Previewing Ole Miss / Gameday Open Thread
by Gamecock Man on Oct 3, 2008 8:32 PM EDT
in Football
64 comments
South Carolina Gamecocks at Mississippi Rebels, Oct 4, 2008 2:00 PM EDT
Too old to win a fight with a rabid rooster.
Below are my three keys to victory against the Rebels. As always, stay tuned for cocknfire's FIVE REASONS and please hold forth with your comments in the open thread. If everything goes according to plan, I'm going to be watching on 360, so I'll have regular updates for everyone.
Keep Playing Good Defense
The Gamecocks currently have one of the best statistical defenses in the country, and unless the offense does an about-face tomorrow, we need the defense to continue to play well. The first key is to contain Dexter McCluster and friends when they go out of the Wild Rebel. McCluster will get his yards, but we can't allow the Rebels to chalk up any big plays when they try to trick us with misdirection. Having coached at MSU, Ellis Johnson knows Houston Nutt's game and should have us ready to play a disciplined ball game.
The second key is to pressure Jevan Snead. Snead is a good QB, but he's been a bit mistake-prone so far this year, so I say we get in his face and force him to play the game of his life just to keep from throwing an interception. If we can force a couple of turnovers on the Rebels early, we could take a commanding lead and Ole Miss will be hard-pressed to make a comeback against our defense.
Offensive Line Play
I must sound like a broken record at this point when I talk about line play, but protection is KEY to any chance of success against this team. Ole Miss has a defensive line with a number of future NFL talents, so expect the Rebs to bring pressure. First of all, we need to establish some sort of running game. This will open up the potential for vertical throws.
Second of all, we've gotta pick up the pass rush; anyone who saw what Mississippi's front four did to Tebow last week knows that they're capable of bringing it to us. Too much pressure will equal bad throws from Smelley, and that will mean horrible turnovers which might cost us the game. However, if we can establish the run and pick up the pass rush, we will have some good matchups against the Rebel secondary, and I have confidence in Chris's ability to find his receivers if we give him time, especially if Kenny sees time tomorrow.
Open up the Play Book
Since we exploited the middle of the field during the second half of the Georgia game, the range of plays on offense with Smelley under center has been pretty limited, mostly involving screen passes to the RBs, hitches to our wideouts, and various short-in or out throws to Jared Cook. Simply put, we need a little more variety--we keep hearing about how Garcia doesn't know the play book, but we rarely see evidence that Smelley is willing to do much with all of his knowledge.
Granted, we need to establish the run if we want the offense to open up. Chris said it best after the Wofford game: it's hard to go vertical when the opposing defense is sitting back in prevent packages, knowing that you can't run the ball well enough to take advantage. So, this key goes hand in hand with the previous one. If we get good line play, especially run blocking, we can probably open up the field for a little excitement.
The other component to success here is finding some way to use Garcia even if Smelley plays a good game. Garcia has the ability to come in and make the Rebels second guess themselves, and we need to exploit that.
At any rate, we've had a couple of weeks playing against lower-tier opponents, and you have to believe that the Ol' Ball Coach has been coming up with a game plan for Ole Miss. The Rebels, on the other hand, have been slugging it out with Vandy and Florida, so we should have an edge up on preparation.
Prediction
This looked like a tough game at the beginning of the year, and after seeing Ole Miss take down the mighty Gators, it looks even scarier. On the flip side of things, this is a chance to turn the season around, to end our SEC losing streak and show that we're in it for the long haul this season. I really, really think we need this game, because it's hard to see us getting more than six or seven wins if we don't win tomorrow. If we can get at least an efficient, low turnover offensive performance and keep playing defense like we have all season, I think we can win, probably with a margin close to 24-17. However, if we don't do those things, this could get ugly quick. Houston Nutt will eat us alive if we give him the short field.
By the way, South Carolina hasn't beaten Ole Miss since joining the SEC, so our SEC losing streak won't be the only history we're working against in this game.
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TD Ole Miss...
Rebels up by 7.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not the best start by our D...
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like this I formation...
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Carolina FG...
We needed the TD on that drive.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If this turns into Arkansas 07...
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wild Rebel/Hog = death for the Gamecocks...
maybe Nix wasn’t the problem after all.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
False start could ruin our biggest play so far this year...
We need to go vertical more.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
TD Smelley to Barnes...
Huge play! Smelley is playing well so far.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gamecocks TD!!! Pepper returns a fumble! 17-14 Cocks!
Didn’t slow down this time!
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Takeaways -- good idea
We need to do that more
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No kidding...
We need another score here. The defense is settling in, and it would be good to give them a TD lead to work with.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
RB Situation
Is Bobby Wallace getting any carries?
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
he has 18 or so on 2 carries. He’s playing well.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Okay, so it looks like my 21-20 might be a good call for halftime
We have an offense. Who knew?
