South Carolina lost to Auburn by the score of 16-13. All is not lost for the season but things must change for the Gamecocks if hope of repeating as the SEC East champs is to become a reality in 2011.
I wanted to wait to give my postgame impressions and sleep on them. I did not want to rush to judge or vent. But after some time of reflection, the loss still hurts and should not have happened.
Auburn is not that good but hats off to them for playing to their strength – Michael Dyer (41 carries, 141 yds., 1 TD). By the end of the game, the Carolina defense was tired due to the Tigers hurry up offense, which ran 92 plays and had the ball 36 minutes. No way we can blame them though as they played great despite the odds. They limited Barrett Trotter to 112 passing yards and two interceptions on 12-of-23 tosses.
The only sore spot for the USC defense was on third down. Auburn defense was 11 of 22 and had key conversions at the worst possible time for USC.
This loss is not at the feet of the defense. Hello offense.
Stephen Garcia completed just 9-of-23 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for the Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1), who were looking to start a season with five straight wins for the first time since 2001.
Do I blame Garcia? Not entirely but the offense starts with him. If he sucks, then the offense will not be that effective. Think of it as ‘cause and effect.’
Do I blame the O line? They can always be better but they are much improved than in year’s past and not having Kyle Nunn did hurt. Seen worse but seen better.
Do I blame the running game? No. Lattimore is a stud. I don’t think we should run him 40 times but if the passing attack was better he could be more effective on 17 carries or so. He had 66 yards on the ground.
Do I blame the passing game? Yes. It sucks. Face it. Call it want it is.
Is the season over? No. Plenty of football to play. So regroup and stay on the Gamecock Nation train.
Spurrier says it best, when he says……”We’re not heartbroken. We haven’t played well enough to expect to win. We lost to this team last year and still came back and won the Eastern Division. If we can regroup somehow offensively, we’re going to be okay.”
I do feel there is still hope. I am a USC fan and have seen worse and been through worse. This team has the talent just needs to improve the passing attack. Does that mean a change at QB? Yes.
I love ya Stephen Garcia. You have been great and won a lot of games but something is not right in your head right now. Football, like a lot of sports, is in ways a mental game and right now Garcia does not have his mind right to be effective.
I think Connor Shaw should start next game. This team is bigger than one player. I am all for #TeamGarcia and all that but at the end of the day I am about the team playing their best and right now they are not. The offense begins with the quarterback and it is time to try something different.
I am not saying Connor Shaw is the “Great White Hope” but after all that we have been through it warrants a try. It we can stick with Garcia with 6 INTs through two games….why not try Connor?
If USC is going to run the QB, well Connor is the better runner of the two QBs. I know the team loves Garcia, as we do, but this is a team with the opportunity in front of them so let’s still have hope and let’s try new things on offense. We owe it to ourselves, the team, Marcus, Alshon and the rest. No need to sink the ship over the devotion to one player. Heck, try a two-QB system. Try something to get the offense going because what has been fielded of late is not going to win the East.
The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, Oct. 8 at home against Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 12:21 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium.
