After their 31-13 loss to Tennessee last Saturday, the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3) must be thinking, “Uh oh, here we go again,” as they travel to Fayetteville this weekend. The 11:21 kickoff will be televised by the SEC Network.
The phrase ‘late season swoon’ just doesn’t do the last two years justice for Coach Steve Spurrier and the ‘Cocks. Some have more accurately described them as “complete collapse.”
In 2007, USC started off 5-1, and reached a lofty #6 ranking in the AP poll, before dropping their last five games and failing to reach a bowl. Last year, the Gamecocks started 5-2, before losing four of their last six, en route to a 7-6 finish.
Like the Hogs early in the season, Carolina lost to Georgia 41-37, in what may have been the most entertaining game in the SEC this year. Four straight wins followed, including a 16-10 exposing of the Ole Miss Rebels in an ESPN Thursday night affair.
But since then, the results have been a bit shaky. Two-point and four-point wins over bottom feeders Kentucky and Vanderbilt are coupled with losses to Alabama (20-6) and Tennessee (31-13).
No doubt the Gamecock offense has struggled, only managing 21.9 points per game (11th in SEC). Inconsistent play in the offensive line is the culprit — somewhat due to injuries, the rest a result of inexperience. Sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia, when not on his back, has been good, throwing for 232.7 yards per game with 12 touchdowns. USC has allowed 25 sacks on the season. Yikes!
On defense, the ‘bell cow’ is without question senior linebacker Eric Norwood. The All-American has 54 tackles on the year, including 6 sacks. You know you’re big time when you get your own web site — ewood40.com. On the flip side, pro prospect free safety Chris Culliver will be MIA this week, according to ESPN’s Chris Low:
“The loss of Culliver in the secondary is a big blow. The Gamecocks were already playing two true freshmen back there and don’t have any depth. This is the last week you wanted to be short on defensive backs going against Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas passing game.”
Familiar faces are leading the Carolina defense, as former Arkansas defensive assistants Ellis “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” Johnson and Lorenzo Ward will face off against Petrino and the Hogs. Spurrier’s penchant for running off/through assistant coaches is legendary. Five of his nine current assistant coaches are in their first year at South Carolina.
Vegas has the Hogs as a 5 1/2 point favorite in this one, which means they didn’t watch the third quarter film of winless Eastern Michigan scoring at will. If the Hogs are to have success this week, getting pressure on Garcia will be one of the keys. As bad as the Hogs pass defense has been, having Garcia get comfortable in the pocket will be a recipe for a long day.
The game is usually decided in the trenches.
Our D-line was really coming on until they hit a wall at Ole Miss. Their O-line is suspect at best. IF we can control Norwood, our recievers against a depleted, young, secondary should be a huge advantage. Bobby will again be tempted to ignore the running game.
It's too ironic to go from wanting balance from Nutty to wanting balance from Bobby. Of course, I'll take Bobby every time. He is just trying to seek advantage.
Chris Culliver has been suspended for this game after not reporting a pregame injury to the coaches before the Tenn game. I think this is gonna be alot like the UGA game…. but we'll prevail this time!!