News Article: South Carolina preview: Gamecocks are tough, but do they have enough weapons?

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South Carolina preview: Gamecocks are tough, but do they have enough weapons?
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 12, 2009

The last two weeks, Alabama has faced middle-tier SEC teams. In both matchups, Alabama came away with hard-fought wins in enemy territory.

Alabama returns home to face yet another supposed middle-tier SEC team, South Carolina. The catch? South Carolina is currently no worse than the SEC’s fourth-best team.

Steve Spurrier was never supposed to be able to build a consistent winner at South Carolina – it’s just not done – but the 2009 Gamecocks are trying hard to prove that the experts might have had it all wrong. The Gamecocks have, for the most part, done a good job on defense and have minimized the pressure to win put on their quarterback, Stephen Garcia. It also doesn’t hurt that South Carolina has been the beneficiary of a lot of favorable bounces and opponents’ bad injury luck.

Spurrier, who has always been a quote machine, says he likes his team’s chances against Alabama. But if South Carolina doesn’t improve 100 percent over its performance against Kentucky, Alabama will win this one with room to spare.


OFFENSE

What South Carolina does in practice is a far cry from the Fun ‘N’ Gun offense Spurrier used at Florida. In theory, it still exists: Timing routes, fade passes and downfield attempts coupled with enough running to keep the linebackers honest. In 2009, it’s added up to equal mediocrity. South Carolina is 57th in rushing and 61st in passing for a total offense ranking of 63rd. The issue is with the offensive line, which wasn’t good at the front of the year and has been hit hard by injuries. USC’s offensive production basically rests on the shoulders of Garcia and his ability to create. Alabama counters with an offense that is slowly developing into a shotgun-and-Pistol-based attack that has made effective use of skill-position weapons and covers up inexperience in the offensive line. The Crimson Tide is among the best running teams in the country.


QUARTERBACKS
Lost in the hype over Ryan Mallett and Tim Tebow – or the emergence of Greg McElroy or the slide of Jevan Snead – has been the emergence of Stephen Garcia at South Carolina. Garcia’s numbers almost mirror those of McElroy’s (Garcia is 109-of-178, 61.2%, for 1,268 yards, 9 TD and 3 INT; McElroy is 93-of-153, 60.8%, for 1,233 yards, 9 TD and 1 INT). Garcia also gives South Carolina the added benefit of scrambling ability. While McElroy is not slow afoot, Garcia is a true dual-threat. Garcia’s raw numbers are slightly better than McElroy’s, but the major difference is that McElroy makes better decisions. Each team’s backup quarterback is a redshirt freshman with limited experience (Reid McCollum for South Carolina, Star Jackson for Alabama). The Tide has better depth at the third level back than does USC. Garcia figures to get some yardage on scrambles but he is also prone to make more mistakes in the face of pressure. Alabama gets the edge here in a surprisingly close call. Advantage: Alabama

RUNNING BACKS
The running game has been hit-or-miss for South Carolina this year. Arguably the Gamecocks’ most productive back, true freshman Jarvis Giles (42 carries, 245 yards, 5.8 avg., 1 TD) is a slight back that survives on speed and defensive confusion arising from the playcall. Giles splits time with Kenny Miles, who has similar stats to Giles, and is even smaller in build. Brian Maddox is the beef of the operation at 5’11”, 225 pounds, but is averaging just 3.1 yards on 54 carries. Fullback Patrick DeMarco occasionally gets a carry (7 carries, 21 yards, 3.0 avg., 0 TD) but is primarily a blocking back when he plays. Alabama counters with Mark Ingram, who by himself has carried for almost as many yards as Giles, Miles and Maddox put together for South Carolina. Ingram has rushed 111 times for 659 yards (5.9 avg.) and 7 touchdowns. Couple him with Trent Richardson (60 carries, 344 yards, 5.7 avg., 4 TD), Roy Upchurch and Terry Grant, and the comparison is almost unfair. Alabama doesn’t use a fullback, but H-backs Preston Dial and Baron Huber sometimes line up as such. This one isn’t close. Advantage: Alabama

