2010 NCAA Football Preview: South Carolina
Typically whenever one historic coach departs he is replaced by an unknown. Few coaches look forward to being the guy to succeed a coach who had the kind of name recognition and fame Lou Holtz did while at the helm of the South Carolina Gamecocks, but Steve Spurrier warmed up to the challenge pretty quickly.
Since taking over for the departing Holtz, Spurrier has managed to keep the Gamecocks from taking a step back. In five seasons the program has not had a losing record and has been to four bowl games.
While experiencing moderate success like they have is better than losing, when you hire a coach with the resume that Spurrier has you expect to do a bit more. He did not take long getting the Gators nationally ranked and winning the SEC. If he is going to do something in the SEC then the 2010 season will be the year.
Offense
Any offense that returns eight starters should be in good shape, with the more experience on the field the better. For the Gamecocks that experience will hopefully translate into a better offense. In 2009 they ranked 82nd in overall offense and 9th in the SEC. If they are going to have any hopes of competing in the SEC they will have to improve.
First and foremost for the Gamecocks will be the need for quarterback Stephen Garcia to improve. His decision making was not the best in 2009; he barely completed more than half his passes (55%) for 2862 yards. He did throw 17 touchdowns, but also had 10 interceptions. In his high school career at Thomas Jefferson High School in Florida he threw for 8000 yards and 83 touchdowns to go with another 1345 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground so he is capable of much more than he has shown so far.
With the number of experienced players that the team has returning on the line, Garcia should at least have the time he needs to find any of a slew of targets that he has available. Alshon Jeffery, Jason Barnes, Tori Gurley and D.L. Moore are all prototypical wide receivers standing at least six-foot-four. In one year of college play Jeffery has already begun to stand out, with 46 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns. Incoming running back Marcus Lattimore could easily supplant returning starter Kenny Miles. Miles ran for 626 yards on 117 carries last year.
Defense
If the offense can get it together the defense will certainly do its part to keep the Gamecocks in contention. Last season the team ranked 15th in the nation in overall defense and third in the SEC. Even though they will have to replace a few starters the unit should still be in pretty good shape.
The front four will be the strength of the team and will give the new starters time to get acclimated. Defensive End Cliff Matthews has been consistently improving. Last season the 47 tackles and seven sacks were enough to garner all-conference honors. Mathews will likely be an all-conference player again. Mathews along with Ladi Ajiboye and Travian Robertson at the tackles and Devin Taylor at the other end should make it hard for anyone to run against the Gamecocks.
If the secondary can actually improve off of last year than the SEC may see a new power rising in South Carolina. Last season the group was eighth best in the nation against the pass. With only one starter to replace, there is no reason to think it will not be as good if not better than before.
Spurrier has not had the recruiting muscle at South Carolina as he had at Florida and his time in the NFL probably took some of the shine off his name. However, he is still a quality coach and will get the most there is out of the players he has.
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