chance to show out. He's been a bit of a forgotten man after his promising freshman season, but, by all accounts, he's worked hard and waited for an opportunity to help his team. He got it last night, and he made us all proud. After the game, Kenny said he wants to come back for his senior season if the coaches will let him. If that's what he wants, I'd say he earned it.

You really just can't say enough positive about how Connor Shaw played in this game. What particularly impressed me is that he showed some improvement on his previous weak spots. Yes, he still took off running too early a couple of times. But on both long TD passes, he did something I haven't seen him do much this year: when the rush came, he stepped up in the pocket and bombed perfect strikes to the end zone. The early pass to Ellington was one of the best passes I've seen by a Carolina QB over the past decade and should dispel any lingering misconceptions about Shaw's arm strength. Shaw also, as expected, killed Clemson with his feet. If he can play at this level with any consistency next year, I think he has a real opportunity to work his way into All-SEC consideration.

As for the coaching, it gets an A+ in my book. Ellis Johnson's defensive scheme was spot on. For most of the game, he relied on the front four to get all the pressure he needed to make things easy for his secondary; that is, he played to our strengths to excellent effect. He also, though, dialed up a couple of perfectly masked blitzes that forced bad decisions by Boyd.

As for Spurrier, I thought it was his best gameplan of the season. After all the deserved criticism of his inability to accept this team's identity as a run-first, read-option team, we ran the option more or less all night in the biggest game of the season, with a few well-timed passes thrown in for good measure. And frankly, can you blame him for having trouble adapting? The offensive lineup we put on the field at the end of the year was much different than what we had at the beginning. Adapting to what we experienced this year was a tough job. It wasn't always a smooth ride, but in the end, Spurrier got it done to the tune of our first ten-win season in 25 years. I'll have more to say about this matter later this week, but this was one of Spurrier's best coaching jobs of his career. It will be hard to deny Les Miles or James Franklin for SEC Coach of the Year honors, but Spurrier made a good case for himself this year.

A few more thoughts after the jump.

--Loved the TD pass to Jeffery. On TV, the announcers called for three straight runs, but I told my friends that I expected us to get Jeffery the ball for one last TD. Loved seeing him get the chance to be the star after the season he's had. Thanks for the memories, Alshon.

--Another bit of good news: there were several high-profile recruits in town this weekend, and we certainly did our part to get their signatures. The crowd was electric last night after a season of ho-hum atmospheres, and the Gamecocks played their best game of the season. Worries by offensive stars that this offense is sputtering were assuaged by a commanding, 34-point performance. Defensive stars should be salivating to be part of the one of the country's top five defenses. Just a perfect setup here to sway some top recruits.

--My biggest complaint about the game? Yet again, it was the officiating. The call on the muffed punt was probably the worst call I saw all year, and it likely effected a two-TD swing. There were also multiple missed facemask penalties and multiple missed holds. Even Clemson fans were talking about how lucky they got not to get called for several holds. Luckily, Clemson was in no way, shape, or form going to make a good game out of this contest, so the officiating didn't affect the outcome. But sheesh. Seems like we've had to deal with this crap every game this season. Oh, well. At least now we know it's not just SEC refs.

That's a wrap for this one. Later this week, I'll be back to discuss the pre-bowl season review, as well as to talk about possible bowl matchups.

South Carolina at Mississippi St. Preview: Three Keys, What It Means, Prediction

Gamecock Man — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:30:51 -0000

This post concludes our Miss. St. preview.

Three Keys to Victory

3. Stop the Run

Miss. St. has struggled to pass the ball all season, although they do appear to do so somewhat better when Tyler Russell is in. Therefore, we should take away the run. I like our chances to slow State down with run-focused defensive schemes, and when State does pass, I think our front four should be able to get more than enough pressure to disrupt their passing game.

2. Offensive Line Must Improve

I know we're playing some young guys in Cody Gibson and Mike Matulis, but at some point these guys need to step up. One of State's defensive strengths is the interior of its defensive front, so these guys as well as the rest of the big uglies need to play better in this game. They not only need to knock some Bulldogs backwards; they also need to avoid committing motion penalties, which is always a challenge when the cowbells start ringing in Davis-Wade.

1. Shaw Needs to Continue to Play Well

As important as the offensive line is to the offense playing well, I think, in this game at least, that all offensive problems will take care of themselves if Shaw has another good game. It's up to Shaw to soften up the defensive interior, which will allow Marcus Lattimore room to run. Shaw doesn't have to play great. He doesn't even have to be as good as he was last week. What he does need to do is hit the routine passes. He also needs to protect the ball. I think our defense can hold Miss. St. to a low score, but only if Shaw doesn't give State good field position.

Continue reading after the jump.

What It Means

This is a really key game. The Gamecocks can't lose this game if they want to keep a leg up in the SEC East standings.

Prediction

I'm not expecting the kind of offensive explosion we got from Shaw last week. What I do expect, though, is for Shaw to play an efficient game and to open up room for Lattimore as the game wears on. That should be enough to win, as the defense will do the rest. 24-13 Gamecocks.

Vanderbilt Football: Getting to know South Carolina

KingJamesIV — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:28:01 -0000

The Vanderbilt Commodores had not beaten a conference opponent so completely since 'Nam (71). Franklin and company continue to execute their 2011 campaign with a 1.00 kill ratio. This is the briefing on their next target.

Week 4 Target: The University of South Carolina

From the wikipedias

Football specifics after the jump.

Most of this was taken straight from the South Carolina game notes. The information is theirs. We are just saving you from the PDF monsters.