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Glad I have XM
ESPN GameCast is screwy. Akeem Auguste had a 73-yard kick return for a minute there.
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m following on Rivals.com GameChannel (yahoo!), now. It’s doing a pretty good job of updating…
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What happened on the missed FG?
Just a bad kick or what?
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Halftime thoughts...
Our offense is playing well. The line is giving Smelley some protection, and he’s been on the mark for the most part. The play where he overthrew Jared Cook on 3rd and 1 hurt us though. Cook was wide open. Cost us at least 3 points, probably more. But if Smelley keeps it up, we’ll have a chance to win this game. And I like the mobility Smelley is showing.
Difference between these two offenses, though? Ole Miss scores TDs, we settle for FGs. We’ve spent more time in their territory than they have in ours.
Missed FG by Succop hurts. We needed him to be perfect today.
Defense has settled in to some degree after an awful first quarter, but they need to put more pressure on Snead. On the two third down conversions on Mississippi’s last TD drive, Snead had all day to throw the ball with no one anywhere near him.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FG...
Just a bad kick. It was from the left hash mark, and he kicked it wide right.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
First-half thoughts
Where is the defense? Ole Miss picked up 233 yards, Jevan Snead looked like “Good Jevan,” and the scoring drives were of 76, 72 and 65 yards.
Not bad on offense. Total yardage: 197. Smelley was mediocre, and we still can’t generate any kind of rushing offense.
Play calling. Not sure I’m crazy about running out the clock at the end. Sure, we’re getting the ball back after halftime and you don’t want to rush things and make a mistake. But this is shaping up to be a shootout, and I don’t like giving up the ball without trying to score.
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Another things...
We should run the ball more. We were having some success on the ground, but went back to our typical pass-on-every-down philosophy at the end of the half.
You know what’s ridiculous about this game? Our offense is finally playing a decent game, and yet our defense gives out. They need to pick it up in the second half.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Smelley...
Is actually playing quite well, I think. He had one bad throw (one that admittedly hurt us quite a bit), but other than that he’s played well and, just as importantly, he’s played smart. He’s thrown the ball away when he’s needed to and he’s avoided a sack here and there by scrambling.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but 7-of-15 won't cut it
He needs to get his completion percentage up
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last drive...
I think we would’ve tried to score again if not for the return penalty. As it was we had the ball on the fifteen yard line. It would’ve taken a huge play to get into scoring position.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You're right...
But he’s had to deal with a couple of drops. Saunders dropped a sure seven or eight yard catch on the drive when Ryan missed the FG.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ahh...I was always wondering what this "reply" thing is for. Heh.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You gotta admit...
Ole Missy has some serious playmakers on offense. That Hodge is a great receiver.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many combined yards of penalties on that one? 25 or so?
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
Something like that. I think Captain brought it back to between the 35 and 40, and we ended up with the ball on the 15. That hurt us. It was one of those stupid return holds that occur needlessly away from the ball.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding...
Def. right call.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm so glad Smelley is smarter than Garcia
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
stupid, stupid throw. inexplicable.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our secondary
seems like it is being exposed.
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that was the biggest gift we've ever gotten.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you don't mind,
what happened exactly?
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Miss receiver caught the ball but fumbled as he was taken down.
And E. Cook returned it about fifty yards. Most of the Ole Miss team didn’t know what was going on, leading to Cook’s big return.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
FG won’t do here.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we've ever needed our line to step up...
now’s the time.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you're getting the game a couple of plays earlier than me.
Anyways, HUGE play.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
End of third, 24-21 Gamecocks...
Our defense needs to step up now. Ole Miss is moving the ball at will.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Secondary is not playing well...
I thought this was one of our strengths?
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They've held Ole Miss to 199 passing yards
But they’ve definitely been shaky
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How do you feel about Smelley now, Brandon?
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel he's done a lot better in the 2nd half
I still think there are times, though, when better mobility would have served him well
by cocknfire on Oct 4, 2008 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he's done pretty well. No complaints if we win.
We need a first down or two. Run a few minutes off the clock and don’t do anything stupid.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, at least you didn't jinx us!
So, where did that offense come from? Was that the legendary Cock’n’Fire, or at least spurts of it? Anyways, for a week at least I don’t foresee much criticism of Spurrier’s decisions. This was a great performance. We got a little luck, but we did the right thing with it.
Anyways, I’m off to the sports bar to eat some wings and watch Auburn-Vandy. Have a good night, Brandon. Enjoy a rare SEC victory. Hopefully the first in a streak!
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feels good to win.
Thanks for the updates fellas.
by The Feathered Warrior on Oct 4, 2008 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for stopping by, Feathered Warrior. Come back again.
And yeah, it feels REALLY good. It’s been a long time since we’ve won a close game against a good team. This win means something.
Go Cocks!
by Gamecock Man on Oct 4, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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