SB Nation - Chaz Sutton

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

Connor Tapp — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 19:55:41 -0000

I addressed the function of this series of posts and the mental instability that inspired it in part one of this series. Read that here.

OK, now that we're all caught up, check out my projected 2013 depth chart and the accompanying analysis after the jump.

DE
1) Chaz Sutton (Rs. Jr.)
2) Deon Green (Rs. So.)

DE
1) Jadeveon Clowney (Jr.)
2) Gerald Dixon (Rs. So.)

DT
Gerald Dixon, Jr. (Rs. So.)
or
J.T. Surratt (Rs. Jr.)

DT
1) Kelcy Quarles (Jr.)
2) Phillip Dukes (Rs. So.)

MLB
1) Kaiwan Lewis (Rs. Fr.)
2) Chaun Gresham (Rs. Sr.)

WLB
1) Cedrick Cooper (Rs. So.)
2) Larenz Bryant (Fr.)

SPUR
Sharrod Golightly (Rs. Jr.) or
Jordan Diggs (So.)

BCB
1) Victor Hampton (Jr.)
2) Ahmad Christian (Rs. So.)

FCB
1) Jimmy Legree (Rs. Sr.)
2) Rico McWilliams (Rs. Fr.)

SS
1) Brison Williams (Jr.)
2) Kadetrix Marcus (Jr.)

FS
~~1) Sheldon Royster (Rs. So.)~~
2) Chaz Elder (Rs. Fr.)

Notes: The defensive line should once again hold steady despite losing a key contributor in Devin Taylor. But between Sutton, Green, Dixon, and Darius English, I'm confident that Brad Lawing will find an adequate replacement. To me, the biggest question will be, for the second year in a row, who steps up next to Kelcy Quarles to hold down the interior of the defensive line. Gerald Dixon, J.T. Surratt, and Phillip Dukes seem like the most likely candidates right now, but we should get a clearer picture as the 2012 season wears on.

It's the second level of the defense where things get a bit more dicey. The Gamecocks will lose their top 5 linebackers to graduation as well as free safety/hype man D.J. Swearinger. The highly touted linebacker recruits in the 2013 class will likely have an opportunity to step on the field right away as true freshman. As things stand today, my money would be on Larenz Bryant to come in and get meaningful snaps in 2013 at Will - at least as a backup. I wouldn't rule out Matt Rolin seeing the field in his first year on campus either, especially considering that I'm still not totally convinced that Chaun Gresham actually exists.

Depending on what happens to Akeem Auguste and how Jimmy Legree fares as starting field corner, cornerback could be a position of relative strength for South Carolina in 2013. There's a chance that they'll return both starters and will have several players redshirting in 2012 available to compete for backup spots. Outside of those two and Victor Hampton, who many think we'll come to rely upon as something closely resembling a shutdown corner, the secondary is very difficult to project. With Sheldon Royster's seemingly imminent transfer, the starter at free safety in 2013 will likely be someone who isn't even on the current depth chart.

Part of the difficulty in projecting the depth chart for next year's secondary rests in the kind of defensive backs the Gamecocks typically recruit: big, physical guys who could end up either playing corner or safety. True freshmen Chaz Elder, Chris Moody, and Kyle Fleetwood all fit in this mold. They'll probably be somewhere on the 2013 depth chart, but where exactly they end up will be determined by some combination of need and how their bodies develop during their first year in the program.

Overall, there projects to be far less certainty on the defensive side of the ball for South Carolina, especially when compared to the offense. It seems the 2013 squad will be heavily reliant upon Jadeveon Clowney getting into the backfield before the quarterback has an opportunity to throw the ball. Otherwise, the Gamecocks' defense might be every bit as shaky as the offense is sturdy.

South Carolina Gamecocks Spring Game Preview: Defensive Line

Gamecock Man — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:52:13 -0000

The past two years have been the golden age of South Carolina defensive lines. It wasn't too long ago when the line was our big weakness, one regularly exploited by teams like Arkansas and Florida that boasted dominant offensive lines and dangerous running backs. Sure, we've always had some decent players on the line, particularly at defensive end. But we've lacked elite talent at tackle, which is frequently one of the positions that separates the wheat from the chafe in the SEC. We've also lacked depth at both positions, which has led to late-season breakdowns.

