Auburn at South Carolina Postgame: We Need to Change Some Things
by Gamecock Man on Oct 2, 2011 3:32 PM EDT
in South Carolina Gamecocks Football
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PrintThere's one thing that jumps out at me more than anything else about South Carolina's 13-16 loss to Auburn yesterday afternoon. Marcus Lattimore ran the ball 17 times for only 66 yards against what was previously one of the worst rushing defenses in the country. This is partially because Auburn stacked the box and bottled him up, but it's also because we chose not to run the ball. In a drive in the middle of the fourth quarter after C.C. Whitlock came up with a big pick in the endzone, we ran the ball with Lattimore once. That run resulted in a first down. After that first down, we tried to throw the ball three times. Two resulted in incompletions and one in a sack. This was on a late series after a momentum-building defensive play at a time in the game when Lattimore usually shines.
In a nutshell, I think Steve Spurrier's choice not to give Lattimore the chance the lead us to victory in the fourth quarter cost us this game. You can blame Stephen Garcia all you want, and certainly he didn't play well. However, he didn't play any worse than he usually does; actually, I was pleased to see him make some nice plays with his feet. This team's issue isn't just QB play. It's also an identity crisis. We need to accept who we are--a running team. We have all the more reason to accept that identity now that our defense is playing well. If we don't, we're going to lose a few more games, because we simply don't have the quarterbacking--unless Connor Shaw comes in and shows us some things against Kentucky--to be the downfield passing team Spurrier wants us to be.
A few more thoughts on this game after the jump.
--Hats off to our defense. I know a lot of folks a probably steamed about giving up that conversion on 3rd-and-13, but the defense played a great game. Not many teams will hold Auburn to 16 points, especially when the defense spends so much time on the field. The defense did its part. As usual, Melvin Ingram lead the way with another herculean effort.
--Needless to say, I do think we will see Shaw next week. I'm certainly ready for the change.
--Notice that Auburn didn't have any qualms about going to its workhorse runninback, Michael Dyer. Dyer had 41 carries. Carolina bottled Dyer up for large portions of the afternoon, but he made some key runs late in the game to help Auburn win. Spurrier could certainly learn a thing or two from Gus Malzahn.
--I still can't believe the officials didn't let us wear the Wounded Warrior gear. Here's the official statement from Under Armor:
"Under Armour and the University of South Carolina are proud to support the Wounded Warrior Project. As part of this annual tradition to honor the men and women who sacrifice for our nation, the Gamecocks were outfitted in special jerseys, shoes, pants, gloves, helmets and wrist bands paying tribute to our troops. During pre-game warm-ups, SEC officials expressed some concern about the visibility of the numerals on the jerseys. As a result, the Gamecocks will be wearing the special jerseys in warm-ups only and will wear their standard home jerseys during the game" said Matt Mirchin, SVP, Global Sports Marketing, Under Armour.
Seems a bit nitpicky to me.
That's a wrap on this one. There's obviously more to be said about this game, but honestly, I'm a bit too emotionally exhausted to even try. Let's just say this team needs to get it together quick, and that starts with the coaches.
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The officials managed to screw up pre-game and post-game
In between, they couldn’t tie their shoes without a five minute conference. Horrible day for the striped shirts.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Oct 2, 2011 5:36 PM EDT reply actions
Seems like we've had to deal with a lot of that lately.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
We have the weapons....we need a leader.
First off, let me take my hat off to Melvin Ingram and Antonio Allen for the incredible effort they put into yesterdays contest. The defense as a whole really looked great. They were wore out on the last drive and how can we blame them? They were on the field all game, busting their butts!
What I am having a hard time with is the offensive play calling. Obviously, Stephen Garcia is terrible and NO one with any kind of football petigree would allow him to start another game ever again. However, the play calling thus far has been puzzling. Opposing defenses are doing what we all knew they were going to do. They are loading up the box so Lattimore has no where to go. Even Spurrier said, after we just barely pulled out the win last week, that we needed to be running more sweeps and pitches outside of the tackles. So why haven’t we? What did we run, two yesterday? We have the best running back in the country and we can’t find a way to create openings for him.
Steve Spurrier has been the huge attraction when it comes to recruiting. We probably do not have any of these incredible weapons without his presence. However, I am beginning to believe that the game has passed him by and we may need to look at someone else who can make the most out of this talent, before we lose to the ability to recruit more of it!
Agree and Disagree
I agree to an extent. I thought the same thing yesterday in the 4th with either the drive before or the 2nd drive before Auburn took the lead. I wondered why we were throwing and not really giving Lattimore a shot to make something happen…plus eat some clock time. But I don’t know if it’s an identity crisis like you described. We clearly understood we were a running team when we played Navy a few weeks ago. I think the issue is our coaches (and I guess mainly Spurrier since he calls the plays) don’t seem to stick with what works. Look at your example you gave…Lattimore was able to run and get a 1st, and then we proceeded to throw on the next 3 plays and have to punt. Why when the run worked did we all of a sudden switch to 3 pass plays? Why not run it at least once more? But another instant I’m thinking of was I think in the 3rd. I think it was one of the (many) drives from our 10 yard line. Garcia threw a short pass (maybe 5 yards?) to Ellington and he made some guys miss and turned it into like a 15-20 yard play. We then proceeded to run Lattimore up the middle on the next 3 plays, which Auburn shut down every time, so we had to punt. Why didn’t we try another quick short pass and see if we could pick up a quick 5 yards (or maybe even more if the receiver makes something happen)? Anyways, that whole game I kept thinking to myself that saying “insanity is doing something over and over and expecting a different result.” I felt like we were doing the same old same old over and over and over and expecting it to actually work at some point. Hopefully changes will be made this week, because Kentucky is a great opportunity to work in a new QB.
you see the way Spurrier mumbles to himself during the press conferences?
he is most definitely insane lol.
Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.
All is not well
It is all of the above to an extent. We cannot move forward without looking at the basics of all football from little league to the NFL and that is the core. I am speaking of the big nasties up front. We will continue to have problems from running and throwing no matter who it is if they don’t allow for time to cut or drop back and see the field I don’t care if Montana himself is there its not going to get done period. Our lineman have not showed up yet. With missed assignments and the stupid penalties. Those boys got whooped all night to a sorry defensive line. Our superstars are not getting the extra time they need to perform there jobs including Garcia. I do believe Elliot will find a way to fix this but until then no personnel changes will make a huge difference.
Absolutely
As bad as Garcia has been, no qb can succeed with the line we have. How many 4th and less than a yard have we wiffed on this year and against Vandy? The dline from au spent the enitre evening in the backfield. Garcia, or Lattimore for that matter did not have a chance. You can not run in the SEC w/o an offensive line, period.
by wilmywoodcock on Oct 3, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
The most inexplicable part of this game to me
Was the fact that Lattimore didn’t carry the ball more, especially once SC had the lead. If auburn doesn’t get beaten into submission they are too experienced at finding unlikely ways to win. Unfortunately you guys got to experience the voodoo again Saturday.
"So I want everybody to think here for a second, how much does this game mean to you? 'Cause if it means something to you, you can't stand still. You understand? You play fast! You play strong! You go out there and dominate the man you're playing against, and you make his ass quit! That's our trademark! That's our M.O.... as a team! That's what people know us as!" - Coach Nick Saban before the 2008 LSU game.
by 12NationalChampionships on Oct 3, 2011 8:22 AM EDT reply actions
Agreed. I know they were stacking the box, but as someone else said, why don't we try to run laterally?
It’s obvious the passing game isn’t going to get it done, and if we run, at least we bleed the clock.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Oct 3, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
RE: Lateral running
I’m not sure we have the athletes on the offensive line, at the TE position, or at FB (do we even have a FB? Have we run out of the I at all this season?) to run a lot of that kind of stuff. In order to be effective at running around the tackles you have to have speed at your guard and center positions so that they can pull and get in front of a run. Nunn being out hurt us on Saturday as well, as the shifts to cover that LT position started to remind me of the pre-Elliot Chinese Fire Drill o-lines.
Community Manager for Stumptown Footy
by William Duke on Oct 3, 2011 11:23 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Yeah, you're probably right. I'd at least like to see us try some of it, though. We already know the passing game stinks.
And yeah, I sure hope Nunn is able to get back soon. Matulis and Gibson aren’t ready.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Oct 3, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Here are some of my thoughts.
Antonio Allen – I really haven’t looked too much at the tape. But this guy just seems to be making a lot of big plays. I don’t really know so much about how well he does in pass coverage, but he has made an impact in at least 3 of our 5 games. He had the fumble strip against ECU, and INT vs UGA and I saw him make some really good tackles on Saturday.
Melvin Ingram for Heisman. It won’t happen, but I’m going to start campaigning nonetheless. He’s a D-Lineman, so it’s nearly impossible, and this team doesn’t really have the pedigree for a heisman winner. Sorry Marcus. but number 6 is a beast.
Our Defense is playing really, really well. I have no room to whine about them giving up that TD. As someone else said, holding Auburn to 16 points is pretty darn good. And I even commented that after 89 plays on the field the D had to be tired.
Garcia – just frustrates me. And maybe he made those last two completions because Auburn was in a prevent defense. But I think he wants to win. You can see it with his plays with his legs. He wants to make a big play. Maybe that’s the problem, he gets overexcited for these pass plays and overthrows receivers. I have no idea how to get him to settle down. the play-calling doesn’t seem to help his case and after 2 more interceptions I am ready to see Shaw. No need to get personal, this is a football decision and it’s time to give someone else a shot.
C.C. Whitlock. Great job on coming down with both those interceptions, but please don’t waste that effort and the return with a fumble.
Thankfully, Our schedule doesn’t include Bama and LSU. Let’s be realistic here. The toughest games left are Florida, Arkansas and Clemson. And our defense will give us a chance to win every single game. We might even find a way to win without throwing the ball before we play Arky/UF. I don’t really care if we just run Ellington/Gillmore out of the wild cock for every play on offense. Just as long as we don’t turn the ball over.
- FOW
Auburn-SC
Lattimore only had 17 carries for 66 yds. = 3.88 yrds per carrry. hmmm 3 X 3.88 = 11.64 yrds. first downs are 10. hmmmmm also did not see a lot of passes to lattimore as in the past nor screens and flank passes as in the past. Now I have a lot of respect for Coach Spurrier, he does not have a run and gun style passing game. He HAS a running game augmented by short passes. I hope we have not thrown the baby out with the water!!! I believe there is a lot of blame to go around and Garcia does not need to be the punch bag. Had Lattimore carried the ball 34 times as he has in the past, hmmm 66 more yards rushing……………… Things would have been different. I’m just saying………….
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