SB Nation - Mike Davis

Post-Spring Preview: NC State Wolfpack

Gamecock Man — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:51:23 -0000

Carolina once again opens their season against NC State, this time traveling to Raleigh to take on the 'Pack. Last time around, we beat State 34-0. However, the score was deceiving: we only led 3-0 at the half and 13-0 at the beginning of the final quarter, and Chris Smelley came in to relieve the regrettable Tommy Beecher and played a deceptively good quarter in which we scored the final 21 points. As we all know, this game was a harbinger of many things we would experience throughout the season, among them a defense that saved the crazy bad offense, inconsistent QB play, absolutely no running game (don't let all the yards Mike Davis racked up at the end of this game deceive you).

This year, I expect this game to be much different. First of all, State is no longer the team they were at that point. Led by QB Russell Wilson, the "Pack emerged at the end of last season after a horrid start and eventually earned a bowl berth. State will look to continue their solid play this year. South Carolina, on the other hand, still has questions, this time on both sides of the ball. However, a more experienced Stephen Garcia, a new offensive line coach in Eric Wolford, and another stellar recruiting class have us believing we can play better this year.

Let's take a look at how the two teams match up against each other on offense. The defensive and head coaching comparisons are soon to come.

Offense

Quarterback

State comes in with the aforementioned Wilson, who played very well down the stretch last year. Wilson's most impressive stat is his 17-1 TD-INT ratio, a surprising stat considering that his completion percentage was good but not great at 54.5%. Wilson is also an effective scrambler. If Wilson gets hurt or doesn't live up to expectations, former star recruit Mike Glennon is waiting in the wings.

We of course have Stephen Garcia, who looked good in spurts last year but played poorly over the last few games. Garcia probably has more upside than Wilson, but he needs to prove that he can live up to expectations. Hopefully his good spring was an indication that he's on the way there, but he still haven't proven he can play well consistently, which Wilson has done to some degree.

Verdict: Push--Wilson is more proven but Garcia could be much better when all is said and done

Running Back

State loses Andre Brown, who went to the New York Giants in the fourth round. However, they do return Jamelle Eugene, a capable back that has played well in tandem with Brown over the past two years.

South Carolina loses starter Mike Davis, but returns talented back ups in Brian Maddox and Eric Baker and has new comers with star potential in true freshman Jarvis Giles and redshirt freshman Kenny Miles. While none of these players has yet played a major role in the offense, they are all talented and having a number of them gives us a lot of depth. While I hesitate to call anything about our running game superior, I think this will be a break out unit in 2009.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina--State will be productive, but one or more of the SC backs will emerge for a breakout 2009

Wide Receiver

With Jarvis Williams and Owen Spencer returning, State has a solid receiving core coming back. These two players were Wilson's main targets last year.

South Carolina lost one of its best players in recent history when Kenny McKinley graduated. Losing McKinley will hurt us, but hopefully Jason Barnes, Moe Brown, and Dion LeCorn will be able to step in and fill his shoes. Each, however, has failed to consistently perform well over the past couple of years. I think it's key that one of these guys emerges as the go-to guy. He doesn't have to be McKinley or Sidney Rice, but he does need to provide us with a viable target.

Verdict: Slight Advantage NC State--the fact that State has proven targets and that I think we have a group of players with a lot to prove gives State the slight advantage

Offensive Line

South Carolina loses Jamon Meredith but retains depth otherwise. This line has performed poorly over the past few years, but new coach Eric Wolford had them performing well in spring practice. I expect significant improvement here in 2009.

State loses two important linemen in John Bedics and Meares Green. Losing these two could be hell for a unit that will have to keep Eric Norwood out of their backfield.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina--as with the running game, I hesitate to make this call, but I really think we're going to see improvement here

Saturday News and Notes

Gamecock Man — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:15:07 -0000

NFL Draft

2009 Impact Rookies. Jared Cook and Ryan Succop (maybe not Mr. Irrelevant after all!) made the list. Who do you think will be the biggest impact rookie from this year's Gamecocks class?

Cook Impresses. If Cook puts on a few pounds and learns to block better, I have no doubt he can be one of the best TEs in the league.

Ex-Gamecocks in Try-Outs. Mike Davis with the Bills and Jonathan Williams with the Jaguars.

Gamecocks in the NFL Draft: The Winners and the Losers

Gamecock Man — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:41:44 -0000

South Carolina had a quite a day in this year's draft with a total of seven players hearing their names called. Here are my thoughts about who today's big winners--and by that I mean guys that have reason to be happy about how things went down today--and losers--and by that I mean the guys that must be disappointed.

The Winners

Jasper Brinkley - Fifth Round to Minnesota

Before his knee injury in 2007, Brinkley was considered one of the country's top prospects at ILB, so it has to be kind of disappointing to Jasper to see his stock fall due to injury. However, he has to be feeling good about his successful rehabilitation. Plus, he's joining his old buddy Sidney Rice on the roster of a solid NFL franchise. Not too shabby.

Kenny McKinley - Fifth Round to Denver

While McKinley didn't go in the high rounds and walks into an uncertain situation in Denver, I can't help but think that this is a guy that has really overachieved to get drafted at all. He lacks the kind of size that NFL teams want in WRs these days, but his quickness, hands, and football smarts will help him. I'm not sure if he'll ever be a primary receiver, but he has a good future ahead of him as a slot receiver.

Stoney Woodson - Seventh Round to New York Giants

Most folks were unsure on whether Woodson would hear his name called, so he's gotta be happy that New York--one of the league's most successful franchises--chose him. He'll have to fight an uphill battle to make the roster, but NFL scouts apparently see more potential in him than his defensive-backfield buddy Emanuel Cook (see below). Good for him.

Ryan Succop - Seventh Round to Kansas City

Succop is this year's Mr. Irrelevant as the the very last selection of the draft, but for a guy that plays his position, that's good news. If I'm not mistaken, he was one of only two placekickers selected, which is quite an accomplishment. Although he needs to get his head screwed on a little straighter, I've always thought Succop--who has range that is well above average, even for an NFL kicker--could make it in the NFL. Kansas City's choice to use a pick on him suggests that NFL scouts see his potential.

The Losers

Jared Cook - Third Round to Tennessee

Cook was, unsurprisingly, the first Gamecock off the board, so I hesitate to call him a draft-day loser. He did, though, fall further than I thought he would. I thought Cook's unique combination of size, speed, hands, and route-running ability would make him a second-round selection. I probably underestimated, though, the extent to which NFL scouts would at his questionable blocking ability, lack of true TE size, and Spurrier's tendency to line him up wide. The NFL puts a (sometimes unreasonable, I would say) premium on guys that fit the mold of what they think a player at a certain position should look like, and, despite his obviously valuable abilities, Cook just isn't exactly what teams want in a TE. This all makes me wonder if he could have improved his stock by staying another year, putting on some weight, and working on his blocking abilities. You would have to think that if he did those things effectively, he might have a chance to cash in on a first-round paycheck next year. Still, I think Cook made an acceptable decision. He'll sign a nice contract and shouldn't have much trouble getting his hands on a roster spot. Cook didn't do as well as we had hoped today, but he did OK. He also gets the luxury of joining a pretty good team. Could be worse, right? He could have been drafted by the Lions.

Jamon Meredith - Fifth Round to Green Bay

I expected Meredith to go on the first day or early in the third round, but questions about his run blocking abilities apparently made scouts pretty uneasy. Jamon is a good kid and his athletic ability makes him a valuable prospect, but at the end of the day falling as far as he did can't sit well with him.

Captain Munnerlyn - Seventh Round to Carolina

After choosing for an early entry, Munnerlyn saw his stock--which was already questionable after a sub-par 2008 season--fall like a rock as teams expressed concern over his lack of elite size and his possible character issues. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think Munnerlyn made a grave mistake by leaving early. He didn't have the kind of year in 2008 that's made to impress NFL scouts, and if he had come back, worked hard, and had a good 2009, he could have gone much higher in next year's draft. His chioice not to is going to cost him a lot of money. Plus, as a seventh-round selection, his status with Carolina is hardly secure. He'll really have to fight just to make the roster. I wish him luck and thank him for the good things he at times did here, but I really wish he would have made a smarter decision on this. At least he'll get to be close to home if he makes the Panthers' roster.

Emanuel Cook - Undrafted

What do you call declaring early entry and not getting drafted at all? A boneheaded decision of epic proportions. Cook's stock plummeted during the week's leading up to the draft as questions about his athletic ability in the wake of poor workouts supplemented the existing concerns about his character and maturity. I still think Cook may have a place in the league--his success as a college player and physical style indicate that he has what it takes to do well in the NFL--but he's going to have to work for it harder than he decided to work on his classes late last fall. I wish Cook luck and hope he gets a spot as a free agent but can't say that I feel all that sorry for him.

Mike Davis - Undrafted

Not many folks expected Mike to hear his name called, so I hesitate to call him a loser, but in the end, he didn't hear his name called. Like Cook, I hope he gets his shot as a free agent. Mike doesn't have the kind of speed most teams would like, but he's a hard, tough runner, can catch the ball, and blocks well. Some teams could certainly use a guy like that.

