East Carolina Shorthanded for Season Opener against South Carolina
by Gamecock Man on Aug 24, 2011 1:08 PM EDT
in South Carolina Gamecocks Football
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PrintAs you know, South Carolina will be without a handful of players due to suspension and injury for the season opener, the most notable being DeVonte Holloman (suspension after DUI arrest), Victor Hampton (suspension for undisclosed violations of team rules), and Brison Williams (injury; out for several weeks). Holloman is a team leader and All-SEC possibility at spur, while Hampton and Williams are key reserves in the secondary. While their absence will undoubtedly cost Carolina, particularly against a pass-happy offense that will test our secondary, ECU is suffering itself. It will be without the following players:
WR Justin Jones (knee injury)
WR Michael Bowman (suspension)
CB Emanuel Davis (suspension)
OL Drew Gentry (injury)
DL Leroy Vick (knee injury)
DE John Lattimore (Achilles injury)
Davis, Gentry, and Vick are reserves, but Jones, Bowman, Davis, and Lattimore were each expected to be major contributors. Davis is the biggest loss; he is a two-time All-CUSA selection at CB with solid NFL potential, and he would have likely been the guy ECU pitted against Alshon Jeffery. Bowman is expected to be one of ECU's leading receivers. Jones is a key cog in the receiver rotation and Lattimore was a potential starter at his position. These losses will cost ECU in a game where it will need to be at its absolute best to win.
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Center is a big problem for ECU too.
The guy slated to start has only seen action in one game, against Rice two years ago.
We have great depth at WR so losing Bowman and Jones(all 6’8" of him) doesn’t sting too bad.
Losing Davis hurts bad, real bad, expect Jeffery to come out real big.
Since you're an ECU fan, I've got a question.
To what extent do you think ECU’s Air Raid and the frequent quick, three-step-drop passes will negate USC’s advantage on the defensive line? I feel like our defensive strength is our pass rush, but I know your offense makes sacks difficult to come by.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Aug 24, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
The quick passes negae the blitz and the wide splits makes sacks harder.
And Davis, who was 2nd on the team with 9 rushing TD’s, can run a good bit when he feels threatened.
I think the gamecocks will still get pressure as our line will be breaking in 3 starters but we are still gonna rack up the passing yardage no matter what.
The real question is how Davis reacts to the pressure becasue when face against good pass rushes last year, Quinton Coples had 5 QB hurries last year and caused 1 pick and many bad passes, he would crumble and throw some bad picks.
by RjTheMetalhead on Aug 25, 2011 6:44 AM EDT up reply actions
That makes sense: The question isn't so much whether or not we can get sacks (we probably won't get many), but whether or not we can disrupt and force bad passes. I'm sure Ellis Johnson is instructing 6'8 Devin Taylor to work on tipping passes as we speak
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Aug 25, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
Becasue UNC, with 2 probable 1st round picks at DE next draft, didn’t get 1 sack but did get 3 INT’s.
by RjTheMetalhead on Aug 25, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
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