This has all changed dramatically over the last two years. With improved recruiting, we've finally begun to field a legitimate, deep SEC defensive line, and that, as much as anything, has facilitated our rise from being a somewhat competitive SEC team to being one of the league's better teams. The improvement at tackle has been most dramatic, with players like Ladi Ajiboye and especially Travian Robertson finally giving us the kind of players at the position that we've always lacked. However, even if the change hasn't been as marked, the real dominance has oftentimes come from the ends, with Devin Taylor, Melvin Ingram, and Jadeveon Clowney giving us some of the league's top stars at the position. With these improvements in tow, we've gone from being one of the league's worst running defenses to one of its better, and our pass rush has been second to none. There's no better formula for defensive success; it all starts up front.

Will 2012 be another case in point? For the pass rush, the answer is a resounding "yes." Taylor is back for his senior season, while Clowney will look to build on his strong finish to 2011 with a more consistent, mature 2012. I don't think it's any stretch to say that both of these two are going to be All-SEC candidates this year, although one would expect that offenses will focus on one or the other, leading to a big year for the one that doesn't get as much attention. That was, in part, what happened last year, when offenses keyed in on Taylor and oftentimes let Ingram run free. This year, I have a feeling Clowney may increasingly be the focal point of opposing blocking schemes. That will free things up for Taylor, and when he reaches his potential, I doubt Clowney will be fully blockable even with focused schemes. We also have good depth at these positions, with either Chaz Sutton or Aldrick Fordham being capable of spelling Taylor and Clowney. Indeed, both Sutton and Fordham would be capable of starting for many teams. I'm personally really looking forward to seeing Fordham at DE instead of DT, which is more in accord with his talents. To sum up, we're set at these positions, and the talent we have at our disposal has been on display all spring, as our pass rush has definitely gotten the better of our offensive line each day in practice.

DT I'm not quite so sure about. I do think that we have a potential All-SEC candidate in Kelcy Quarles, who came along more and more as the season progressed last year. After that, though, there are question marks. Byron Jerideau is currently slated as the starter beside Quarles. Jerideau is a physical specimen and has shown flashes during his time on campus, but he's never quite broken through and nailed down a regular spot in the rotation. Perhaps he's ready to be great this year. He's certainly got the size and physicality to be a good run-stuffer, and he's shown the ability to get to the QB at times. I just feel a little uncertain about him, and I will until I see him perform well down-in, down-out against a good team. Behind these two, we have J.T. Surratt and Gerald Dixon. Both players have potential, but I don't feel confident that either will be ready for a big role next year. Another guy who may get a shot is former top recruit Phillip Dukes, but Dukes has proven to be slow to catch up to the college game (this happens sometimes; remember that Ingram sort of came out of nowhere in 2010), and he currently appears to be less capable than Dixon, who came in less heralded. We'll at the very least really need one of these three players to step up and be able to contribute some significant downs, and we may need more if one of the starters goes down. I have a feeling, though, that if that happens Fordham will be moved back over. None of these are particularly optimal scenarios, but we can hold out hope.

So, in short, we're set at end but have questions at tackle. Don't fret and think 63-17 is around the corner, though. I feel strongly that Quarles and Jerideau are a better pair than some of the lines we had in the Holtz and early Spurrier years. It's just that I'm not so sure that they're as good as the Robertson / Ajiboye and Robertson / Quarles combos we've gotten used to over the past couple of years. But they can be, and that's a start.

2012 South Carolina Gamecocks Potential Two-Deep: Defense

Gamecock Man — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:53:34 -0000

Several days ago, I looked at our potential offensive two-deep for next fall. Today, we're looking at the defense.

DE: Jadeveon Clowney; Chaz Sutton
DE: Devin Taylor; Byron McKnight
DT: Kelcy Quarles; Phillip Dukes
DT: Aldrick Fordham; Byron Jerideau
LB: Shaq Wilson; Quin Smith
LB: Reginald Bowens; Qua Gilchrist
Spur: DeVonte Holloman; DeMario Jeffery
CB: Akeem Auguste; Ahmad Christian
CB: Victor Hampton; Jimmy Legree
S: Brison Williams; Sharrod Golightly
S: D.J. Swearinger; Sheldon Royster

Notes:

--The pass rush will again be a major asset. The Clowney / Taylor due will be more or less unblockable.

--Another defensive lineman I've read good things about is Deon Green, a three-star tackle who redshirted after coming in with last year's class. The coaches are high on Green and believe he will be able to compete for a spot in the rotation. J.T. Surratt will also be in the mix there.

--Another interesting storyline at DT will be whether or not Byron Jerideau can compete with Fordham for the second starting position alongside Kelcy Quarles. Fordham is really more of a defensive end who plays tackle due to necessity, and one would prefer to see the Wall of Jerideau live up to his potential and take that spot, as he's got the body to be more of a force against the run.