Sunday News Link Dump and NCAAs Finals Prediction

Gamecock Man — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:07:05 -0000

Football

Maddox, Others Impress in Saturday Srimmage. Steve Spurrier is now saying that Brian Maddox has a head up in the competition for starting tailback. I liked Maddox's play when he saw the field last year and honestly thought he should have gotten more of the touches that were going to Mike Davis and Eric Baker, so I think Maddox's fine play this spring is promising. Other news from Saturday includes Stephen Garcia's continued solid play (note that this spring so far is not featuring the extreme uncertainty at quarterback of years past--that's a goo thing), promising play from Jarvis Giles, and an overall good performance from the offense. I'd like to again say that, if the defense plays anything like it did last year, I think we might be pleasantly surprised with what this team can do with an improved offense.

Baseball

USC Takes Down Arkansas, 9-1. This was a big win against a highly ranked team. A win today to take the series would really get the conference's attention.

UNC-MSU

The Tar Heels and Spartans advanced last night to set up a Finals showdown tommorow night between two of the game's stalwart programs. North Carolina's dominant win over 'Nova wasn't a surprise, but MSU's relatively easy win over an athletic UConn team was probably something of a surprise to many, although one that I predicted. MSU, though, is going to have its hands full tonight against the Heels. The Spartans will have to try to somehow slow North Carolina down, and no one has been able to do that so far during the tournament. Granted, State was able to create a lot of turnovers against UConn last night, and they may be able to do so again tonight. If they can't, the game will become a shoot out, and State will have to shoot really well to have a chance. Although I think State has a better chance against UNC than anybody else has had, I really like the Tar Heels in this one.

5 POINTS: vs. N.C. State

cocknfire — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:26:49 -0000

1. The Tommy Beecher Experiment: Pull the plug.
Sure, it's easier to come in when the opposing defense is worn down and put up the points. But consider this: With Beecher at quarterback, the Gamecocks' longest two drives were 34 yards each, and South Carolina scored 13 points. With Smelley under center, the Gamecocks had scoring drives of 60, 69 and 74 yards and scored 21 points. And it's not just that Smelley (5-of-5, 92 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) was measurably better than Beecher (12-of-22, 106 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs). The entire offense seemed to kick it up a notch with Smelley. Mike Davis with Beecher: 7 rushes, 11 yards. Mike Davis with Smelley: 7 rushes, 90 yards. Beecher could be a fit for a running quarterback, situational role. But nothing he showed me Thursday indicated he can start in the SEC.

2. Balancing McKinley
No one necessarily emerged as a consistent No. 2 receiver Thursday. But several players contributed to a balanced passing attack that could free up Kenny McKinley by forcing the defense to look everywhere else. McKinley had six of the team's 17 receptions, or a little more than a third. But also chipping in were Moe Brown (2), Dion LeCorn (2), Freddie Brown (2), Jared Cook (2) and Jason Barnes (1). Mike Davis also caught a pair of passes. And the yardage leader was Moe Brown (47). Sure, there needs to be a true No. 2 eventually. But a consistent backup cast could do the job for now.

3. The offensive line
This was still a problem spot. But, again, they almost unquestionably played better after Smelley got in. This could have had more to do with the N.C. State defense tiring. It wasn't that they got dominated; my count on the play-by-play comes up with four sacks, three in the first half. All of them were taken by Beecher. But they got beaten more than they should have, and some of the trouble in getting the run started came more from what the front was doing than from what the backs were doing. And there were far too many false-start penalties.

4. The defense's day
There's not much bad you can say about a shutout. If there was one saving grace of the first half, it was the defense. On the game, they forced four turnovers and allowed N.C. State only 138 yards. They dominated the Wolfpack's offense line, particularly early on. They frustrated the N.C. State quarterbacks with constant pressure. Yards per rush? 2.4 -- I think Ellis Johnson improved things a bit. Sure, there was room for improvement here and there, but this was a great start.

Welcome to Columbia.

5. Mike Davis redeemed
Last year, Mike Davis had one 100-yard the entire year. Granted, he was a backup. And, granted, he was playing against one of the worst run defenses in the ACC on Thursday. But he already has as many century-mark efforts this season as he did all of last year. It was everything we've come to expect from him: the somersault into the end zone and a burst when he got into space. He also ran tough.

GRADE: B-
The second half saves what was an abysmal start to the game. The defense played well throughout, even if they began to tire in the second quarter as the offense put them on short field after short field. But they never allowed the Wolfpack to score; indeed, a failed 49-yard FG was as close as N.C. State ever got. The 34-0 score is deceptive, but this was the first game of the year. With a bit of improvement, this team could evolve into a solid team. We did not see greatness Thursday night, but we saw something better than last year's first effort.

Poll

How would you grade the Gamecocks in the N.C. State game?

A

0 votes

B

21 votes

C

49 votes

D

11 votes

F

6 votes

87 votes | Poll has closed