Thoughts?

[USC_fanboy04]

So what are everyone's thoughts about the game against Troy, I believe we looked pretty well. We managed to stop the run from destroying us and put some points on the board. On a side note though, does anyone else think we should of had Heffner as a RB? lol, some of those draws he had looked impressive.

[LedCock]

I'm happy we won of course, but our O-line still looked weak against a lower tiered Troy. Defense looked better I thought. They still need to improve but better nonetheless. I think if our O-line can get it together then we'll see much better performances from everyone each week. :D

[GamecockDieHard]

Seemed to me we played a little of the same slow down offense like we did against UCF once we got a comfortable lead. And just like then, the other side made some plays and was in reach of making a game of it. This time, we were playing less talent than UCF and Mitchell started throwing again. It was a lot of fun to watch a strong win. Looked like Davis got some rythym and we were able to get some ground. I'm worried about Mitchell's high ankle sprain. Those types of injuries can be pretty hard to get over. We need him back and healthy to have a snowball's chance of an upset next week. If he's knocked out for a couple of games, I don't see how we can red-shirt Thompson. He will have to play.

[WoffordCock]

Thats for sure because heffner is not the guy you want leading the team...seems like the offense is just really sluggish when he is in there and that the coaches play calling is really conservative, as if they are not confident in his ability as a QB.

[OmahaBound]

yeah, the playcalling has clearly been very conservative when heffner is in there. i'm sure they'll take more chances if it becomes apparent heffner is going to have to be the man for awhile, but as of now they're clearly not very confident in him.

[Im4Spurrier]

hell, i'd my playcalling would be conservative if heffner was in there too. i mean, let's see...the first time he went in there, oh yea, that's right...fumble. it completely changed the momentum of the ucf game. he made a few ok lateral throws, but let's face it, so can dondrial. i saw one play when he took it deep to flint. it was great that flint went up for it, but any team in the sec would have picked it off...very bad decision. me personally, i'd put heffner at running back or receiver and either remove cade's redshirt or put syvelle back at qb for the time being.

[Im4Spurrier]

i think it is great to have a "quarterback that can run" (marcus vick or chris leak), but i think it is detrimental to have a "running back that throws." i love to see a quarterback run AFTER he has checked his progressions and nothing is open, but i hate to see a designed run where the quarterback drops back and then hauls ass. good example is what we did to dj shockley. we kept our linemen in their lanes and contained him which forced him to make decisions. that's the key. we did the same thing to quincey carter a few years ago. the "quarterback that can run" will kill you if you do that, but the "running back that throws" will get eaten alive because he has to make decisions and he just can't do it.

[Dr. Pepper]

Seemed to me we played a little of the same slow down offense like we did against UCF once we got a comfortable lead. And just like then, the other side made some plays and was in reach of making a game of it. This time, we were playing less talent than UCF and Mitchell started throwing again. It was a lot of fun to watch a strong win. Looked like Davis got some rythym and we were able to get some ground. I'm worried about Mitchell's high ankle sprain. Those types of injuries can be pretty hard to get over. We need him back and healthy to have a snowball's chance of an upset next week. If he's knocked out for a couple of games, I don't see how we can red-shirt Thompson. He will have to play.


If you call three straight fumbles in the UCF game a slow down offense, well, that is your opinion. Truth is, special teams slowed us down in that one. Special teams gave up a TD last night. They have to get better (ST cost us in the Georgia game too). O-Line is going to get every QB on our team killed if they don't tighten up. Glad to get a win. Hope everybody can improve and take it up a notch or two next week. War Gamecock.

[rabidcock]

Let's face it, the D was much improved in one very major category. This is very important, because it won us the game. The category, of course, was AGGRESSIVENESS! We are still weak against the run, but apparently the coaches got to those guys last week by benching them. It was immediately urgent that some of the starters had to come back in early, on that first Troy drive. We immediately began to play with more determination. Hurley was on a rampage, especially, Ko also played well. But the main thing is, we got great play from some of the newcomers like Dakota Walker. Also, the Lindsey twins are becoming a force to reckon with.

