South Carolina Gamecocks Spring Practice: Not Much Progress at QB Position?

by Gamecock Man on Mar 28, 2011 11:13 AM EDT in South Carolina Gamecocks Football

Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks scrimmaged over the weekend, and the results weren't promising at the QB position. Neither had a particularly great scrimmage, with Connor Shaw struggling quite a bit. As Travis Haney reports,

Senior Stephen Garcia, in his first scrimmage action since his suspension last week, was 5 for 13 for 51 yards with a 26-yard touchdown strike to DeAngelo Smith in the back left corner of the end zone.

Backup Connor Shaw was often shaky in his decision-making, going 4 for 14 for 47 yards and an interception on a deep ball. He did make one nice throw on an out route to Lamar Scruggs, a 14-yard pickup as he was getting hit.

It probably won't surprise anyone that Spurrier was less than impressed:

As Spurrier heard Garcia and Shaw's stats, he repeated them and sort of rolled his eyes.

"I wish one of them would just hit them all and take his steps and throw it when he's supposed to," Spurrier said. "That doesn't happen. That's why we'll probably run the ball about 50 times a game, hopefully, with Marcus (Lattimore) and Kenny Miles and Eric Baker."

He had particularly harsh words for Shaw's tendency to look to run.

Garcia's struggles may owe somewhat to the fact that he's just now getting back in the swing of things after sitting out the first week of practice. Shaw, though, has had time to settle in, so a performance like this cannot be so easily excused. Unfortunately for those of us hoping he would be ready to push Garcia for a starting position, Shaw hardly looked ready for major game action in this scrimmage. He still has a ways to go, which has me thinking that it's unlikely that we'll see anyone other than Garcia in most important situations next year. As I've said before, I think that's a shame.

The good news out of spring practice so far? I've only heard positive reports about our defense, and Kenny Miles and Eric Baker have both looked solid backing up Marcus Lattimore. Baker's story is particularly noteworthy. Given up for dead last year after his struggles with injury, Baker now appears to be ready to make a contribution as a backup RB. I was impressed with his play in 2008, and we certainly need stability behind Lattimore in case of injury, so I'm glad to see he's coming back to full strength.

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It baffles me that the QB position continues to plague a Spurrier-coached team.

by Uhaul on Mar 28, 2011 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

No kidding. It's getting a bit ridiculous. I really expected Shaw to show more improvement than this.

The line on Garcia has always been that he’s not a “student of the game.” Well, Shaw is supposedly an exceptional student, and he seems to be having the same problems as Garcia. That suggests that the players aren’t the problem. What gives, Spurrier?

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Mar 28, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe Spurrier's offense is too complex for them to react instead of think ...

… or maybe they’re just not putting the time in that is necessary. It’s hard to blame them with all the school work they probably have. I’m going to reserve judgment on Shaw ‘til Spring classes end, and he’s had time to learn and train full time for a couple months. If he’s serious about playing football, he’ll be out there in May, June, and July doing nothing but practicing passing the ball and reading defenses. When Carolina isn’t holding a practice, he can find some high school team or rec team to practice with. Either he puts the time in and gets better, or we may need to start looking at McEvoy post-Garcia.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Mar 28, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Im thinkin Dylan Thompson

before McEvoy… Thompson has shown tremendous growth. Coaches have done nothing but praise him.

by Gamecockrock on Mar 28, 2011 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe ...

… I hope it’s more than tremendous growth, ‘cause he was only a two star recruit. If a guy like that can work hard and surpass all our other options, I’d have all the respect for his abilities in the world.

I’m just not very interested in smaller quarterbacks at this point. I know some of them can do very well, and the best passer should definitely get the job regardless of his size, but I’d just prefer a tall guy like McEvoy if he works out. I want a dude who can see over the lines, and pass the ball without worrying every time it might be going straight to a defender. Some of our quarterbacks seriously could’ve used some Flintstones vitamins when they were younger. Should we run out there and put phone books down for them to stand on? I just don’t know the answer.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Mar 28, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, no doubt I like the taller QB

especially with what we have become accustomed to in the SEC (guys like Mallet and Newton and Tebow). And dont take much stock in a QB’s star rating as a recruit, most QB’s are 3 star guys… 4 stars is considered top of the line kinda players.

by Gamecockrock on Mar 28, 2011 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Just give me someone who knows how the hell to go through his progressions.

For Christ’s sake!

by Uhaul on Mar 28, 2011 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

I can handle Shaw's struggles a lot better than I can stomach a RS Sr's.

That said, the D is always ahead of the O at this point, but SG is doing nothing to indicate this season will be any different than another up and down one in terms of his performances. I’d love to know how much individual extra work our QBs and WRs put in outside of practice time. Whatever it is, it isn’t enough. Or, like has been said above, it ain’t about our throwers and catchers, but something with the schemes and coaching.

by Skulls and Spurs on Mar 28, 2011 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe its just Spurrier being Spurrier

I heard a remark (attributed to Saban) that when you coach against Spurrier, you have to coach against him – not just the typical chess-match, but meaning you have to coach against what Spurrier would do if he was the QB. And therein lies the explanation – Spurrier judges Garcia and Shaw against what Spurrier would do if he was on the field and they’re coming up short. Go figure.

He’s done this to all our QBs – e.g., Mitchell, Smelley and Garcia. I’ve said before I think this is Spurrier’s Achilles heel in recruiting a top QB – the top QBs just dont want to deal with this aspect of Spurrier’s personality. Fortunately, I think Spurrier is self-aware of it also, which is why he has so successfully teamed up with Mangus to balance him out (plus Mangus is an amazing recruiter and opening up doors for us in the northeast as an added bonus).

Or maybe its just spring ball, so let the HBC vent.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Mar 29, 2011 7:54 AM EDT reply actions

I agree, Tryptic, but I think it's the numbers that continue to frustrate, note SOS's complaints.

Are the complaints so drastic and continuous that the QBs overthink everything? I dunno. I do believe that the Mangus buffer is evidence of Spurrier’s self-awareness, as you said.

by Skulls and Spurs on Mar 29, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions