Beamer questions USC's coverage effort

[morgan n' 7]

Beamer questions USC's coverage effort
Special teams coach not happy with lack of hustle by kickoff coverage team

The statistics back up what those watching South Carolina football have seen this season: The kickoff coverage is abysmal.

While the kickoff part of that has gotten plenty of blame, special teams coach Shane Beamer said the coverage part also is a problem.

He pointed to the Tennessee game on Saturday, when walk-on Blake Baxley was "leading the charge" downfield for the Gamecocks, five yards ahead of teammates every time.

"I love Blake, and that's great for Blake, but it's bad for the rest of us because Blake shouldn't be out-running some of those other guys," Beamer said.

story...
http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/story/1012247.html

[GamecockSHEP]

kinda late to get pissed off about that now. i mean we could have won a few ball games if beamer would havr been worried about ko coverage EARLY in the season not 9 freaking games into the season. kinda like putting a condom on halfway through with sex.

[Pacifist Cock]

Originally Posted by GamecockSHEP

kinda late to get pissed off about that now. i mean we could have won a few ball games if beamer would havr been worried about ko coverage EARLY in the season not 9 freaking games into the season. kinda like putting a condom on halfway through with sex.

gives new meaning to the phrase "bad field position".

[Luke Skycocker]

and he hasnt realized this before?

[spurmanski]

Seems to me like theirs some fuzzy math there

[GoonSquad]

well, if thats the case, put all your defensive starters on kickoff except the DTs and replace those guys with the backup DBs.

It worked in high school anyways

[JAYBEZ]

Clemson's offense isn't even going to need to take the field. They will score three touchdowns on our not so special teams alone.

[bmwparts]

makes you think that during the game they dont have a clue and afterwards they watch film to see things to work on, shizzzz i do that put me on the coaching staff, AND HE GETS PAID FOR DOING THIS?? LOL

[crowcutta]

way too much criticism was being leveled on our kickers/punters earlier this season. we miss succop obviously but the coverage is the bigger problem. virtually noone ever comes free and even when we have a wave of defenders downfield we're opening up big seams that allow the returner to immediately bypass them.

[PageUSC]

We miss Succop's kickoffs really bad...I said this before the season started and no one thought anything of it.

I hope this is not too little too late.

[Gaichon]

wow, there's the "E" word again...EFFORT. what will it take for some of these guys to give full effort? year after year we appear to be one of the laziest teams in college football. i can take a lot of BS from our team (kinda have to as a lifetime Gamecock), but the effort problem has always baffled me. i don't care if there's 8 or 80,000 people in the stands, don't buckle your chinstrap if you aren't going to have a little doggone pride.

[superstar90]

I will say this, and it has nothing to do with the current year, but as long as we keep getting more depth through recruiting special teams should only get better and better! I've been telling people forever that when a team doesn't have great depth on O and D, their special teams usually will suffer some. That's just the nature of the game. I know it got called back but look at this. S. Gilmore(FR) returned a punt. Devin Taylor(FR) blocked a kick. Etc.. This should get better and better.

[GamecockSuperFan]

whats so annoying is this.. we got a new special teams coach because we were losing games to blocked punts, and blocked field goals. clemson in the 07 game prime example, florida 06' on and on.

now that weve prevented that... were letting up 100 yd. kick returns...now i know its only happened twice maybe 3 times so far. but they are still getting long runs back and giving the other team great field position.

we can do better than that, and im sure we will. if we can get our defense to start every series on the 20 yd. line then its lights out.

i wish i can find the stat on how well our d has done when given good field position. there would be more 3 and outs.

[GamecockSuperFan]

and also though, this is realy the only problem with the special teams. beamer has done a tremendous job in every single aspect of special teams except here. the blocked punts, field goals, returns everything has been pretty solid. and its only going to get better and better under him in my opinion. 2 words, beamer ball

[McNasty]

where was this disappointment after the Georgia game.

[wilsonhallbarons]

just a little late...

[BenLippengamecock]

Let garcia on kickoffs that man gives 110 all the time, lowerin his shoulders, heck let him play line and put the backup in, he will at least give his all. If your getting paid to play college football (you are you dont have to pay for school ) then you should be going until you cant go no more NUFF SAID

[dclee25]

Well we started using alot of defensive players on kick coverage because they asked to be used with all of our issues. It was good in the beginning, but alot of times these guys are a little gassed by the 3rd quarter. I say go back to the backups on the special teams and make a competition out of it. Reward these guys with a little extra defense or offensive PT for making plays on special teams. Light a fire, but also teach technique and fundamentals. There is someone on our bench who is dying to run down the field and make a play to get their name called. Open tryouts!

[GamecockSuperFan]

i say put in tony straughter, gerrod sinclair on the interior outside of the kicker. quin smith (great hit on the returner at the 20 in the ole miss game) and blake baxley (since he's given the effort he should) then next interior Antonio Allen and Damario Jefferey on the around route. then on the outsides thats where you put all your speed guys at. Jarrett Burns (gives effort. fast, always around the ball trying to pin it deep in the redzone when hes on the punt team) then another speed athlete like [B]stephon gilmore [b] then alonzo winfield, and darian stewart

ive been thinking about this since the UGA game, and a possible way to fix it.



from left to right : Jarrett Burns, Quin Smith, Alonozo Winfield,Gerrod Sinclar, Damario Jeffery, Antonio Allen, Tony Straughter, Darian Stewart, Blake Baxley, Stephon Gilmore.