Let's face it, Troy only had 250 yards or so, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE BALL. When they did have it, they pretty much drove on us at will. The aggressive defense caused all those turnovers; were it not for that, the game would have been close. As a matter of fact, I believe we would have lost.

The momentum was lost for us after we lost a yard on the third and short and then failed on the fourth and one. It swung back after the fumble-recovery touchdown by Isaacs (if I recall). Again, Hurley caused the fumble by his aggressive play.

I pointed this out in a post yesterday, that our major problem, predicating all others, was our inability to stop the run. The aggressive play of the defense will in some measure make up for our failure to stop the run, but we must still work on this. Our getting the ball back time after time, gave our fragile offense the confidence needed (as well as the time) to get something going.

[uscrules]

I think the best thing I saw from the game is the depth that we are developing not only for the remainder of this year but especially for next year. I hate that phrase. "Wait til next", but this time I don't think I could be more excited for the future of Gamecock Football. I think we have a lot of good young talent. Sidney Rice (RS Freshman) is already a great go to reciever. Carlos Thomas, Mike Davis, Johnathan Hannah, Kenny Mckinley and Ryan Succop are the real deal. We need to add some big Offensive and Defensive lineman and we will be ready to contend for the championship. I heard Todd Ellis make a very telling statement during the game. Of the 40 top players, 29 are true freshmen, RS freshmen or sophomores. Thats 3/4 of the team. We will have a good year next year and we will beat someone we are not supposed to this year.

[CarolinaGrad]

Seemed to me we played a little of the same slow down offense like we did against UCF once we got a comfortable lead. And just like then, the other side made some plays and was in reach of making a game of it. This time, we were playing less talent than UCF and Mitchell started throwing again. It was a lot of fun to watch a strong win. Looked like Davis got some rythym and we were able to get some ground. I'm worried about Mitchell's high ankle sprain. Those types of injuries can be pretty hard to get over. We need him back and healthy to have a snowball's chance of an upset next week. If he's knocked out for a couple of games, I don't see how we can red-shirt Thompson. He will have to play.

I don't think you're going to see Cade playing. Did you watch the Steve Spurrier Show today? He mentioned playing Brett Nichols if he has to because he wants to keep Cade red-shirted.

[Where's_Demetris?]

we will beat someone we are not supposed to this year.
I wish I could agree with you on that last part, but there's no way our rushing defense will contain the big names that lay ahead. Get ready boys, our road is about to get a lot rougher.

[GamecockDieHard]

I don't think you're going to see Cade playing. Did you watch the Steve Spurrier Show today? He mentioned playing Brett Nichols if he has to because he wants to keep Cade red-shirted.


You're right. Spurrier says Cade is too underweight right now to try to play and not get seriously hurt. I think he weighs about 175?? Anyway, it's going to get ugly IMO. We all need to get prepared for the smack coming from our SEC 'buddies.' It's time to pay our dues until the ever allusive "next year." But next year will come, this time, I believe.

[Dr. Pepper]

While anything can happen on any given Saturday, let's say we put an "L" next to Auburn, Tenn, and FLA. That leaves KY, Vandy, Ark, and Clem. Ky and Ark should be "W"s, Vandy evidently has a team, so that could be the game which decides whether we go to a bowl or not. I don't care what Clemp has, I always figure it to be a win. What do you think, do we have a chance to go bowling?

[GamecockDieHard]

While anything can happen on any given Saturday, let's say we put an "L" next to Auburn, Tenn, and FLA. That leaves KY, Vandy, Ark, and Clem. Ky and Ark should be "W"s, Vandy evidently has a team, so that could be the game which decides whether we go to a bowl or not. I don't care what Clemp has, I always figure it to be a win. What do you think, do we have a chance to go bowling?

I've always got hope or else I'd never be a Gamecock. We definitely have a chance to go bowling. Chances just got slimmer without a healthy Mitchell. Blake has shown very respectable performances with the exception of Alabama. We've got good receivers and could make enough big plays to stay competitive with most of our schedule to get to 6-5.

