Click Here for the Post & Cocky Preview Show: ECU vs. South Carolina
The time has finally arrived.
The 12th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks will kickoff one of the most anticipated seasons in school history Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against the East Carolina Pirates.
The quarterback competition of fall camp has yet to be decided and Head Coach Steve Spurrier has decided to play both Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw in the first game.
"We plan on playing both quarterbacks in the game," said Spurrier at his first weekly press conference of the 2011 season. "Everyone wants to know who'll start. We'll announce that later in the week. It's not a big deal who'll start."
Spurrier also commented on how well Shaw has competed this preseason and how his scrimmages have looked better than Garcia's.
"Connor's had a very good preseason. His scrimmages have been better than Stephen's. Stephen had a good practice (Monday) night. They're both improved. Competing against each other has made both of them better. We'll see how the season plays out. Sometimes I'll hear coaches say (a player has) won the competition so he's our quarterback for the year. I don't know how you can do that. If you have two pretty close, if one is struggling, I don't know how you'll tell the other he doesn't have a chance."
South Carolina's offense will feature a plethora of talent, whether it is Garcia or Shaw at QB.
Sophomore RB Marcus Lattimore, after rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns in his freshman campaign, has found himself at the center of some Heisman Trophy discussions this off-season. If he can stay healthy, the Gamecocks have a chance to do some great things this year.
WR Alshon Jeffery has been mentioned as one of the best wide-outs in the nation. The junior from St. Matthews, SC caught 88 balls last year for over 1,500 yards and 9 touchdowns, going over 100 yards in eight of Carolina's 14 contests last season. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated's "2011 College Football Preview" and is looking forward to a great season. He is a virtual mismatch for every defender and is projected as a top 10 pick in next year's NFL Draft.
South Carolina has also seen talent from outside the football program join the effort.
Point-guard turned wide receiver Bruce Ellington had an impressive fall camp and is contending to be the starting kick return specialist. He will also be a factor in the receiving department. His speed and versatility give the Gamecocks another weapon on an already potent offensive attack.
Freshman RB Shon Carson has impressed the coaches enough to be a legitimate factor in the running game despite contending against Junior RB Kenny Miles and starting RB Marcus Lattimore. Carson is one of those guys that just has pure speed and that can't be coached. If Carson gets loose, look out, he has dangerous breakaway speed.
On defense, the Gamecocks have re-tooled a secondary that was hit with a few injuries last year and is looking to bounce back from a tough season.
Stephon Gilmore will be the focal point of the secondary. He is the best CB in the conference and can lock down opposing receivers who pose problems for most defenses. His speed and ability to break quickly on the ball gives him a big edge over opposing quarterbacks and makes him a threat on defense. If he can stay healthy this season, Gilmore could be a game changer for Carolina this season.
The big story of the off season for the Gamecocks was the signing of No. 1 overall recruit Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney brings the potential for an immediate impact on an already solid defensive line. Coach Ellis Johnson has mentioned the six-foot six-inch freshman as one of the best he's ever coached. With Devin Taylor, Melvin Ingram and Travian Robertson, this will be a defensive line that reeks havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
ECU had a sub par year last season after losing Head Coach Skip Holtz in 2009. They return an offense that finished at 26th in total offense with the help of QB Dominique Davis, who threw for over 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Their problems, however, came on the defensive side of the ball. The Pirates ranked 118th in the nation last year in total defense, allowing over 43 points per game to opposing offenses.
If ECU wants a chance to beat South Carolina, the Pirates will have to play the game of their lives. ECU is a scrappy team, but the Gamecocks have enough power to dominate this game with their backups. Dominique Davis will have to avoid a pass rush that is sure to disrupt his rhythm and the Pirates defense will have to find a way to stop Lattimore and Jeffery all night, to give ECU a shot.
Line:
South Carolina -21
Prediction:
#12 South Carolina 45 East Carolina 17
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
South Carolina lands at No. 12 in Coaches' top 25
The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks opened their fall camp in front of a large crowd of about 1,500 to 2,000 at the Bluff Road Proving Grounds on Wednesday night.
Thursday morning, the preseason coaches' poll labeled them as the 12th best football team in the country.
The Gamecocks have had one of the most hyped off-seasons in the history of the South Carolina football program after a strong 9-5 (5-3) season last year that landed them in Atlanta playing for their first ever SEC Championship. Unfortunately, South Carolina was unable to fulfill the dream season, losing 56-17 to Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and the eventual national champion Auburn Tigers.
The back to back losses to end last year has left Carolina even hungrier to get back to, and surpass, the successes they achieved last season.
After landing the top prospect in the country in Jadeveon Clowney, having several impact players returning, WR Alshon Jeffery, RB Marcus Lattimore, CB Stephon Gilmore and seeing new players Bruce Ellington, Shamier Jeffery and DeAngelo Smith join the squad, the Gamecocks have the potential to build on a good season last year.
"I thought it was a pretty nice practice," said Spurrier after Wednesday night's practice. "All the coaches were really noticing the difference in our team speed. I think our speed has really improved with the addition of a lot of players, as well as the conditioning work of Coach Fitz and the strength coaches this summer. We have a fast team. Hopefully we'll have a team that can really play well."
The SEC was well represented in the top 25, as usual, as seven other conference foes landed in the coaches' top 25.
2. Alabama
4. LSU
14. Arkansas
19. Auburn
20. Mississippi State
22. Georgia
23. Florida
The Gamecocks will open their 2011 campaign in Charlotte against the ECU Pirates at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 3. Carolina will open their conference schedule against No. 22 Georgia in Athens, Sept. 10.
Thursday morning, the preseason coaches' poll labeled them as the 12th best football team in the country.
The Gamecocks have had one of the most hyped off-seasons in the history of the South Carolina football program after a strong 9-5 (5-3) season last year that landed them in Atlanta playing for their first ever SEC Championship. Unfortunately, South Carolina was unable to fulfill the dream season, losing 56-17 to Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and the eventual national champion Auburn Tigers.
The back to back losses to end last year has left Carolina even hungrier to get back to, and surpass, the successes they achieved last season.
After landing the top prospect in the country in Jadeveon Clowney, having several impact players returning, WR Alshon Jeffery, RB Marcus Lattimore, CB Stephon Gilmore and seeing new players Bruce Ellington, Shamier Jeffery and DeAngelo Smith join the squad, the Gamecocks have the potential to build on a good season last year.
"I thought it was a pretty nice practice," said Spurrier after Wednesday night's practice. "All the coaches were really noticing the difference in our team speed. I think our speed has really improved with the addition of a lot of players, as well as the conditioning work of Coach Fitz and the strength coaches this summer. We have a fast team. Hopefully we'll have a team that can really play well."
The SEC was well represented in the top 25, as usual, as seven other conference foes landed in the coaches' top 25.
2. Alabama
4. LSU
14. Arkansas
19. Auburn
20. Mississippi State
22. Georgia
23. Florida
The Gamecocks will open their 2011 campaign in Charlotte against the ECU Pirates at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 3. Carolina will open their conference schedule against No. 22 Georgia in Athens, Sept. 10.
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