WIDE RECEIVERS
South Carolina’s group has been surprisingly good in 2009 and is probably the key reason for the Gamecocks’ success. True freshman Alshon Jeffery had somewhat of a coming-out party against Kentucky; 4 of his 12 catches this year have gone for touchdowns. Moe Brown (21 catches, 316 yards, 15.0 avg., 2 TD) has game-breaking speed, while Dion LeCorn, Tori Gurley and Jason Barnes round out the top group along with D.L. Moore. Fullback Patrick DeMarco also gets a lot of work out of the backfield. Tight end could be a problem spot for South Carolina. Starter Weslye Saunders was having a solid year (14 catches, 156 yards, 11.1 avg., 0 TD) but suffered a sprained ankle two weeks ago and missed the Kentucky game. There’s no word on whether he’ll return to face Alabama. If he’s not available, Justice Cunningham (1 catch, 9 yards, 0 TD) will get the start and be backed up by Foxy Foxworth and Mike Triglia. Alabama counters with a group that has put in solid work all season. Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks form the front line of the receiver corps, with Mike McCoy, Earl Alexander and Brandon Gibson the next wave. Colin Peek has become a dangerous weapon at tight end, and H-back Preston Dial is also involved in the passing game. Provided Jones is starting to get over his myriad small injuries, Alabama should have the edge here, particularly with Saunders limping for South Carolina. Advantage: Alabama

OFFENSIVE LINE
South Carolina’s line has done a good job this year – but this line still isn’t very good. Left tackle Jarriel King is the best of an otherwise nondescript lot, and now there are injuries to think about as well. Center Garrett Anderson missed the Kentucky game and probably won’t start against Alabama, at least, as he nurses a bad back. In his absence, veteran journeyman Lemuel Jeanpierre will get the call. Guard Heath Batchelor is serviceable, but freshman T.J. Johnson starts at left guard in place of the injured Terrence Campbell. Right tackle Hutch Eckerson is prone to problems from speed rushers. Alabama’s group had issues last week with a tough Ole Miss defensive line, but has been reasonably solid so far in 2009. Center William Vlachos, guard Mike Johnson and tackle James Carpenter form a solid left side of the line, while right tackle Drew Davis is quietly having an all-SEC-type year. Right guard Barrett Jones will be good at some point in the future, but right now is getting an education from veteran SEC defensive linemen. Depth strongly favors Alabama to the point it’s not even worth the time to discuss. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSE

South Carolina’s front seven was expected to be among the tops in the league, but an injury to Travian Robertson hurt the defensive line considerably and it’s actually been a young secondary that has carried the torch for the Gamecocks. Rush defense numbers are middling in nature (54th), while the pass defense ranks 6th. South Carolina employs a hybrid 4-2-5 scheme that features a “Spur” safety position, but it gives up some strength against top rushing offenses. Alabama’s 3-4 over/under defense continues to be too much for most offenses to handle, despite injury concerns up front.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Defensive ends Clifton Geathers and Cliff Matthews have been solid for the Gamecocks, especially Matthews, who has racked up 4 sacks. Backup Devin Taylor is a load at 6’7”, 235, and he is also developing into a key pass rusher. The tackle positions are in the hands of Ladi Ajiboye and Nathan Pepper now that Robertson is out for the year. Melvin Ingram is the top backup. If Alabama can control Matthews, things should be fine. Ajiboye and Pepper and decent tackles inside, but they don’t make much noise as pass rushers. Alabama counters with a group that has been simply dominant in 2009. Terrence Cody, Lorenzo Washington and Brandon Deaderick make up a virtually impenetrable starting group, but Marcel Dareus is the name to watch. Luther Davis, Josh Chapman and Kerry Murphy also figure to get a lot of time, along with Nick Gentry if South Carolina goes to a spread look. While Alabama has to account for Matthews, South Carolina has to account for everyone in the Bama group. Advantage: Alabama