--Linebacker was a bit of a weak spot at times for us this year, but as Shaq Wilson returned to form and Reggie Bowens and Quin Smith matured, it became a strong point by year's end. Look for that trend to continue this coming season. Also note that redshirt freshman Cedrick Cooper is a guy the coaches are high on who could earn some playing time.

--Secondary is likely my biggest concern going into next year, particularly at CB. Auguste and Hampton should be solid as starters, but depth will be the the question. I've never been impressed by Jimmy Legree, although he's shown flashes at times. Ahmad Christian and Kadetrix Marcus have tons of potential, but they're inexperienced. There are also the incoming freshman, but they're again inexperienced. One or two of these guys will need to step up and be able to give us quality snaps next year, or we may be in trouble at corner. Safety I feel a bit better about; D.J. Swearinger will likely be All-SEC, Brison Williams is very solid, Sharrod Golightly got some PT at times this year and should be ready for a bigger role, and Sheldon Royster should eventually be an All-SEC-type player. Plus, we can always move DeVonte Holloman back to safety if need be, as well as some good incoming talent.

Kentucky at South Carolina Preview: Three Keys, What It Means, Prediction

Gamecock Man — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:41:16 -0000

This post concludes our series previewing the Kentucky game; we've previously discussed Kentucky's offense and defense.

Three Keys to Victory

3. More of the Same on Defense

Carolina has played extremely well on defense over the past two weeks, and they have no excuse for not continuing to do so against a struggling Kentucky offense. It should be noted that Melvin Ingram is likely out for this game, and it will be interesting to see if Jadeveon Clowney (and possibly Chaz Sutton for a handful of snaps) can ably fill in for him.

2. Improvement on the Offensive Line

A lot of people have been blaming the offensive line instead of Stephen Garcia for the offense's recent struggles. Personally, I think these people have it wrong, and I think a lot of them simply refuse to acknowledge that Garcia, who has a cult-like following among a large portion of the fanbase, is likely done. That said, the offensive line has struggled over the past couple of games. If it were just the fact that they haven't opened as many holes for Marcus Lattimore, that would be one thing. That has a lot to do with the fact that defenses have been begging Garcia to throw the ball by stacking the box. However, it's not just that. The number of penalties the line has had in recent games is completely unacceptable, particularly considering that this is a fairly experienced group. It would likely make a major difference to see the line half the number of holding and motion penalties they had against Vandy and Auburn. It's also very important that the line protect Connor Shaw in his first full-time SEC action. I think we'll see that Shaw can play well when given time to throw, but if he's not, he may struggle.

1. Improvement at QB

As I've been saying all week, aside from questionable run-pass distribution playcalling, I think QB play is the biggest issue facing this team. Garcia has been completely ineffective in the passing game, and without a passing threat, we've allowed defenses to attack blitz and run-stack with complete impunity. Shaw must prove that he can consistently make the bread-and-butter throws for the Gamecocks offense to get back on track. If that happens, I expect you'll see most of the Gamecocks' other offensive problems magically disappear. If Shaw throws the ball like Garcia, we may be in for an ugly game. I think it's also key for Steve Spurrier to allow Shaw to do what he does best--run the read-option. In other words, I hope we don't see the Gamecocks running out of the I all afternoon.

Continue reading after the jump.

What It Means

There's obviously a revenge factor in this game after last year's heartbreaker in Lexington. However, a little of the interest has been drained out of that narrative by the fact that Kentucky has turned out to be epically bad this year. As it stands, I'd say the main goal in this game is to get the ship righted after last week and to build some confidence heading into a key road trip over the next few weeks. It should also be noted that a Carolina victory along with a Florida loss to LSU will put Carolina on top in the East.

Prediction

All eyes are on Shaw in this game, and I think he'll play fairly well, leading the Gamecocks offense to a more balanced showing. However, I don't expect a lot of fireworks--just a solid, effective offensive performance that moves the ball without turning it over as often. On the other side of the ball, the defense will continue to shine; I don't think we'll hold Kentucky to as few yards as we did Vandy, but I also think it's possible that we'll force more turnovers. I'm calling for a 31-6 Carolina win, with one of the scores coming on defense.

'Overshadowed' South Carolina Could Pose Toughest Test For Dogs

Tyler Nelson — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:25:16 -0000

Surprisingly overshadowed in some of the eyes of Mississippi State fans by marquee matchups like LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, the South Carolina Gamecocks' visit to Starkville on Oct. 15 could provide the Bulldogs with their toughest test this side of Alabama.

