FoghornLeghornCock
12-05-2007, 09:21 AM
Posted on Wed, Dec. 05, 2007
Next in line
Quarterback will dominate speculation, but USC has plenty of questions on its docket for next season
By JOSEPH PERSON - jperson@thestate.com (jperson@thestate.com)http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/248766.html
Several games into a season-ending, five-game losing streak, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier joked that if the Gamecocks did not make a bowl game, at least they would not finish with a losing record.
But Spurrier is not laughing now.
After his bold preseason statement that USC would shoot for an SEC East crown in his third season in Columbia, Spurrier will be home for the holidays for the first time in nearly 20 years.
When the Independence Bowl chose Alabama (6-6) over the Gamecocks (6-6) for the SEC’s ninth and final bowl slot, it marked the first time a Spurrier-coached team that was eligible for a bowl was not invited since 1988, his second year at Duke.
“We had our chances. Our guys played pretty well a lot of times. We coached pretty well a lot of times,” Spurrier said. “Didn’t play so well, didn’t coach so well a lot of times. And we ended up 6-6. So even though we’re disappointed, we’re not completely discouraged.”
Assuming middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley returns for his fifth season, the Gamecocks will lose just six senior starters: quarterback Blake Mitchell, tailback Cory Boyd, fullback Lanard Stafford, tight end Andy Boyd, center Web Brown and defensive end Casper Brinkley.
Besides the obvious question at quarterback, Spurrier has several other things to figure out this winter. The State examines five offseason issues facing the Gamecocks.
WILL SPURRIER’S STAFF RETURN INTACT?
Probably not.
Spurrier has made staff changes in each of his first two seasons at USC, and he did not exactly quash the notion that a couple of assistants could be moving on when asked about it Sunday.
“Whatever changes happen within the next month or so, we’ll certainly let you all know when they happen,” Spurrier said.
Defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix has interviewed for the head-coaching position at Southern Miss, where Nix played linebacker and coached for 10 years. Nix’s defense ended the year on a downswing, surrendering a combined 1,188 yards and 99 points against Arkansas and Florida and allowing Clemson to drive for the game-winning field goal as time expired.
“Tyrone is up for that Southern Miss job and maybe some of our other coaches will get some other opportunities,” Spurrier said.
Special teams co-coordinator Fred Chatham and offensive line coach John Hunt oversaw units that were erratic, at best, although both men have known Spurrier for years.
WHO’S THE QUARTERBACK IN ‘08?
Time will tell, but expect freshman Stephen Garcia to receive ample opportunity to win the job this spring. As much time as he spends on arm angles and throwing motions, Spurrier has come to appreciate mobile quarterbacks, a la Syvelle Newton.
“You need a guy that’ll jump up in there and make 5, 7 yards every now and then, and Stephen can do that,” Spurrier said. “He’s a good athlete that can run around. He’s an excellent passer. He’s got a lot to learn. But that’s why we have practice.”
Garcia will share spring reps with Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley, the redshirt freshman who was 4-1 as a starter before losing his spot to Blake Mitchell. Smelley, who will be 22 next fall, has the upper hand as far as experience and knowing the offense.
But if Garcia stays out of trouble, he might be the fit for an offense that Spurrier plans to tweak.
“I’m looking forward to that (competition) and seeing how Stephen Garcia can learn what we’re trying to do,” Spurrier said. “We’ll put in some quarterback run stuff, like everybody else does, and see if that won’t help our offense.”
WHERE DO THE GAMECOCKS NEED THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
That’s an easy one — running the ball and stopping the run. USC was last in the SEC in both categories in 2007, a fact that prompted Spurrier to question the Gamecocks’ strength and toughness along both interior lines.
Though Arkansas embarrassed USC by rushing for 542 yards, the most allowed in Gamecocks history, the problems in the run defense were obvious early in the season. Louisiana-Lafayette and S.C. State ran for 252 and 196 yards, respectively, and that was before Jasper Brinkley went down with a season-ending knee injury.
A healthy Brinkley should help, but USC desperately needs to develop a run-stuffing tackle. Kenrick Ellis (6-foot-5, 337 pounds) showed promise vs. Clemson.
Offensively, four or five starters are back for Hunt, who might not need as much time as he has the past two seasons to determine who his best players are
WILL MIKE DAVIS GET HIS GROOVE BACK?
After splitting carries with Boyd early in the season, Davis saw his touches all but disappear down the stretch. The junior from Columbia had 12 carries over the final three games as USC fell behind early and relied on Boyd and the passing game.
Though the 5-9, 212-pound Davis may never be a back who gets 25 carries a game, he is a shifty runner with a career average of 4.6 yards per carry. With Boyd gone, Davis and freshman Brian Maddox will vie for the starting job.
WHAT ARE USC’S RECRUITING PRIORITIES?
The Gamecocks will try to load up on linebackers and defensive backs after bringing in two of each last year (they signed six defensive backs, but three failed to qualify and one transferred).
USC has commitments from a pair of three-star linebackers — Shaq Wilson and Reggie Bowens, who played with Gamecocks receiver Chris Culliver at Garner High in North Carolina. The three signees USC placed at Fork Union (Va.) Prep — tailback Eric Baker and defensive backs Akeem Auguste and Antonio Allen — all were rated four-star prospects by Rivals.com.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
I knew we hardly saw Mike Davis at the end of the season, but I did not know it was only 12 carries in the last 3 games. This should bring up a question what happened? I did not hear about an injury. I know Mike had a few problems in blocking that caused some bad plays. You also wonder if SOS lost some confidence in Mike Davis as a runner. When I see the number of RBs being recruited I wonder if next season Mike may see his carries reduced and become a red zone short yardage bruiser. I don't know the answers here, but I think the number of running backs being recruited may tell the story.
