GAMECOCKBOY
08-31-2006, 10:48 AM
WLTX.COM
Sidney Rice believes he could have less catches and less total yards than he did in 2005 and still have a better season.
How? It's all about his teammates.
If Rice, who had 70 catches for a school record 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, attracts double teams it will probably open up space on the other side of the field for established receivers like Kenny McKinley, Syvelle Newton and Cory Boyd to catch passes and run past their defenders for extra yardage.
"We've got a lot more good receivers in the offense," Rice said. "Kenny McKinley, Moe Brown, players like that. I think they're going to do a tremendous job and help take some of the pressure off of me. It should help me a lot more."
Most of the pre-season talk relating to the Gamecocks has focused on the pass-catching ability of Rice, who has NFL scouts drooling over his superior body control and Velcro-like hands.
But, Rice acknowledges there's a downside to all that attention. Talented teammates who deserve notice too from the media unfortunately get ignored.
"Yes, they do get overlooked," Rice said. "I think this is their year to make statements. I think they will."
Possibly Rice's best performance last season came in December’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., when he caught 12 passes for a bowl-record 191 yards and one touchdown. But the Gamecocks ended up surrendering a three- touchdown lead in a 38-31 loss to Missouri.
The loss left Rice with an empty feeling.
"I'm just out there to help my teammates this year," Rice said. "It's not a me thing, it's a team thing. I'm going to go out and give 100 percent and do everything I can to help our team come out on top."
One player who Rice feels should receive more praise than what he typically gets is quarterback Blake Mitchell. The LaGrange, Ga., native threw for 2,370 yards and 17 touchdowns last season in his initial campaign as a SEC starter.
"I think he does deserve a lot more credit,” Rice said. "I think he's doing a tremendous job. He worked very hard over the summer. He’s gotten bigger, faster and stronger. He throws the ball a lot harder. He's gotten better."
Rice began last season as a virtual unknown after redshirting in 2004. Rice understands his newfound notoriety will force a lot of teams to pay closer attention to him this season.
Hello, double teams.
"Yes, I do (expect more double teams)," Rice said. "I'll be looking forward to them. I'll be ready."
Actually, Rice saw a few double teams last season when word began to spread about his exploits. Arkansas rolled a safety over to help on Rice and it seemed to work as the Razorbacks limited Rice to four catches for 51 yards.
But the strategy ultimately cost Arkansas dearly when Kenny McKinley outran his defender in one-on-one coverage and caught the winning touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter.
Rice was asked to recall when he first saw multiple defenders line up across from him.
"Probably around the fifth or sixth game, I saw a couple and then later in the season," Rice said. "Arkansas did it a lot and Tennessee, too."
As good as he was in 2005, Rice strived to get better with a rigorous workout regime. Among other things, Rice worked diligently with Mark Smith, USC’s well-respected strength and conditioning coach over the summer and improved his speed in the 40-yard dash from 4.6 to 4.5 seconds.
"Coach Smith did a tremendous job," Rice said. "He helped me out a lot."
Already projected by NFL Draft experts as a first-round draft pick in 2007, a faster, stronger, more dangerous Rice is probably the last thing USC's opponents want to see.
"I just worked on running my routes and getting faster," said Rice.
Entering 2006, Rice has appeared on many lists naming the top-10 wide receivers in the nation. He’s already been asked countless times if he intends to leave USC after this season.
His answer: No.
"I believe in what Coach Spurrier says when he talks about every player should play at least three years of college football," Rice said. "I'm just going to focus on this season right here and hopefully I'll be here next season. I'm not really focusing on (the NFL) right now."
If he stays two more years, Rice is sure to make a lot of Gamecock fans very happy.
Sidney Rice believes he could have less catches and less total yards than he did in 2005 and still have a better season.
How? It's all about his teammates.
If Rice, who had 70 catches for a school record 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, attracts double teams it will probably open up space on the other side of the field for established receivers like Kenny McKinley, Syvelle Newton and Cory Boyd to catch passes and run past their defenders for extra yardage.
"We've got a lot more good receivers in the offense," Rice said. "Kenny McKinley, Moe Brown, players like that. I think they're going to do a tremendous job and help take some of the pressure off of me. It should help me a lot more."
Most of the pre-season talk relating to the Gamecocks has focused on the pass-catching ability of Rice, who has NFL scouts drooling over his superior body control and Velcro-like hands.
But, Rice acknowledges there's a downside to all that attention. Talented teammates who deserve notice too from the media unfortunately get ignored.
"Yes, they do get overlooked," Rice said. "I think this is their year to make statements. I think they will."
Possibly Rice's best performance last season came in December’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., when he caught 12 passes for a bowl-record 191 yards and one touchdown. But the Gamecocks ended up surrendering a three- touchdown lead in a 38-31 loss to Missouri.
The loss left Rice with an empty feeling.
"I'm just out there to help my teammates this year," Rice said. "It's not a me thing, it's a team thing. I'm going to go out and give 100 percent and do everything I can to help our team come out on top."
One player who Rice feels should receive more praise than what he typically gets is quarterback Blake Mitchell. The LaGrange, Ga., native threw for 2,370 yards and 17 touchdowns last season in his initial campaign as a SEC starter.
"I think he does deserve a lot more credit,” Rice said. "I think he's doing a tremendous job. He worked very hard over the summer. He’s gotten bigger, faster and stronger. He throws the ball a lot harder. He's gotten better."
Rice began last season as a virtual unknown after redshirting in 2004. Rice understands his newfound notoriety will force a lot of teams to pay closer attention to him this season.
Hello, double teams.
"Yes, I do (expect more double teams)," Rice said. "I'll be looking forward to them. I'll be ready."
Actually, Rice saw a few double teams last season when word began to spread about his exploits. Arkansas rolled a safety over to help on Rice and it seemed to work as the Razorbacks limited Rice to four catches for 51 yards.
But the strategy ultimately cost Arkansas dearly when Kenny McKinley outran his defender in one-on-one coverage and caught the winning touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter.
Rice was asked to recall when he first saw multiple defenders line up across from him.
"Probably around the fifth or sixth game, I saw a couple and then later in the season," Rice said. "Arkansas did it a lot and Tennessee, too."
As good as he was in 2005, Rice strived to get better with a rigorous workout regime. Among other things, Rice worked diligently with Mark Smith, USC’s well-respected strength and conditioning coach over the summer and improved his speed in the 40-yard dash from 4.6 to 4.5 seconds.
"Coach Smith did a tremendous job," Rice said. "He helped me out a lot."
Already projected by NFL Draft experts as a first-round draft pick in 2007, a faster, stronger, more dangerous Rice is probably the last thing USC's opponents want to see.
"I just worked on running my routes and getting faster," said Rice.
Entering 2006, Rice has appeared on many lists naming the top-10 wide receivers in the nation. He’s already been asked countless times if he intends to leave USC after this season.
His answer: No.
"I believe in what Coach Spurrier says when he talks about every player should play at least three years of college football," Rice said. "I'm just going to focus on this season right here and hopefully I'll be here next season. I'm not really focusing on (the NFL) right now."
If he stays two more years, Rice is sure to make a lot of Gamecock fans very happy.