The only reason to risk using Mitchell against Auburn is if our defense shows up and can reasonably stop their offense. If we can't, then we shouldn't take the chance. No way Mitchell is 100% by Auburn. If we keep him out, Hef could probably beat Kentucky, then we are open, then Vandy. That gives Mitchell 4 weeks to heal. Boyd will be back then too. That will line us up for Vandy, Tenn, Ark, Fl, cLIMPson. We've got a chance. In this scenario, we beat Kentucky, Vandy, Ark. And, as has been the case, our bowl depends on beating CU.

[rabidcock]

The only reason to risk using Mitchell against Auburn is if our defense shows up and can reasonably stop their offense.

After a few years hiatus, we finally have a passing game again. Concurrently, after several years of being relatively successful against the run, we now find ourselves lacking in that area. There's always some missing element, that weak link, that keeps us from being the competitive team we want to be. If we can find a way to be RESPECTABLE against the run, we can win our six games; without it...well... :(

[bleedsgarnet]

even with blake being healthy we suck pretty bad..our line play against sec teams will show...

[GamecocksRule]

I didn't get to 'see' the game because I was in (Ugh) up in clempson country visiting the in-laws, but I did get to listen to it on the radio. My thoughts are how in the heck did we LET Troy get 20 points??! I mean we WERE playing Troy for goodness sake! :rolleyes: :D Other than that I just hope Mitchell heals soon, otherwise it's gonna be a long rest of the season.

[GTmorris1970]

I didn't get to 'see' the game because I was in (Ugh) up in clempson country visiting the in-laws, but I did get to listen to it on the radio. My thoughts are how in the heck did we LET Troy get 20 points??! I mean we WERE playing Troy for goodness sake! :rolleyes: :D Other than that I just hope Mitchell heals soon, otherwise it's gonna be a long rest of the season.

I agree. We were at Myrtle Beach, and watched the game on PPV at a sports bar. Did we look better, yes. Do I still think it's going to be a long season now, yes. It was weird seeing Spurrier without a hat or visor and eyeglasses. I don't see us winning more than five, but I'm certainly not saying I am off the boat. The future looks very bright, but it may be a long season this time around. I hate to say it, I hate to feel it, but Troy had a couple of chances to make it a game. Turnovers killed them. Five I think. Some caused by the defense, some just not holding the ball. That will not happen against most of the rest of our opponents. Sorry for the bad vibes. The Mitchell injury will hurt us as well. :cool:

[uscrules]

We need to try to stay real. If what you say is fact,(we will lose to Auburn) then look at it as a chance to let Heffner play and become a backup. Hey, he may do well. He can run, I'll give him that. He does throw a nice pass. Auburn may be thinking without Mitchell we don't stand a chance and let down. They are not the Auburn of last year. We have a lot of good athletes and Spurrier is working on their heads. We have a chance, if the defense can stop the run. I think Spurrier played every player that was on the sidelines in the game, that's how they scored 20 points. I honestly think he treated the game like a pre-season game, because he knows there may not be many other chances for those guys to play. On the last drive for Troy he was down to the last players. The starters did come in when they were on the 3 yard line. It took them three plays to score. But they didn't run it in. Keep the faith.

[GTmorris1970]

We need to try to stay real. If what you say is fact,(we will lose to Auburn) then look at it as a chance to let Heffner play and become a backup. Hey, he may do well. He can run, I'll give him that. He does throw a nice pass. Auburn may be thinking without Mitchell we don't stand a chance and let down. They are not the Auburn of last year. We have a lot of good athletes and Spurrier is working on their heads. We have a chance, if the defense can stop the run. I think Spurrier played every player that was on the sidelines in the game, that's how they scored 20 points. I honestly think he treated the game like a pre-season game, because he knows there may not be many other chances for those guys to play. On the last drive for Troy he was down to the last players. The starters did come in when they were on the 3 yard line. It took them three plays to score. But they didn't run it in. Keep the faith.

We played pretty much the same players we have every week, with the exception of a few freshmen who got some time. Hurley, Bennett, Coley, all the ones who were benched saw significant action. Nowhere near everyone on the bench played. Hurley and company were on the field when they drove that last drive.

[uscrules]

If you think the defense on the last drive were our starters, you were not watching the same game I was. I saw wholesale changes when they got to lthe three yard line. Regardless, who ever was in there, they could not stop the run. On 3rd and long, they run the ball for 17 yards. Still the same old problem.