Yes, there have been numerous headaches for the Gamecocks over the offseason, but the stars maybe aligning for South Carolina to make a return trip to the SEC Championship. Talent abound on offense. Seven starters return on Ellis Johnson's defense. A fantastic recruiting haul in the Spring. And thanks to a favorable schedule (the Gamecocks won't play Alabama and LSU, and draw Florida at home), they could be playing for more than just a Sugar Bowl berth.

Click the jump to see how the Gamecocks matchup against the Bulldogs.

Quarterbacking enigma Stephen Garcia is about to be back for his senior season after wrapping up his fifth suspension (if you had the chance to party in Columbia 's Five Points, you'd eventually end up riding the pine, too). Despite being third all-time in passing yards (6,753) and passing touchdowns (43) for USC, Garcia is still good for a costly mistake, or three, a game. If Coach Steve Spurrier has an itching trigger finger, backup Conner Shaw will get the call.

The offense stars the best running back-wide receiver tandem in the nation—Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery. Chris Wilson's defense will be on their heels the entire time trying to contain the two. It will be a tough balancing act between providing enough support up front to minimize Lattimore's assault as much as possible, all while respecting Jeffery's abilities.

With a bruising style, an ability to shift gears and keen balance, Lattimore needed only one season to supplant himself among the great Gamecocks. In his freshman campaign, he rushed for 1,197 yards—the most ever by a South Carolina back not named George Rogers—and 17 touchdowns. Entering his sophomore season, he looks to only improve on those numbers.

But even though Lattimore will certainly shine, a patch-work offensive line will have to regroup after a decent showing last year.

South Carolina's offensive line did a commendable job blocking for the ground game in 2010 (but as usual the past few years, not for the quarterback). This season, two seniors (Rokevious Watkins and Terrence Campbell) were moved to different positions and two redshirt freshmen (A.J. Cann and Cody Gibson) could see significant playing time. There is also a chance stud-recruit Brandon Shell, who had shoulder surgery earlier this year, will be called on to contribute. The Bulldogs' line, mainly tackles Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd, will have to pounce at every Gamecock miscue if they hope to at least slow down Lattimore.

If stopping the running game isn't a challenge enough, potentially double-teaming Jeffery will open up room junior D.L Moore and sophomore Ace Sanders to contribute. Though diminutive, Sanders (5-7, 173) provides South Carolina with an explosive option. Competing with the South Carolina receiving corps will be a good test for the Bulldog secondary but given their experience and knack for coming up with a big plays (a few bone-head throws by Garcia will help), Jeffery will get his numbers while the rest of the wide outs should have quiet nights.

If that's not enough fireworks, the Gamecocks' defense also provides some pop. Outside of the James Carmon v. Blaine Clausell battle for starting left tackle, Mississippi State's offensive line isn't as big as a question mark as South Carolina's. But whoever forms the Bulldogs' starting line will have to face some nasty Gamecock defenders.

South Carolina returns to two established ends in Devin Taylor and Melvin Ingram, both of whom were 2011 Preseason All-SEC members. Taylor notched 7.5 of the team's conference-leading 41 sacks last year. Sophomore Chaz Sutton and senior Byron McKnight provide valuable depth. The interior isn't as deep, but Preseason All-SEC tackle Travian Robertson is no push over.

Oh, yeah. Then there's the consensus No.1 overall prospect in the nation—über-recruit Jadeveon Clowney. The defensive end, who waited until Valentine's Day to make his highly anticipated announcement on which school he'd sign with, will probably begin his college career as a passing rushing specialist thanks to his one-in-a-generation talent. In summary, thank goodness Chris Relf can move around the pocket because our tackles are going to have their hands full.

For all the talent the Gamecocks' front six have (seven if you count the "spur" position), there is no reason for their secondary to give up 241.9 passing yards like they did last year. In an effort to shake things up, Akeen Auguste will move from safety to cornerback, joining stand-out corner Stephon Gilmore. Junior D.J. Swearinger is a decent option at safety, as is sophomore Jimmy Legree. If Relf has developed into the quarterback that everyone believes he has, this is the type of team he should slice up, a la Ole Miss or Michigan. Beyond Gilmore, this group doesn't scare.

The Gamecocks are primed to make another run for Atlanta and are a darkhorse to play for the National Championship. They possess good coaching and bounds of talent. But if Mississippi State wants to make the jump from a good team to a great one, it's games like this they need to win. But it could also be the best team they face all year.

Post-National Signing Day South Carolina Gamecocks Recruiting Roundup: DEs

Gamecock Man — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:44:17 -0000

This post continues a series evaluating our recruiting class. Today we discuss DEs.

