Click Here for The Post & Cocky Preview Show: Navy at South Carolina
The No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) (1-0) will face the Navy Midshipmen (2-0) in their 2011 home opener Saturday night at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.
The Gamecocks are coming off of a thrilling 45-42 win at rival Georgia to put themselves in first place in the SEC Eastern Division. This is the first time since the 2000-01 seasons that South Carolina has defeated Georgia in back-to-back seasons.
South Carolina will be looking to use the momentum that they've built with consecutive wins away from home to start the season to open their 2011 home schedule with a win against a Navy team that runs a very efficient triple option offense.
Head Coach Steve Spurrier knows what Navy is capable of and was quick to point out that they are one of the best independent football programs in the country in his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
"Navy might be as good an independent school as there is in the country," Spurrier said. "They won 10, nine and eight games the last three years. I think they beat Notre Dame a couple of times. They're leading the nation in rushing offense right now. They run the triple option with fullback, quarterback and pitch guys so we'll have our hands full slowing down these guys."
The Gamecocks will be looking to stop a Navy rushing attack that has totaled 801 yards on the ground in their first two games, including 410 yards last week at Western Kentucky. South Carolina allowed over 100 yards rushing last week to freshman RB Isaiah Crowell and will need to improve this week if they hope to stop Navy's attack.
"We've been watching these other teams that run (the triple option) and how they defend a team (with the same offense) when they play," Spurrier said in Tuesday's press conference. "The Army-Navy (game) is our best game because both teams play the same offense and know how to defend each other. We know how to do it, and Coach Johnson has played against this style in his career. We just have to play fast, play assignment ball and get after them."
On the offensive side of the ball for Carolina, Marcus Lattimore has once again proven to be the staple of the Gamecock attack that ranks fourth in the country in points per game (50.5). He carried the ball 27 times for 176 yards and a late touchdown last week against Georgia to seal the Gamecocks' 45-42 win. He has totaled 288 yards on 50 carries and has scored four times so far this season.
"We finally started calling some different runs that got him freed up," said Spurrier. "Marcus is an excellent runner and at the end of the game I didn't realize he had 176 yards. I thought he had about 110 or 120. It didn't seem like he had many. He was getting yards as we went; we just weren't finishing drives at the time. We don't forget about Marcus running the ball. That's what gives us a chance."
Stephen Garcia struggled to find his rhythm early in last week's game at Georgia, but settled down and led the Gamecocks from behind late in the game. He finished the game with 142 yards through the air, one touchdown and two interceptions. His favorite target, Alshon Jeffery, caught five balls for 85 yards and a score.
"I just think he was a little pumped up," Spurrier said of Garcia's performance at Georgia. "He actually sort of said he felt like he needed to throw over that guy. He was a little high early and settled down a bit later. Our two best plays of the game were scramble plays where he rolled out the pocket and hit Alshon and hit Ace (Sanders). That may be our best play at this time."
South Carolina will be playing at home for the first time since they defeated Troy 69-24 last November.
Key Match-up:
South Carolina front seven vs. Navy option
If Carolina wants to win this game, they will need a gameplan to stop Navy's triple option. The Navy rushing attack has proven difficult to stop in previous years and this year is no exception. QB Kriss Proctor has rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns in his first two appearances this year, while RB Alexander Teich has rushed for 167. Carolina's front seven needs to have a plan of attack that will neutralize Navy's running game, and force them to throw the ball, which they rarely do.
Prediction:
#10 South Carolina 42 Navy 24
No comments:
Post a Comment