PDA

View Full Version : Spurrier's QB dilemma...

JerryBeeds
07-10-2005, 01:24 PM
By TONY BARNHART
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/10/05

Can Steve Spurrier win big at South Carolina with the quarterbacks he has?

When a school has posted only one 10-win season in 111 years of football, winning big is a relative term. By contrast, Steve Spurrier posted nine 10-win seasons in his 12 years at Florida.

If winning big for Spurrier and South Carolina means competing for the SEC East title, the answer on the quarterbacks is no — at least in the short term.

If the Gamecocks had to play Central Florida tomorrow, Blake Mitchell would get the nod after throwing for 175 yards in the spring game. A sophomore from LaGrange, Mitchell did a reasonably good job of picking up Spurrier's offense in the spring. He has an average arm but has a chance to develop into an SEC-caliber quarterback under Spurrier.

The problem is an offensive line that might not be up to snuff, forcing Spurrier to look at Antonio Heffner, a more mobile option at quarterback.

"Right now the job is still pretty wide open," Spurrier said. "We've got some other guys we need to throw in the mix."

Freshmen Tommy Beecher and Cade Thompson will get a look when they arrive next month.

"We'll be OK," Spurrier said. "It's just a matter of finding the right guy and getting him ready."
cocky4ever
07-10-2005, 01:35 PM
The problem is an offensive line that might not be up to snuff, forcing Spurrier to look at Antonio Heffner, a more mobile option at quarterback.

Well, lets see.. we have 2 members of our O-Line who were named to the Preseason All-SEC 2nd team: Jabari Levy and Na'shan Goddard.

I think Heffner will probably get the nod at QB, and probably prove to be pretty productive, but I also think that our O-Line will be at least decent throughout the season.

It seems to me that every sports writer in the country wants to be naysayers of what Spurrier can do at SC without really knowing what players we have in various positions.
Spurrierismyhomeboy
07-10-2005, 01:49 PM
Goddard and Levey may be good but are Guards and Centers are not so great
Jordan
07-10-2005, 04:17 PM
This has been the question in my mind about SC for awhile now. Same applies to Bama too, as our O-Line is going to be made up of a lot of inexperienced players this year.

This is one of the main reasons the Bama-USC game is a complete toss-up in my mind, as there is no true game footage of either O-Line yet. Can't wait to see how both of us pann out this year.
drkralc
07-11-2005, 11:09 AM
Don't forget USC has 6-7 OL coming out of redshirt status this year also!!!
JerryBeeds
07-11-2005, 11:58 AM
Yeah, we have alot of huge guys on our o-line, but they have no experience. I'm not sure how good they will be. Spurrier doesn't seem to be too impressed, but I'll with-hold judgement until after fall practice.
Jordan
07-11-2005, 12:41 PM
Yeah, we have alot of huge guys on our o-line, but they have no experience. I'm not sure how good they will be. Spurrier doesn't seem to be too impressed, but I'll with-hold judgement until after fall practice.
Yeah, that was my initial thought about ours too. But Shula seems to feel pretty good about them, so we'll see once we get a few games into the season how well they hold up in the SEC. :)
HSVTider
07-11-2005, 01:19 PM
Well, lets see.. we have 2 members of our O-Line who were named to the Preseason All-SEC 2nd team: Jabari Levy and Na'shan Goddard.

I think Heffner will probably get the nod at QB, and probably prove to be pretty productive, but I also think that our O-Line will be at least decent throughout the season.

It seems to me that every sports writer in the country wants to be naysayers of what Spurrier can do at SC without really knowing what players we have in various positions.

Hey cocky..why is that BAma's o-line is so bad when we've got two starters on some sort of preseason all SEC team and South Carolina's will be okay with the same credentials? Is that just homerism? I'm being serious.
Cianne
07-11-2005, 01:34 PM
Hey cocky..why is that BAma's o-line is so bad when we've got two starters on some sort of preseason all SEC team and South Carolina's will be okay with the same credentials? Is that just homerism? I'm being serious.

Because they aren't starting 3 redshirt freshmen? And one of those redshirt freshmen is lining up at the most dangerous spot to put a freshman, left tackle?
JBryant12
07-11-2005, 01:43 PM
We have two good tackles in Na'shan Goddard and Jabari Levey but the rest of the line is suspect....hopefully the line will be ok though