The South Carolina Gamecocks football team is coming off a bye-week, they are ranked No. 14 and are set to clash with the Tennesse Volunteers on the 29th October.
What makes me a bit confident
UT enters as a 3-4 team (0-4 SEC) but they are a decent team. Look at who they actually have beaten as this just as important to whom they have lost to. They have beaten Montana, Cincinatti and Buffalo. All at home. They have lost to Florida, Georgia, LSU and Alabama. The Vols are a pass-heavy offense. UT is second in the SEC in pass offense and dead last in rush offense. The Gamecocks remain the SEC’s best statistical pass defense. UT’s offense vs. SC’s defense gives me reason to have confidence.
What causes concern
What Carolina team shows up, that is the question. The UK one or the Auburn one.
Carolinas offensive line is going to have to protect Connor Shaw and let him throw and thus far has not been stellar as one desires. With Marcus Lattimore out, Tennessee will be gunning for Shaw for hurries and sacks. With the likes of Prentiss Waggner in the secondary, Shaw will have to be accurate. UT has a grinder of a running back in Tauren Poole and USC will have to contain.
Our running game is a question mark entering this game; Brandon Wilds will be starting and Bruce Ellington will get some but safe to say that both must step up their level of play. I think both are superb athletes but again both have been in the shadow of Lattimore who has been both our leading rusher and our number two reciever. So he will be missed but there is talent on this Gamecocks team and they have to rise up now.
Wrap-up
The Gamecocks must prove they are not a one-dimensional team and have talent that can step up. It would be refreshing to put some points on the board early and try take the UT crowd out of it as the 102,000 screaming orange shirts in Neyland can be intimidating. Connor Shaw has proven he can perform and lead, the time is now for both in this game. The Gamecocks need their secondary to continue their stellar play and the D-Line to pressure the hell out of Simms/Worley and keep Poole limited. The Gamecocks should win out by 10 thanks to a stellar defense and the two-headed monster of Wilds/Ellington grinding out as they are ready to answer the bell.
South Carolina Football: Initial Thoughts on Tennesse
Posted by flounder on Oct 23, 2011 19:55