LINEBACKERS
Eric Norwood’s stat line so far in 2009 is incredible: 38 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 6 sacks for a loss of 41 yards, 2 interceptions, 5 QB hurries, 2 blocked kicks and 1 forced fumble. Aside from the forced fumble stat, where DE Cliff Matthews leads the team with 2, Norwood’s other numbers lead the team in each category. Norwood’s running mate, however, was knocked out after one game when Rodney Paulk suffered a season-ending knee injury. Transfer Josh Dickerson now starts next to Norwood, but he’s not in Paulk’s league and certainly not in Norwood’s. Shaq Wilson plays a lot in nickel sets, enough to be the team’s second-leading tackler despite not starting, but he doesn’t make many plays behind the line of scrimmage. Tony Slaughter adds depth. Alabama’s lineup figures to look different for the fourth straight week. Here’s what is known: Eryk Anders will start at the Jack position, and Rolando McClain, who is every bit Norwood’s equal, will start inside. The other two positions are unknown. Cory Reamer, who had the best game of his life against Ole Miss, likely gets the OLB position in the 3-4 alignment and will play inside in nickel sets. Either freshman Nico Johnson or sophomore Jerrell Harris figures to start at the other inside position, formerly held by Dont'a Hightower. Harris has been suspended for the first half of the season after receiving some kind of improper benefit. Johnson looks like a star of the future but played with his head on a swivel against Ole Miss and needs seasoning. Harris was Reamer’s backup at OLB last year but moved inside during fall drills and looked good. It’s anyone’s guess as to which player will get the call. As for the comparison, Norwood and McClain cancel out, and after that, Alabama’s group is stronger than what’s left on the South Carolina side. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSIVE BACKS
South Carolina is mostly young here, but the results have been out of sight. True freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore has served notice that he’ll be a star of the future in the SEC. Sophomore C.C. Whitlock starts opposite him. The safeties have a bit more experience; strong safety Darian Stewart is a senior, but it’s junior safety Chris Culliver around whom the secondary rotates. Sophomore Antonio Allen starts at the Spur safety position, but another true freshman, Damario Jeffery, will see plenty of action. True freshmen also dot the depth chart at other positions. But even with such inexperience, South Carolina ranks 6th in raw pass defense and a respectable 36th in pass efficiency defense. What they don’t do is intercept passes. Linebacker Eric Norwood leads the team with 2, while Gilmore has 1. That’s it. Alabama’s secondary played lights-out against Ole Miss and continues to get better with every game. Safeties Justin Woodall, Mark Barron and Robby Green have gotten more solid by the week, while the cornerback trio of Javier Arenas, Marquis Johnson and Kareem Jackson are good enough to allow the defensive staff to run complex blitz patterns at opposing offenses without fear of giving up too many big plays. This one is actually a pretty close call, but Alabama has been slightly better at limiting big plays than has South Carolina. Neither team is likely to give up a lot of ground. Advantage: Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker Leigh Tiffin had a career day against Ole Miss, going 5-for-5 on field goals and being solid on his kickoffs. Punter P.J. Fitzgerald is having a good year as well – and is also putting his athleticism as a former high school quarterback to good use, having executed two fakes in the last two weeks – but there are issues. For one, even though Fitzgerald is 2nd in the SEC in gross punting, Alabama is only 105th nationally in net punting. Some of that is due to coverage issues, but a lot of it is due to Fitzgerald’s inability to kick directionally, leading to many punts going into the end zone for touchbacks. Javier Arenas continues to be dangerous on kick returns, but Alabama still isn’t covering kicks well. South Carolina, meanwhile, has been mostly solid. Kick and punt returns are average, while punter Spencer Lanning is just behind Fitzgerald in SEC punting statistics. Lanning also serves as the placekicker, and he has missed just one kick in 2009. South Carolina covers kicks and punts much better than Alabama, however, and that is the difference here. It’s close, but Alabama has got to start executing better on special teams. Advantage: South Carolina


OVERALL

Alabama leads in seven categories, South Carolina in one. Alabama also leads strongly in the matchup of its DL vs. the South Carolina OL. The matchup of South Carolina DL vs. Alabama OL is probably a push.

South Carolina has mostly been winning with smoke and mirrors. It also doesn’t hurt to have a wily vet like Steve Spurrier calling the plays. But in terms of raw talent, Alabama is far ahead of South Carolina in terms of linemen, and the skill positions represent a stalemate at worst.

Alabama must guard against looking ahead to Tennessee most of all. South Carolina’s offensive talent isn’t great, but the receivers are above average and Garcia is progressing nicely. The Gamecock defense isn’t terribly opportunistic, but South Carolina isn’t far off Ole Miss in terms of ability and the Rebels held the Alabama offense mostly in check. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward also would like to make his mark by spoiling a Tide title run.

Look for Alabama to win this game much the same way it defeated Ole Miss, by wearing down the thinner front seven of the Gamecocks and causing confusion with its own defense. For South Carolina to get an upset, Alabama would have to have a complete special teams meltdown and turn the ball over several times. It’s not likely, but it’s not impossible.

However, the far more likely bet is for Alabama to come out of this game with its seventh win of the season, and then shift its focus to a Tennessee team that is getting better but still could go off the ledge easily with the help of a good shove.

Alabama 27
South Carolina 14