Pretty good write-up by SMN. The one thing that I don't agree with is the back-up QBs not being ready. I think out of Smelley, Garcia, and Beecher one will step up and do well if something goes wrong with Blakey boy. I did especially like the senario in the last paragraph. Anyway, enjoy..
With Sidney Rice wearing a Vikings uniform now, Kenny McKinley becomes to go-to guy at receiver, but the unknown entering the season is who can fill the void McKinley leaves as the No. 2 playmaker. Chris Culliver arrives on campus with the talent, but can he get things figured out in 29 preseason practices? Time will tell.
Now the schedule.
It's time to beat Georgia. At Florida, Spurrier's boys went 11-1 against the 'Dogs. At Carolina, they are 0-2. It's break-through time. Time to get over the hump. Quit playing them tough and win. Whip Georgia and the Gamecocks could be 7-1 heading into Knoxville and in the hunt for a title.
This could be the year South Carolina becomes the beast in SEC
The Southeastern Conference appears to be wide open in 2007. The bullies find themselves a bit in transition, wondering if the new guys can step in and step up. And that has the others dreaming of a big season.
The ball coach at South Carolina knows what big seasons are all about. Could it be that in his third season, the Gamecocks make a bold move past Georgia, Tennessee and Florida? There are those that believe it can happen.
Steve Spurrier's reputation is built on offense, but winning championships starts with defense. Tyrone Nix, the Gamecocks' defensive coordinator, reportedly can't wait to turn his group loose. Ten starters return from a defense that allowed 18.7 points per game a year ago. Cut that number by a field goal and you have a Top 20 defense nationally.
Jasper Brinkley is the leader at middle linebacker and he will have NFL scouts lined up at Williams-Brice Stadium to get a good look. Mix in two legit cover corners, a solid pair at safety, and two big ole' tackles to plug things up and what you have is a group good enough to make a dream season possible.
Now back to the ball coach and his offense. There are three issues Spurrier will have to coach around or coach up.
At quarterback, Blake Mitchell's performance level will be huge. The Gamecocks aren't breaking through and winning the East unless this guy can consistently perform at a higher level. Right now, he's the tenth best QB in a 12-team league. It's been a roller-coaster ride. Dude looks good one half and falls down in the second half. That's got to change.
And this season, Coach Spurrier doesn't have Syvelle Newton to call on. The back-ups aren't ready. There is pressure on Mitchell to get the job done. It's his fifth year reading defenses ... and time to stop making foolish decisions with the football.
With Sidney Rice wearing a Vikings uniform now, Kenny McKinley becomes to go-to guy at receiver, but the unknown entering the season is who can fill the void McKinley leaves as the No. 2 playmaker. Chris Culliver arrives on campus with the talent, but can he get things figured out in 29 preseason practices? Time will tell.
Now the schedule.
It's time to beat Georgia. At Florida, Spurrier's boys went 11-1 against the 'Dogs. At Carolina, they are 0-2. It's break-through time. Time to get over the hump. Quit playing them tough and win. Whip Georgia and the Gamecocks could be 7-1 heading into Knoxville and in the hunt for a title.
Pay attention. This could be the year South Carolina breaks through and becomes the beast in the SEC East. Can you imagine the scene if that does happen ... fans and players carrying the ball coach off the field in Atlanta, with a championship banner flying?
