The future looks bright...

[JerryBeeds]

Many of USC's play-makers in our first two games were young players. The biggest impacts and/or reasonable play came from guys like:

Blake Mitchell-soph.
Sidney Rice-fresh.
Carlos Thomas-fresh.
Mike Davis-fresh.
Kenny McKinley-fresh.
Jonathan Hannah-fresh.
Ko Simpson-soph.
Mike West-soph.
Marque Hall-soph.
Stanley Doughty-soph.
Cody Wells-soph.
Chris Hampton-soph.
Ryan Succop-fresh.
Josh Johnson-soph.
Ty Erving-soph.
Web Brown-soph.

.....and Bobby Wallace will make an impact, he'll just need some time.

Others: (Taylor Rank, Shea McKeen, Yvon Banag played on special teams). I could be leaving a few out, as this is just from recollection.
Also, Jamon Meredith has allegedly been playing pretty well and is going to try to play some o-guard.

The glaring question marks are along the offensive line, as we lose 2 very good ones to graduation. Spurrier is going after a good many linemen for the upcoming recruiting season, and seeing how much attention he's getting, I'm not too worried long-term about our situation along the o-line.

We'll also have some big shoes to fill at LB.

With Marvin Sapp, Dakota Walker, Shea McKeen, Brent Davis working their ways up the depth chart in the near future, I think we'll be fine on defense (since we have most positions outside of LB and d-line pretty filled).

Also, O.J. Murdock will likely be a redshirt freshman next year. With many quality receivers already in the mix, USC will be fine.

We will need to bring along another quality QB, as the SEC can be rough on starting QB's.

Anybody have any thought's on our youth...as it relates to how we're currently playing? ....How we may play in years to come?


This is a direct quote from a poster named Muthaclucka on a USC board that I frequent. I found his post quite compelling and decided to see what some of you thought. He raises alot of excellent points.

[Neo]

I have to agree Beeds.....


A lot of these playmakers are freshmen and sophomores. That only leads to great things for the next 2-3 years. :cool:

[scfan5338]

I agree with you Beeds as well. Ty Erving is a beast. He made some huge hits in the Spring game. I have'nt had a chance to see him in the games. What number is he?

[JerryBeeds]

I agree with you Beeds as well. Ty Erving is a beast. He made some huge hits in the Spring game. I have'nt had a chance to see him in the games. What number is he?

#27 I'm pretty sure.

[USC_fanboy04]

I agree totally, we have a really young team that proved they can hang with the best, add spurrier to the mix and we will be dangerous in the coming years.

[Where's_Demetris?]

Yippee-ki-yay, Muthaclucka. :cool:

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

In Blake's senior year I expect first-team All-SEC and our team battling for the SEC title. Im probably getting ahead of myself but Im to excited about our future and lord knows we deserve it!!!!!

[USC_fanboy04]

I think it's reasonable to say we compete for the SEC in Blake's Senior year. The majority of the team will be Juniors/Seniors and running the Cock 'n' Fire nicely. Plus some big name recruits spurrier will bring in will create the best Carolina team ever.

[WayzUp]

Don't forget gentlemen, that we may have a humbled and ready-to-get-to-work running back by the name of Cory Boyd who hopefully uses this season away to catch the mental part of his game up with his physical part. He's going to be a great piece of the puzzle & will have a couple years of eligibility left, too don't forget. :)

Good point on the LB's, but I'm not as concerned on the defensive side of the ball...we're going to be losing a couple solid ones but we seem to turn good LBs out fairly regularly regardless who's coaching and I'm sure there are good, athletic, Ray Lewis wanna-be HS seniors who like standing & playing in space that our new system seems to cater to. We'll recruit to fit that style so we may actually need a changing of the guard there...bigger, faster and with a wingspan if you please. ;)

Seriously though, if Cory Boyd were on our team, we'd be 2-0 right now no question in my mind. Add another solid recruiting class to the mix and you have the makings of a team no one wants to play. Ever.

[uscrules]

What is going on with Jared Cook? I was really impressed with him at the practice I went to. Then I heard he sprained his ankle or something. He is 6'5" and 220 lbs. A big reciever. Will he be red-shirted?

[JerryBeeds]

What is going on with Jared Cook? I was really impressed with him at the practice I went to. Then I heard he sprained his ankle or something. He is 6'5" and 220 lbs. A big reciever. Will he be red-shirted?

He has lingering effects from a broken foot suffered his senior year of high school. He'll be red-shirted and will be back in full force next year.

[uscrules]

'Thanks for the information. I think he and Murdock will be two awesome red shirt freshmen. NOW we need to get us some stud offfensive linemen.

[GeauxTo]

Anybody have any thought's on our youth...as it relates to how we're currently playing? ....How we may play in years to come?
I think the future is indeed bright for the Cocks. As I said in another post, Saturday's coaching dominance of Spurrier over Richt shows that you have the best coach in the SEC. When Blake is a senior, you should very well be competing for the SEC East and perhaps the SEC Championship. You'll be knocking heads with the big boys of the SEC on an even basis. I will be supporting that effort, until, of course, it comes time for you to play LSU again; then, I'll be cheering for the Tigers to maul your Cocks!
;)

[Im4Spurrier]

Jared Cook is red-shirted.

[Gamecock in TN]

Seriously though, if Cory Boyd were on our team, we'd be 2-0 right now no question in my mind. Add another solid recruiting class to the mix and you have the makings of a team no one wants to play. Ever.

Regardless of who you have running the ball without a capable OL we will not have a good rushing team. Our line is not opening up any holes or lanes for our backs to run through. A week ago everyone was excited and saying they couldn't wait for Turman to come in because he was a capable runner. Well, he is just as capable as Boyd, and only had one decent rush(10 yds).

While I believe that we will have a dominating team 3-4 yrs from now, and a great team in the nest 2 years; I would be suprised, at this point, if we had a 100 yd rusher for more than two games this year. Unfortunately, this OL is not up to it at the guard spots.