Neo
10-15-2006, 10:16 AM
http://www.sectalk.com/boards/images/logos/South_Carolina.gifUSC midseason report.
By: TheState.com
MVP: QB Syvelle Newton
This is an easy choice. With apologies to middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, a tackling machine who has been better than advertised, the Gamecocks might have a losing record without Newton.
The senior from Marlboro County gets the signals mixed up a few times a game and his passing skills remain a work in progress. But his athleticism and scrambling ability have compensated for the offensive line’s shortcomings.
Newton has brought more than quick feet to the offense since moving from wide receiver before the Wofford game. He plays with an energy and enthusiasm that rubs off on his teammates. Plus, Newton is a competitor who seems to play his best in the biggest games.
Biggest surprise: DE Eric Norwood
Most observers who watched spring practice figured Brinkley and tailback Cory Boyd, back from a yearlong suspension, would make a big impact this season. They have.
But few could have predicted Norwood would make the biggest splash among the 11 true freshmen who have played. Despite limited playing time, the pass-rush specialist is tied for third in the SEC with four sacks.
The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Norwood leads the Gamecocks in tackles for loss (five) and quarterback hurries (three) and is third on the team with 18 tackles. Norwood chose USC over Auburn and other schools because Steve Spurrier’s staff told him he would not be redshirted. Wise decision.
Biggest disappointment: QB Blake Mitchell
Before the opener at Mississippi State, Spurrier predicted Mitchell would be an All-SEC quarterback in his second year running his Cock ‘n’ Fire offense. By the third game of the season, Mitchell was relegated to the bench.
The porous line played a big part in sending the slow-footed Mitchell to the sideline. But the redshirt junior showed poor judgment by punching a bouncer at a Five Points bar around 2 a.m. on a weeknight before the Wofford game (the charge was later dropped).
The quarterback who passed for 2,370 yards in 2005 did not set foot on the field against Auburn or Kentucky. While Spurrier says Mitchell will get another chance, he has not said when that might be.
Highlight: Kenny McKinley’s throwback pass to Newton against Kentucky.
Facing third-and-2 on the Kentucky 22-yard line late in the fourth quarter, Spurrier reached into his bag of tricks and came up with a reverse pass that worked to perfection.
McKinley, a high school quarterback, took a pitch from Boyd and fired a laser to Newton in the end zone for a two-touchdown lead. Though Spurrier would rant when the secondary’s blown coverages gave the Wildcats life, the McKinley-to-Newton touchdown was the difference in an important SEC road win.
Honorable mention: Sidney Rice’s record-setting performance against Florida Atlantic, when the redshirt sophomore from Gaffney caught five touchdown passes in a little more than two quarters.
Also, the Gamecocks’ 15-0 shutout of Mississippi State in Starkville.
Lowlight: Auburn’s third-quarter dominance on Thursday night
Leading 14-10 at halftime, the Tigers took the ball at the start of the third quarter and never gave it back. By converting three third downs, including a third-and-21, making a fourth-down conversion and recovering an onside kick, Auburn turned Spurrier and the USC offense into spectators for the entire quarter.
Kenny Irons’ touchdown dive on the first play of the fourth quarter gave the Tigers a 24-10 lead. Though the Gamecocks’ offense controlled the rest of the game, it could not overcome the lost quarter.
Honorable mention: The line giving up four sacks and allowing Mitchell to get his leg gashed against Mississippi State.
Armchair quarterback: Spurrier’s new look
The offense Spurrier directed at Kentucky last week looked a lot like the Lou Holtz-coached teams of a few years ago. In addition to his scrambles, many of Newton’s 14 carries were designed running plays such as counters or draws.
Spurrier should be commended for swallowing his pride and realizing his seven-step drop, vertical passing game would not work with a young line with pass-blocking issues.
On the flip side, for the second consecutive year Spurrier and offensive line coach John Hunt were slow to identify their best linemen. They waited until after the Georgia loss to put freshmen Garrett Anderson and Hutch Eckerson into the starting lineup.