Jadeveon Clowney. This fellow, of course, needs no introduction. The prize recruit of this class, most pundits expect Clowney to earn a starting spot next year. At 6'6 / 250, he probably needs to put on 10-15 pounds to be ready to truly reach his potential at the college level, and as I've said before, we probably shouldn't go into 2011 expecting 20 sacks and 10 forced fumbles. That's said, he should be an immediate difference-maker in 2011 and a potential All-American down the road, and that's about as much as you can hope for from a recruit at his position. Clowney's combination of size, speed, and agility are literally unheard of.

Gerald Dixon. Dixon held down the DE spot opposite Clowney at South Pointe High School, and together the two made a habit of scaring the daylights out of opposing QBs. He's a bit bigger than Clowney at 6'2 / 260 and lacks some of his counterpart's speed. No one will mistake Dixon for Clowney, but he's a solid prospect in his own right who I believe can give us solid depth and fight for a starting spot after current guys like Devin Taylor, Chaz Sutton, and Melvin Ingram graduate. I expect a redshirt for him this season.

Grade: A. We didn't sign a lot of depth at DE, but it's not really a position of need for us right now, as we have a lot of talented guys fighting for playing time. The important thing was to sign Clowney, a once-in-a-generation prospect. We did that, and that's what makes this portion of our class so great.

A Very Early 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks Depth Chart Projection

Gamecock Man — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:41:45 -0000

Discuss. Note that I'm not including any potential incoming true freshmen, and nor am I assuming that anyone leaves early or transfers other than Tori Gurley. I discuss some of those issues in the notes below, though.

Offense

QB Stephen Garcia, Connor Shaw, Andrew Clifford

RB Marcus Lattimore, Kenny Miles, ?

FB ? (Matt Coffee, Dalton Wilson, Justice Cunningham?)

WR1 Alshon Jeffery, Lamar Scruggs, DeMario Bennett, DeAngelo Smith

WR2 Ace Sanders

Slot WR D.L. Moore

TE Cunningham, Mike Triglia

T Kyle Nunn

T ?

G Rokevious Watkins

G Terrence Campbell

C T.J. Johnson, Ronald Patrick

Defense

DE Devin Taylor, Byron McKnight

DE Chaz Sutton

DT Travian Robertson, Aldrick Fordham, Bryon Jerideau

DT Melvin Ingram, Kenny Davis

MLB Rodney Paulk, Quin Smith

WLB Shaq Wilson

CB Stephon Gilmore, Marty Markett

CB C.C. Whitlock, Victor Hampton

S DeVonte Holloman, Akeem Auguste

S D.J. Swearinger

Spur Antonio Allen

Special Teams

KR Bryce Sherman, Swearinger

PR Sanders, Gilmore

P ? (Jay Wooten?)

K ? (Wooten? Adam Yates?)

Notes

The offensive line will be a position to watch. We're losing Hutch Eckerson and Garrett Chisholm to graduation, and Watkins is reportedly considering a jump to the pros, although one would expect him to be back. A.J. Cann, Ryan Broadhead, and Trammell Williams look to get some playing time, as well as perhaps an incoming freshman or two. Look for us to continue to have some depth issues here next year. We were extremely lucky that we didn't suffer any serious injuries on the line this year and will have to hope our luck continues in 2011.

With Gurley out, I'm thinking we move Moore to the slot receiver position. He'll likely be our go-to guy over the middle. Look for him to continue to bulk up and improve his game. It will be interesting to see who else emerges on the WR depth chart with Gurley and Jason Barnes gone. Scruggs will get more looks (look for him to emerge as a solid player), as will incoming freshman Damiere Byrd. Not sure what we're getting with Bennett (who may be more likely to see time on defense) and Smith, who only played in garbage time this year.

I'm not sure who will be the third RB. Perhaps one of the incoming freshmen? We also need to hope Miles sticks around.

FB is a big question mark, as we're losing the guy we've run there for the past few years. Our spread formations use the FB and TE in similar ways, so don't be surprised if Cunningham gets a look here.

Expect for Kelcy Quarles and, if he signs, Jadeveon Clowney to compete for immediate playing time along the defensive line next season. Also look for Sutton to become a major force. Barring injuries, this should again be a position of strength for us, even without Ladi Ajiboye.

LB will again be a position of concern in 2011. Hopefully one of the incoming players will be able to help us.

Should be interesting to see who replaces Lanning on punts and FGs. Could be Wooten on both? We have a couple of other guys listed as punters on the depth chart who I've never heard of, as well, and you never know when someone else might pop up here. At any rate, Lanning will be missed. We've been blessed with Lanning and Ryan Succop for so long that I don't think any of us remember what it's like to have a subpar kicking game. I hope we don't find out again any time soon, because it's no fun.