The Georgia Bulldogs came into Columbia, S.C. looking to flex their muscle against the South Carolina Gamecocks but it was the complete opposite. The Gamecocks took the Dawgs to the woodshed and defeated them in easy fashion by the score of 35-7.
The win was USC’s 10th straight, marking the longest streak in school history.
Here are five lessons learned from the USC win:
1. USC’s defense is one of the elite in college football…..UGa came in averaging 536 yards per game but USC held them to just 224. That my friends is a statement. USC’s defensive line was way too strong for UGa and it showed in nearly every play. Hats off to Lorenzo Ward as he had the right gameplan and got his men to perform to his standards. If it is true that defense wins championships, well then USC is on the right path.
2. D.J. Swearinger is the heart of the defense….this young buck just plays with some intensity and the entire defense plays off his energy. Keep giving him red bulls before the game and keep him hyped up. He helped get the defense motivated to limit UGa’s running back combo as Tori Gurley netted 39 yards on 13 carries and Keith Marshall ran for 37 on 12 totes. They also shut down Aaron Murray as he was 11-31-1 for 109 yards.
3. USC’s Williams-Brice is one of the toughest places to play…over 85,000 screaming fans helped to create a special atmosphere and it was a advantage for USC. Seems we take the “protect this house” seriously.
4. USC must still work on its’ field goal execution….I know that this is not a big deal but USC’s kicker is 3-of-5 on the year. I do not want a USC win to come down to a FG attempt as it will make me goal bald worrying if he can make it. I need for USC to start nailing the FG attempts and wash out the doubt. Overall on special teams, it is a improvement but still must get perfect. And Ace Sanders is special in the return game…did you see this?
5. Coach Spurrier still has the fire….USC’s 35-7 win gave Spurrier his 250th career victory, including his pro and college records. The game planning for this game was spot-on. Yes, the Gamecocks attempted just 10 passes for the game while rushing 51 times as USC outgained Georgia 392-224 but it was the exact plan needed to win. Spurrier took want UGa would give. That shows he still loves to win as he did not try to “do it his way” as he is playing off the strengths of his team and combining that with what the opposing defense yields. A thing of beauty really.