— Joseph Person
GRADES
QB B
RB B-minus
WR C
OL F
DL C-minus
LB B
DB B-plus
Special teams A
Coaching B
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/university_of_south_carolina/15761444.htm
By: TheState.com
MVP: QB Syvelle Newton
This is an easy choice. With apologies to middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, a tackling machine who has been better than advertised, the Gamecocks might have a losing record without Newton.
The senior from Marlboro County gets the signals mixed up a few times a game and his passing skills remain a work in progress. But his athleticism and scrambling ability have compensated for the offensive line’s shortcomings.
Newton has brought more than quick feet to the offense since moving from wide receiver before the Wofford game. He plays with an energy and enthusiasm that rubs off on his teammates. Plus, Newton is a competitor who seems to play his best in the biggest games.
Biggest surprise: DE Eric Norwood
Most observers who watched spring practice figured Brinkley and tailback Cory Boyd, back from a yearlong suspension, would make a big impact this season. They have.
But few could have predicted Norwood would make the biggest splash among the 11 true freshmen who have played. Despite limited playing time, the pass-rush specialist is tied for third in the SEC with four sacks.
The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Norwood leads the Gamecocks in tackles for loss (five) and quarterback hurries (three) and is third on the team with 18 tackles. Norwood chose USC over Auburn and other schools because Steve Spurrier’s staff told him he would not be redshirted. Wise decision.
Biggest disappointment: QB Blake Mitchell
Before the opener at Mississippi State, Spurrier predicted Mitchell would be an All-SEC quarterback in his second year running his Cock ‘n’ Fire offense. By the third game of the season, Mitchell was relegated to the bench.
The porous line played a big part in sending the slow-footed Mitchell to the sideline. But the redshirt junior showed poor judgment by punching a bouncer at a Five Points bar around 2 a.m. on a weeknight before the Wofford game (the charge was later dropped).
The quarterback who passed for 2,370 yards in 2005 did not set foot on the field against Auburn or Kentucky. While Spurrier says Mitchell will get another chance, he has not said when that might be.
Highlight: Kenny McKinley’s throwback pass to Newton against Kentucky.
Facing third-and-2 on the Kentucky 22-yard line late in the fourth quarter, Spurrier reached into his bag of tricks and came up with a reverse pass that worked to perfection.
McKinley, a high school quarterback, took a pitch from Boyd and fired a laser to Newton in the end zone for a two-touchdown lead. Though Spurrier would rant when the secondary’s blown coverages gave the Wildcats life, the McKinley-to-Newton touchdown was the difference in an important SEC road win.
Honorable mention: Sidney Rice’s record-setting performance against Florida Atlantic, when the redshirt sophomore from Gaffney caught five touchdown passes in a little more than two quarters.
Also, the Gamecocks’ 15-0 shutout of Mississippi State in Starkville.
Lowlight: Auburn’s third-quarter dominance on Thursday night
Leading 14-10 at halftime, the Tigers took the ball at the start of the third quarter and never gave it back. By converting three third downs, including a third-and-21, making a fourth-down conversion and recovering an onside kick, Auburn turned Spurrier and the USC offense into spectators for the entire quarter.
Kenny Irons’ touchdown dive on the first play of the fourth quarter gave the Tigers a 24-10 lead. Though the Gamecocks’ offense controlled the rest of the game, it could not overcome the lost quarter.
Honorable mention: The line giving up four sacks and allowing Mitchell to get his leg gashed against Mississippi State.
Armchair quarterback: Spurrier’s new look
The offense Spurrier directed at Kentucky last week looked a lot like the Lou Holtz-coached teams of a few years ago. In addition to his scrambles, many of Newton’s 14 carries were designed running plays such as counters or draws.
Spurrier should be commended for swallowing his pride and realizing his seven-step drop, vertical passing game would not work with a young line with pass-blocking issues.
On the flip side, for the second consecutive year Spurrier and offensive line coach John Hunt were slow to identify their best linemen. They waited until after the Georgia loss to put freshmen Garrett Anderson and Hutch Eckerson into the starting lineup.
— Joseph Person
GRADES
QB B
RB B-minus
WR C
OL F
DL C-minus
LB B
DB B-plus
Special teams A
Coaching B
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/university_of_south_carolina/15761444.htm