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Grading the Gamecocks

Connor Shaw

Quarterback Connor Shaw

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of how the Gamecocks (6-1, 4-1) performed against the Tigers (6-1, 2-1).

John Whittle

    • Good job, Whittle.

      Plano ●

    • telling that every position group pretty much had its worst game of the year and we still had a shot at the win. This team is loaded with talent, and I expect a buzz saw to hit UF on Saturday.

      suffoletta ●

    • Maybe just a tiny bit harsh. Based on these grades, all we needed was a "C" average to beat LSU in Death Valley when they were pretty much on top of their game.

      Hondocock ●

    • Agreed.

      steve miller

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      John Whittle ●

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      willybcock ●

    • Got to totally disagree with you. LSU is definitely not a pushover and I see them losing only 1 more game this year. That team is loaded with 5-star guys and just because they had back-ups in on the O-line those guys were just as talented. I thought the Oline played quite well in pass protection and thought a grade of B or C+ was more deserving. If Spurrier doesn't give up on the run so early who knows. Mike Gilleslie rom Florida didn't have anything in the first half. Most of his yards came in the 4th quarter with Kevin Minter out and aginst a tired LSU defense that had played alot of minutes. I definitely don't think the D-line played that bad. If you are expecting D-Tackles to make the play every play you are crazy. Where I felt we were weak was at LB. Way too many miss tackles and our guys didn't fill the holes or went in the wrong hole. And a C+ to the secondary- are you serious. LSU only threw short quick passes and these guys played well in run defense-B. I do think Brison Williams is a liability in the secondary. Lastly, our receivers played well, the problem is that you have to be wide open for Shaw to throw them the ball. Sometimes you gotta let your guys make a play for you much like Cunningham and Adams did late in the game. Connor had ample time throughout the game and just didn't give the plays a chance. Also, we are eating their freshman DB up and all of sudden stop going after him. JMHO

      APGCock

    • The coaching staff still hasn't found a way to consistently get the play makers the ball. Byrd and Shaq don't have to go deep all the time. Maybe a quick slant or curl will get the ball in their hands so they can go make a play.

      The linebackers appear to lack speed, but they are servicable.

      Blue Bengal

    • Don't take away the two years Latti has!! LOL jk. Great article, fair assessment of what happened in DV. Its hard to hand out good grades after that performance. But then again, the D did keep us in the game, I believe they had 3 red zone field goals. The program has come a long way even from 3 years ago. Hopefully we can continue to improve.

      realfan06

    • I know the NFL is the next level, but, in order to be a decent LB, you have to shoot the gap and trust your read. A LB's worst trait is his indecision or the inability to quickly diagnose the play.

      Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis will meet RB's in the hole. Clay Matthews never let's the O-Lineman's hands get into his chest so that he can shed the block while holding contain.

      Our LB's did not attack the gaps and therefore ended up getting steamrolled on the second level.

      If an undersized line like Vandy can twist, stunt, and shoot gaps, there is no reason that we cannot be more effective at stopping true running teams.

      Also, I think SOS should have continued giving Marcus the rock, regardless of how many yards he was picking up. Screen passes, I-Formation, heavy sets...SOMETHING!!! When he stopped handing the ball to Marcus, the Tiger D no longer had to respect the play-action.

      I hope they find the resolve to come out and knock the piss out of Florida because they are certainly capable of better.

      The expectations have been raised and know they know what true championships teams do when faced with adversity.

      This post was edited by cdthompson on 10/15/2012 at 6:21 PM

      cdthompson

    • APGCock said...

      Got to totally disagree with you. LSU is definitely not a pushover and I see them losing only 1 more game this year. That team is loaded with 5-star guys and just because they had back-ups in on the O-line those guys were just as talented. I thought the Oline played quite well in pass protection and thought a grade of B or C+ was more deserving. If Spurrier doesn't give up on the run so early who knows. Mike Gilleslie rom Florida didn't have anything in the first half. Most of his yards came in the 4th quarter with Kevin Minter out and aginst a tired LSU defense that had played alot of minutes. I definitely don't think the D-line played that bad. If you are expecting D-Tackles to make the play every play you are crazy. Where I felt we were weak was at LB. Way too many miss tackles and our guys didn't fill the holes or went in the wrong hole. And a C+ to the secondary- are you serious. LSU only threw short quick passes and these guys played well in run defense-B. I do think Brison Williams is a liability in the secondary. Lastly, our receivers played well, the problem is that you have to be wide open for Shaw to throw them the ball. Sometimes you gotta let your guys make a play for you much like Cunningham and Adams did late in the game. Connor had ample time throughout the game and just didn't give the plays a chance. Also, we are eating their freshman DB up and all of sudden stop going after him. JMHO

      While LSU is not a pushover, they do recruit major talent, how can an experienced DLine like ours get beat from the opening snap? Everybody who saw time last night was a sophomore or higher. That matchup was supposed to benefit us, thats where we needed to win at to expose Mettenburger, but it didn't happen. Also, our line got beat not picking out the screens a couple times. Mike Gilleslie got all those yards the second half because Minter was out and the d was gased. Minter played the entire game against us and their D was full speed in the fourth. The secondary had some responsibilities tackling and couldn't finish, and allowed too much underneath. Maybe that was the coverage call, or maybe they didnt' execute.

      realfan06

    • Amazing that we can have grades this bad...yet still almost beat a top 10 conference team in the toughest environment in college football.
      All I got to say is WOW!

      TaylorsCock

    • Definately not to harsh. They deserve bad grades. Pathetic performance.

      M Train

    • TaylorsCock said...

      Amazing that we can have grades this bad...yet still almost beat a top 10 conference team in the toughest environment in college football. All I got to say is WOW!

      Tony like Whittle said that is just his opinion. And he does an awesome job but I think a little to harsh this time. But not far off. I just don't see how you can give the D line an F when they played so well with their backs to the wall in the red zone. Plus the offense gave them very little rest at all. Just time to regroup and go take care of business in the swamp. Go Cocks !!!!!!!!

      jbkingmancock

    • jbkingmancock said...

      Tony like Whittle said that is just his opinion. And he does an awesome job but I think a little to harsh this time. But not far off. I just don't see how you can give the D line an F when they played so well with their backs to the wall in the red zone. Plus the offense gave them very little rest at all. Just time to regroup and go take care of business in the swamp. Go Cocks !!!!!!!!

      Great point. You may be right and that's a good argument for bumping them up a notch.

      John Whittle ●

    • John Whittle said...

      Great point. You may be right and that's a good argument for bumping them up a notch.

      JW,
      With dual respect, I think you let the lose dominated your judgement here. I think the team perform much better than they did in the Vandy game ( A two point lose on the road to a top six team vs a four point win over a medicore team on the road), yet the grades say otherwise.

      If their kicker missed one of the three he made，we'd have won by one point. Would our team received the same grades here?

      The margin of winning was so thin, yet I could not tell from the grade.

      This post was edited by CCCock on 10/15/2012 at 11:36 PM

      CCCock

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      John Whittle ●

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      CCCock

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      willybcock ●

    • I'd bump up every unit on D 1/2 grade for their red zone D. Other than that it's hard to argue with your assessment.

      MrBigAl ●

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      MrBigAl ●

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      steve miller

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