Wednesday November 25, 2009

South Carolina Preview

South Carolina Preview
South Carolina enters Saturday’s rivalry game with a 6-5 overall record and finished the season with a 3-5 SEC mark.

The Gamecocks won five of their first six games and were 2-1 in their conference. However, like several seasons lately, USC has fallen in hard times coming down the stretch and now have lost four of their last five games. Their only win in the past six weeks was a 14-10 decision over Vanderbilt.

South Carolina us 101st in the country and 11th in the SEC in scoring offense with a 20.64 points per game. USC is 75th in the country and ninth in their conference in total offense by averaging 356.64 yards per game.

Stephen Garcia (6-2, 219, So) has had a very good season under center. He has completed 213 of 373 passes for 2,607 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also has 91 carries for 84 yards and four touchdowns.

South Carolina is 97th in the country and last in the SEC in rushing offense with 116.09 yards per game. Kenny Miles (5-9, 183, Fr) leads the team in rushing with 488 yards on 94 carries with one touchdown. Jarvis Giles (5-11, 183, Fr) has 52 carries for 277 yards and a touchdown. Brian Maddox (5-11, 224, Jr) has 82 carries for 261 yards and four touchdowns.

The Gamecocks are 40th in the nation and second in the SEC in passing offense with 240.55 yards per game. Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217, Fr) is the leading receiver with 39 receptions for 670 yards and six touchdowns. Moe Brown (6-0, 183, Sr) has 31 catches for 454 yards and three touchdowns. Tori Gurley (6-5, 227, Fr) has 26 receptions for 376 yards and a touchdown. Jason Barnes (6-4, 199, So) has 24 catches for 266 yards.

South Carolina will throw to the backs and tight end. Maddox has 16 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Miles has 17 receptions for 114 yards. Fullback Patrick DiMarco (6-0, 243, Jr) has 13 receptions for 78 yards and a score. Tight end Wesley Saunders (6-5, 280, Jr) has 28 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive line is improved but has been inconsistent. USC is 109th in the nation and last in the SEC in sacks allowed giving up 3.0 sacks per game. Left tackle is manned by Kyle Nunn (6-6, 293, So) and Jarriel King (6-5, 312, Jr). The left guard is walk-on Garrett Chisholm (6-6, 290, Jr). The Gamecocks play both Lemuel Jeanpierre (6-4, 294, Sr) and Garrett Anderson (6-4, 307 Sr). T.J. Johnson (6-4, 297, Fr) starts at right guard while Hutch Eckerson (6-6, 290, Jr) mans the right tackle spot.

The Gamecocks are 17th in the nation and third in the SEC in total defense allowing 308.73 yards per game. USC is tied for 28th in the nation and fifth in the SEC in scoring defense giving up 20.73 points per game.

South Carolina is led by linebacker Eric Norwood (6-1, 252, Sr) has 66 tackles including seven sacks. He is a player that has to be accounted for on every play.

South Carolina is 63rd in the nation and seventh in the SEC in rushing defense allowing 145.09 yards per game. Linebacker Shaq Wilson (5-11, 210, So) is the team’s leading tackler with 73 stops.

The Gamecocks are 41st in the country and fifth in the league in sacks with 2.27 sacks per game. Defensive end Cliff Matthews has 41 tackles and six sacks. Clifton Geathers (6-8, 281, Jr) has 36 tackles and three sacks. Defensive tackle spots are manned by Ladi Ajiboye (6-1, 285, Jr) and Nathan Pepper (6-1, 300, Sr).

South Carolina is seventh in the nation and third in the SEC in passing defense giving up 163.64 yards per game. Safety Chris Culliver (6-0, 190, Jr) has 54 tackles. Spur Darien Stewart (5-11, 216, Sr) has 50 tackles. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (6-1, 188, Fr) has 48 tackles.

The Gamecocks have been a mixed bag in the area of special teams. Placekicker Spencer Lanning (5-11, 188, Jr) .is 23 of 24 on his extra points and 15 of 17 with his field goals this season.

But South Carolina is 90th in the country and 10th in the SEC in net punting with a 34.0 yard average. USC is 63rd in the nation and seventh in their conference in punt returns with a 8.59 yard average and 78th in the country and 11th in the SEC in kickoff returns with a 21.04 yard average.

Saturday’s game is huge for South Carolina. If the Gamecocks were to win they would finish the season 7-5 and avoid another late season total collapse. USC would end a two-game losing streak to Clemson and give its fans a year’s worth of bragging rights. Spurrier would take a fairly positive attitude into the final stages of recruiting and onto the speaking circuit with Gamecock Club meetings. Spurrier would improve his record to 2-3 against Clemson and 1-1 against Dabo.

However, a loss for South Carolina Saturday would mean another 6-6 season. It would mean another late season slide by losing four in a row and five of their six games. It would mean Clemson would have beaten the Gamecocks 11 of the past 13 seasons. Recruiting would be more difficult for the Class of 2011. The fan base would be depressed and I wonder what Spurrier could tell the faithful to inspire them to get excited about the 2010 season. South Carolina cannot afford another poor effort against the Tigers.

The game is always big for both teams but I think this is a huge game for USC and its future.

Happy Thanksgiving
I know a lot of us will be on the road this week and I wanted to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. We will take tomorrow off but will have our e-mail bad on Friday. Enjoy Thanksgiving.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan.