Neo
09-11-2006, 04:47 AM
http://www.sectalk.com/boards/images/logos/South_Carolina.gifHead coach hints at opening up QB competition; UGA shuts down Rice.
By: Joseph Person
www.thestate.com
USC coach Steve Spurrier had his voice back Sunday, but he had not wavered in his belief that he needs to shake up the Gamecocks’ lineup.
A day after becoming hoarse while yelling at his offense to hustle to the line of scrimmage during an 18-0 loss to Georgia, Spurrier repeated that changes were coming.
Though he will not divulge specific personnel moves until later this week, Spurrier did not rule out the possibility of switching quarterbacks.
“We may let them compete this week in practice,” he said. “Maybe it’s time to just, in practice, let them compete and say, ‘Who plays best in practice will start the game.’ “
Redshirt junior Blake Mitchell is 28-of-44 passing for 247 yards in two starts. But the right-hander has committed three turnovers and has yet to lead the Gamecocks on a touchdown drive in his 19 possessions.
Freshman Chris Smelley, coming off a strong preseason camp, has played two series in each of the first two games, completing 9 of 15 passes for 112 yards. Spurrier has said previously that Smelley is not ready to take over the offense.
“That’s Coach’s decision,” Mitchell said. “I just go out and play as hard as I can. If I’m not getting the job done, then you might need to make a change.”
Smelley might have to play more this week. Mitchell has a bruised throwing hand that sidelined him for the final 11 minutes against Georgia. His status for Saturday’s game against Wofford is uncertain.
After using the same offensive line for two games, Spurrier said the Gamecocks likely would have some new starters up front. Freshmen Garrett Anderson and Hutch Eckerson and converted defensive tackle Matt Raysor are possible candidates.
The line, which allowed four sacks in a 15-0 win against Mississippi State, failed to open running lanes against Georgia. USC rushed for 35 yards and averaged 1.6 yards per carry. The Gamecocks’ longest run was an 18-yard scramble by Mitchell, who fumbled on the play.
“We make changes on guys that look like they don’t give a dang,” Spurrier said. “They’re late off the ball. They don’t play with great effort. Those are the guys we’re going to make changes with.
“I can take losing. I know we’re in a little bit of a battle right now. I know we’re playing a whole bunch of freshmen all over the place and we’ll probably play a little bit more throughout the year. But as long as our guys try as hard as they can and play the way they’re coached, shoot, that’s all we can ask. But we didn’t do that (Saturday) night.”
A rare goose egg. Georgia handed Spurrier just the second shutout of his college career. It had been 19 years since a Spurrier-coached team had been blanked — a span of 193 games dating to a 7-0 Duke loss at Rutgers in 1987 during Spurrier’s first season in Durham.
Trailing 18-0 with six minutes left, Spurrier decided against a short field goal try and went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2. Smelley’s pass was incomplete and USC never threatened again.
“I thought about (a field goal), but then I said, ‘If I do that, I’m just saying I don’t want to get shut out,’” Spurrier said. “We needed to try to get a touchdown, try to onside kick, try to get another touchdown and try to win the game.”
Stuck on Rice. While Spurrier second-guessed his decision to call three consecutive running plays for Cory Boyd near the goal line, he said throwing a fade route to 6-foot-4 Sidney Rice was not an option.
“Sidney didn’t get a man-to-man (coverage) on third-and-goal or fourth-and-goal. They had a guy sort of waiting inside and another guy backing off,” he said. “So he’s not going to get any fade routes down there. ... So we have to try to run it in when they play soft zone down there.”
Rice, an All-SEC selection in 2005 when he set school records with 1,143 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, has five catches for 44 yards this season.
Extra points. Starting defensive tackle Marque Hall will miss the Wofford game with a sprained left knee. His status beyond this week is uncertain, according to assistant sports information director Gavin Lang. ... Spurrier said he might “surprise” Wofford by staying mum on lineup changes. In addition, Lang said USC will not make offensive players available for interviews this week.
Matthew who? Georgia freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford, a Parade All-American from Texas, replaced an injured Joe Tereshinski (ankle) with four minutes left in the first quarter and played the rest of the game. Somehow Spurrier did not notice.
“I didn’t even know he was in the game,” he said. “I had enough problems trying to get some offense going. ... I wasn’t watching their quarterback play. I read later that the other guy had come out.”
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/university_of_south_carolina/15489487.htm
By: Joseph Person
www.thestate.com
USC coach Steve Spurrier had his voice back Sunday, but he had not wavered in his belief that he needs to shake up the Gamecocks’ lineup.
A day after becoming hoarse while yelling at his offense to hustle to the line of scrimmage during an 18-0 loss to Georgia, Spurrier repeated that changes were coming.
Though he will not divulge specific personnel moves until later this week, Spurrier did not rule out the possibility of switching quarterbacks.
“We may let them compete this week in practice,” he said. “Maybe it’s time to just, in practice, let them compete and say, ‘Who plays best in practice will start the game.’ “
Redshirt junior Blake Mitchell is 28-of-44 passing for 247 yards in two starts. But the right-hander has committed three turnovers and has yet to lead the Gamecocks on a touchdown drive in his 19 possessions.
Freshman Chris Smelley, coming off a strong preseason camp, has played two series in each of the first two games, completing 9 of 15 passes for 112 yards. Spurrier has said previously that Smelley is not ready to take over the offense.
“That’s Coach’s decision,” Mitchell said. “I just go out and play as hard as I can. If I’m not getting the job done, then you might need to make a change.”
Smelley might have to play more this week. Mitchell has a bruised throwing hand that sidelined him for the final 11 minutes against Georgia. His status for Saturday’s game against Wofford is uncertain.
After using the same offensive line for two games, Spurrier said the Gamecocks likely would have some new starters up front. Freshmen Garrett Anderson and Hutch Eckerson and converted defensive tackle Matt Raysor are possible candidates.
The line, which allowed four sacks in a 15-0 win against Mississippi State, failed to open running lanes against Georgia. USC rushed for 35 yards and averaged 1.6 yards per carry. The Gamecocks’ longest run was an 18-yard scramble by Mitchell, who fumbled on the play.
“We make changes on guys that look like they don’t give a dang,” Spurrier said. “They’re late off the ball. They don’t play with great effort. Those are the guys we’re going to make changes with.
“I can take losing. I know we’re in a little bit of a battle right now. I know we’re playing a whole bunch of freshmen all over the place and we’ll probably play a little bit more throughout the year. But as long as our guys try as hard as they can and play the way they’re coached, shoot, that’s all we can ask. But we didn’t do that (Saturday) night.”
A rare goose egg. Georgia handed Spurrier just the second shutout of his college career. It had been 19 years since a Spurrier-coached team had been blanked — a span of 193 games dating to a 7-0 Duke loss at Rutgers in 1987 during Spurrier’s first season in Durham.
Trailing 18-0 with six minutes left, Spurrier decided against a short field goal try and went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2. Smelley’s pass was incomplete and USC never threatened again.
“I thought about (a field goal), but then I said, ‘If I do that, I’m just saying I don’t want to get shut out,’” Spurrier said. “We needed to try to get a touchdown, try to onside kick, try to get another touchdown and try to win the game.”
Stuck on Rice. While Spurrier second-guessed his decision to call three consecutive running plays for Cory Boyd near the goal line, he said throwing a fade route to 6-foot-4 Sidney Rice was not an option.
“Sidney didn’t get a man-to-man (coverage) on third-and-goal or fourth-and-goal. They had a guy sort of waiting inside and another guy backing off,” he said. “So he’s not going to get any fade routes down there. ... So we have to try to run it in when they play soft zone down there.”
Rice, an All-SEC selection in 2005 when he set school records with 1,143 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, has five catches for 44 yards this season.
Extra points. Starting defensive tackle Marque Hall will miss the Wofford game with a sprained left knee. His status beyond this week is uncertain, according to assistant sports information director Gavin Lang. ... Spurrier said he might “surprise” Wofford by staying mum on lineup changes. In addition, Lang said USC will not make offensive players available for interviews this week.
Matthew who? Georgia freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford, a Parade All-American from Texas, replaced an injured Joe Tereshinski (ankle) with four minutes left in the first quarter and played the rest of the game. Somehow Spurrier did not notice.
“I didn’t even know he was in the game,” he said. “I had enough problems trying to get some offense going. ... I wasn’t watching their quarterback play. I read later that the other guy had come out.”
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/university_of_south_carolina/15489487.htm