Quick Hits

South Carolina leads the series between the two teams 16-4. SC leads 7-2 in Columbia, and 9-2 in Nashville.
The official garnet of South Carolina is "PMS 202C." TAKE SOME MIDOL, GAMECOCKS! This is explains the bloating, cramps, and irritability.
This is the third time South Carolina has started 3-0 under Steve Spurrier. Both times they dropped their fourth game (at LSU in 2007 and at Auburn in 2010). The last time they opened 4-0 was in 2001, when they started 5-0 under Lou Holtz (prior to his earning a PHD from ESPNU). They finished that season 9-3.
"For the latest on Gamecock standouts Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, check out MarcusLattimore21.com and AlshonJeffery1.com."
"Coaching staffs for both teams will be wearing the Coach to Cure MD patch for the game. Duchenne (pronounced doo-SHINN) Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood. A progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence, Duchenne affects approximately one out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year worldwide."
OOPS! First outright contradiction I've spotted - "A South Carolina win over Vanderbilt would...Give the Gamecocks four straight wins to open the season for the third time in seven seasons under head coach Steve Spurrier. They also opened 4-0 in 2007 and again in 2010." As mentioned above, a win over Vanderbilt most decidedly would NOT give the Gamecocks this.
Vanderbilt trails Kentucky as the opponent Spurrier has defeated the most. A win by the Gamecocks would tie the teams, though Kentucky would appear to be in line to retake that lead later this season when the teams face each other.
A win would give Stephen Garcia his 20th win as a starting quarterback, tying him with Steve Taneyhill for second on the Gamecock's all-time list. Garcia is 19-13.
This is the 118th season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 105th-consecutive year in which South Carolina has competed on the gridiron. The Gamecocks are 546-541-44 all-time.
Vandy's four wins over the Gamecocks have come in back-to-back fashion both times - first in 1998 and '99, then again in 2007 and '08. Our four wins have been by a combined total of 22 points.
Spurrier is 47-33 during his tenure in Columbia.
South Carolina was 6-1 in its home games in 2009 and 2010. The losses came to top-ranked Florida in 2009 and to 17th-ranked Arkansas last season. South Carolina is 15-2 in its last 17 home games.
Marcus Lattimore rushed for 246 yards on 37 carries last week vs. Navy. It was the third time he's had 37 or more carries in his 16-game collegiate career (40 vs. Florida in 2010, 37 vs. Georgia in 2010). Lattimore leads the SEC in rushing with an average of 178 yards per game, 60 yards per game more than his nearest competitor, Auburn's Michael Dyer. He is the only non-quarterback listed among the SEC's top-10 in total offense. He ranks eighth, just ahead of Stephen Garcia.

Pronunciation Guide

Akeem Auguste = uh-GUST-ee
Damiere Byrd = duh-MEER
Jadeveon Clowney = juh-DAY-vee-uhn
Aldrick Fordham = AL-drick
Qua Gilchrist = QUAY
Stephon Gilmore = stuh-FON
Chaun Gresham = Shon
Walker Inabinet = in-AB-in-et
Alshon Jeffery = AL-shon
Shamier Jeffery = shuh-MEER
Byron Jerideau = JER-uh-doe
Kadetrix Marcus = kuh-D-trix
Marty Markett = mar-KETT
Mike Matulis = muh-TOO-lis
Travian Robertson = TRAY-v-un
Cadarious Sanders = cuh-DARE-ee-us
D.J. Swearinger = SWEAR-in-grr
Rokevious Watkins = ro-KEE-vee-us

South Carolina Gamecocks Fall Camp: Concerns Heading into Final Preparations

Gamecock Man — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:47:32 -0000

With the second-to-last week of fall camp underway, we've had time to get some sense of what this team's major concerns are heading into the season-opener against ECU. Here are what I believe are the two most significant ones:

Offensive-line depth. We're set with a better-than-average group of starters on the offensive line. Kyle Nunn, Terrence Campbell, A.J. Cann, Rokevious Watkins, and T.J. Johnson are all solid players with better and worse chances to be All-SEC performers. However, we're in trouble if many of these guys get hurt, because we don't have much behind them. Some of the more experienced players like Cody Gibson, Ronald Patrick, and Kaleb Broome have yet to show out. We do have two very promising young players in Brandon Shell and Mike Matulis, but in an ideal world, these two true freshmen would be redshirting. Unfortunately, without better options, they may be a part of our eight-man rotation, and that's a bit of a scary thought. Hopefully, if they do have to play, it won't be until later in the season, when they're hopefully ready to make an impact. The good news is that Shawn Elliott has been sanguine about Shell's progress after recent practices. Whatever the case may be, this is one issue to keep an eye on over the course of the year.

Safety depth. In post-practice interviews, Ellis Johnson continues to harp on how worried his is about Brison Williams's injury having a negative impact on our season. Williams was going to challenge Jimmy Legree for playing time at free safety, and with the two of them on the depth chart, we looked pretty solid at the position. Now, we have to pray that Legree doesn't get hurt, or we could be right back where we started last year. The good news is that Williams's injury isn't as bad as feared. He could be back by mid-season.

Outside of these two issues, I think we're very solid. Coming into the season, we knew we had amazing talent at the offensive skills positions, and we knew we had one of the best defensive lines in the country. If anything, the continued development of Connor Shaw, the emergence of Shon Carson and our young receivers, and the confirmation that Jadeveon Clowney is as good as advertised has only confirmed that we're strong in these areas.