Next in line
Quarterback will dominate speculation, but USC has plenty of questions on its docket for next season
By JOSEPH PERSON - jperson@thestate.com (jperson@thestate.com)http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/248766.html
Several games into a season-ending, five-game losing streak, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier joked that if the Gamecocks did not make a bowl game, at least they would not finish with a losing record.
But Spurrier is not laughing now.
After his bold preseason statement that USC would shoot for an SEC East crown in his third season in Columbia, Spurrier will be home for the holidays for the first time in nearly 20 years.
When the Independence Bowl chose Alabama (6-6) over the Gamecocks (6-6) for the SEC’s ninth and final bowl slot, it marked the first time a Spurrier-coached team that was eligible for a bowl was not invited since 1988, his second year at Duke.
“We had our chances. Our guys played pretty well a lot of times. We coached pretty well a lot of times,” Spurrier said. “Didn’t play so well, didn’t coach so well a lot of times. And we ended up 6-6. So even though we’re disappointed, we’re not completely discouraged.”
Assuming middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley returns for his fifth season, the Gamecocks will lose just six senior starters: quarterback Blake Mitchell, tailback Cory Boyd, fullback Lanard Stafford, tight end Andy Boyd, center Web Brown and defensive end Casper Brinkley.
Besides the obvious question at quarterback, Spurrier has several other things to figure out this winter. The State examines five offseason issues facing the Gamecocks.
WILL SPURRIER’S STAFF RETURN INTACT?
Probably not.
Spurrier has made staff changes in each of his first two seasons at USC, and he did not exactly quash the notion that a couple of assistants could be moving on when asked about it Sunday.
“Whatever changes happen within the next month or so, we’ll certainly let you all know when they happen,” Spurrier said.
Defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix has interviewed for the head-coaching position at Southern Miss, where Nix played linebacker and coached for 10 years. Nix’s defense ended the year on a downswing, surrendering a combined 1,188 yards and 99 points against Arkansas and Florida and allowing Clemson to drive for the game-winning field goal as time expired.
“Tyrone is up for that Southern Miss job and maybe some of our other coaches will get some other opportunities,” Spurrier said.
Special teams co-coordinator Fred Chatham and offensive line coach John Hunt oversaw units that were erratic, at best, although both men have known Spurrier for years.
WHO’S THE QUARTERBACK IN ‘08?
Time will tell, but expect freshman Stephen Garcia to receive ample opportunity to win the job this spring. As much time as he spends on arm angles and throwing motions, Spurrier has come to appreciate mobile quarterbacks, a la Syvelle Newton.
“You need a guy that’ll jump up in there and make 5, 7 yards every now and then, and Stephen can do that,” Spurrier said. “He’s a good athlete that can run around. He’s an excellent passer. He’s got a lot to learn. But that’s why we have practice.”
Garcia will share spring reps with Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley, the redshirt freshman who was 4-1 as a starter before losing his spot to Blake Mitchell. Smelley, who will be 22 next fall, has the upper hand as far as experience and knowing the offense.
But if Garcia stays out of trouble, he might be the fit for an offense that Spurrier plans to tweak.
“I’m looking forward to that (competition) and seeing how Stephen Garcia can learn what we’re trying to do,” Spurrier said. “We’ll put in some quarterback run stuff, like everybody else does, and see if that won’t help our offense.”
WHERE DO THE GAMECOCKS NEED THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
That’s an easy one — running the ball and stopping the run. USC was last in the SEC in both categories in 2007, a fact that prompted Spurrier to question the Gamecocks’ strength and toughness along both interior lines.
Though Arkansas embarrassed USC by rushing for 542 yards, the most allowed in Gamecocks history, the problems in the run defense were obvious early in the season. Louisiana-Lafayette and S.C. State ran for 252 and 196 yards, respectively, and that was before Jasper Brinkley went down with a season-ending knee injury.
A healthy Brinkley should help, but USC desperately needs to develop a run-stuffing tackle. Kenrick Ellis (6-foot-5, 337 pounds) showed promise vs. Clemson.
Offensively, four or five starters are back for Hunt, who might not need as much time as he has the past two seasons to determine who his best players are
WILL MIKE DAVIS GET HIS GROOVE BACK?
After splitting carries with Boyd early in the season, Davis saw his touches all but disappear down the stretch. The junior from Columbia had 12 carries over the final three games as USC fell behind early and relied on Boyd and the passing game.
Though the 5-9, 212-pound Davis may never be a back who gets 25 carries a game, he is a shifty runner with a career average of 4.6 yards per carry. With Boyd gone, Davis and freshman Brian Maddox will vie for the starting job.
WHAT ARE USC’S RECRUITING PRIORITIES?
The Gamecocks will try to load up on linebackers and defensive backs after bringing in two of each last year (they signed six defensive backs, but three failed to qualify and one transferred).
USC has commitments from a pair of three-star linebackers — Shaq Wilson and Reggie Bowens, who played with Gamecocks receiver Chris Culliver at Garner High in North Carolina. The three signees USC placed at Fork Union (Va.) Prep — tailback Eric Baker and defensive backs Akeem Auguste and Antonio Allen — all were rated four-star prospects by Rivals.com.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
I knew we hardly saw Mike Davis at the end of the season, but I did not know it was only 12 carries in the last 3 games. This should bring up a question what happened? I did not hear about an injury. I know Mike had a few problems in blocking that caused some bad plays. You also wonder if SOS lost some confidence in Mike Davis as a runner. When I see the number of RBs being recruited I wonder if next season Mike may see his carries reduced and become a red zone short yardage bruiser. I don't know the answers here, but I think the number of running backs being recruited may tell the story.