The 2010 season saw a breakthrough as the Gamecocks won 9 games on their way to their first SEC East Championship. The season was highlighted by wins over the division’s Big 3 (Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida), an upset over then #1 Alabama, and the 2nd year in a row of beating archrival Clemson. However, the season ended on a sour note as the team collapsed in the postseason, being routed in Atlanta by Auburn and losing again in the Peach Bowl to FSU. Most of last season’s players return as the team is favored to repeat as the division champions and is a legitimate contender to win the conference. In fact, USC is the only team in SEC history to return a 3,000 yard passer, a 1,000 yard rusher, and a 1,000 yard receiver. Steve Spurrier returns for his 7th season as the “Head Ball Coach.”
Offense
QB Stephen Garcia returns for his senior season as the 3rd year starter. After some offseason problems nearly got him kicked off the team, he managed to fulfill a set of requirements allowing him to return. Garcia has a chance to break some of the USC career passing records; a 20 TD season would break the career TD record of 62 held by Steve Taneyhill, and a big season would give him a chance to take the career passing record of Todd Ellis. He is the SEC active leader in virtually all of the major career passing categories, and spent much of last season among the nation’s leaders in passing efficiency before a late season slump. Nobody questions Garcia’s talent, but his decision making leaves something to be desired at times. A bit of a gunslinger, Garcia threw 14 INTs last season, and a disasterous 3 INT first half in the bowl game against FSU pretty much single-handedly lost the game. It is essential that Garcia reduces the turnover number and for him be a leader on and off the field, otherwise, there will be no championship season. Connor Shaw is the backup and doesn’t have much experience, playing mostly in a mop-up role last year.
RB Marcus Lattimore had one of the best freshman seasons in SEC history last year, rushing for over 1,100 yards on nearly 5 yards a carry, and winning the National Freshman of the Year award. He was money in the red zone as he broke the school’s single season record of 19 rushing touchdowns. Lattimore is on the short list for the Heisman Trophy, and if he remains healthy, will likely get 250 carries this season. He was a remarkable workhorse last year: He rushed 37 times for 182 yards against Georgia, 29 for 184 against Tennessee, and an astounding 40 times for 212 yards against Florida. Needless to say, he was the horse in the big games. Kenny Miles is the primary backup and is a capable runner in his own right. Speedster true freshman Shon Carson will also get a look.
WR Alshon Jeffery shattered the single season records last year, gaining over 1,500 yards on 88 receptions. He may not post numbers as high this season simply because the offense may rely more on Lattimore and also try to spread the ball around more. The other 2 starters are Ace Sanders, a diminutive player with a quick burst, and DL Moore, a solid possession receiver.
The offensive line showed improvement last year allowing the chance for some big offensive numbers, but there is still room for improvement. Beyond the starting 5, the depth chart is made of mostly untested freshmen and sophomores, so it is also thin.
Defense
The defensive line should be one of the top groups in the country this year. All-American Devin Taylor returns on one side, while Melvin Ingram also was among the conference’s sack leaders on the other side. As if that weren’t enough, the #1 recruit in the country Jadeveon Clowney is apparently not human, completely dominating fall practice, and the offense is having trouble getting plays off mostly because of him. Travian Robertson is a veteran tackle who is a 4th year starter on the inside and closes up everything there.
The linebackers look pretty solid, also. Shaq Wilson returns from a hamstring injury to anchor the corps. Devonte Holloman has moved from the starting position at safety to his more natural position at spur linebacker. Antonio Allen is the returning starter at that spur linebacker position and has played well, doing nothing to lose his job. Demario Jeffery is another solid linebacker who provides depth, as well as 6th year senior Rodney Paulk.
CB Stephon Gilmore, the 4th All-American on the team, anchors the secondary. Across the field from him is 3rd year starter Akeem Auguste who returns to his more natural CB position after spending a year at safety. DJ Swearinger returns to start at free safety. Perhaps the only question mark on the team is at strong safety, where converted CB Jimmy Legree is pencilled in as the starter.
Special Teams
USC loses kicker Spencer Lanning, who was a fine kicker for them for the past 3 years. Jae Wooten has reportedly kicked well in practice and looks to inherit the placekicker role as well as kickoffs. Joey Scribner-Howard and Patrick Fish are competing for the punting job.
The return game has been an emphasis in practice, as this has been a weakness throughout Spurrier’s tenure. Swearinger and Sanders have been returning kickoffs. Gilmore and Sanders have been returning punts. Freshmen Damiere Byrd and Bruce Ellington (a starter and leading scorer on the basketball team) may also get looks.
Schedule/Outlook
As usual, the SEC East schedule is among the toughest in the country. USC has to travel to UGA this season and has a road trip of death with road games at Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Arkansas in the middle of the season. They do get to host Florida and Clemson this year. If they win the division again they certainly will have earned it.
Anything less than 10 wins this season will be a disappointment with the buildup after last season. Essentially, with the personnel this team has, there is no reason to do less. This team should repeat as the division winners, is a legitimate contender for a conference title, and is a national championship darkhorse.
by braves14
