To boo or not to boo

That is the question. I agree that fans should not boo their own team especially when they struggle and especially when it is more the coaches fault. I don't think fans should boo opposing teams either as they enter the stadium. But what was on display this past weekend was, how should we say, "not so good" and a boo was deserved (let the record show however I was not one of those that did boo yet feel the performance by USC deserved it).
There is a article in today's STATE paper that brings this to light - here.

Two areas that deserve a "disappointing" label (and a boo) after their performance is the play of the O line and the 2 QB system. The coolchicken discusses the two QB decision here and I agree with him. Also this is what Spurrier had to say in the paper about his decision to rotate -

Spurrier second-guessed his decision to alternate quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Mitchell, who combined to throw three interceptions, two inside the Commodores’
36-yard line. “Anytime it doesn’t work out very well, you always say, ‘Oops, shouldn’t have done that,’ ” said Spurrier, adding that the shuffling did not affect the outcome.

After a performance like that all we get is a "oops"...geez. That is something you say after you spill water not orchestrate a terrible offensive show.

I applaud Spurrier for having the balls to bench Mitchell for not performing this season, most coaches would not bench a 5th yr senior in favor of a redshirt freshman. Keep in mind that is what Smelley is, a redshirt freshman, so he is going to make dumb passes but he is the type that needs rhythm. Two QB systems work when you have one who is a pocket passer and the other is a running style qb (see FLA in 06 and LSU in 07 as examples). Mitchell and Smelley are pretty much the same style QB so to rotate does not make sense; now if we still had Newton then yeah put him in when the Oline sucks (i.e see USC in 06). I guess it shows just how valuable Newton was to the Gamecocks.

And to end this with a discussion of the offensive line, well they were just pitiful and have been all season. The play of the O line is crucial to everything else and so far this season it has been "not so good." Maybe we need to focus on recruiting O linemen and not worry about having 10 WRs on the team.

Think about this ---In 217 games, Spurrier's teams have failed to score at least 10 points just 10 times. Our offense is 93rd among 119 Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense (340.5 yards per game). USC has given 26 sacks for minus-175 yards, which is the most in the league and ranks 107th out of 119 Division I teams nationally. Last year, the Gamecocks allowed 24 sacks for 149 yards in 13 games. Only six teams in the country have yielded more sacks than USC’s 26 so far this year.

Vandy simply capitalized on our weakness and expect Tennessee to do the same. Simply blitz, get your d line to pressure our QBs, rattle our O line so no running lanes are created and have your secondary play the ball.

Well it is what it is and let's move on from this loss to Vandy. The team got booed and we dropped from the top 10. It is time to focus on Tennessee. Oh and speaking of our upcoming opponent.....The Volunteers had a rare Sunday night practice in hopes of quickly putting their 41-17 loss at Alabama behind them; "just get it washed and get the corrections made," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. Should we have done something like that?

Gamecocks remain ranked

As a consolation prize for a sad sad loss to Vandy, South Carolina will remain in the top 25...polls here.

AP poll has USC at 15. ESPN has USC at 17.

Offense a no show...

Count it, 6 quarters now without a touchdown. The offense just could not get anything going. Here are the Grades to the earlier post about 5 keys to a win, which we all know now was a upset win for Vandy.

1. USC must continue to make the most of scoring opportunities.....The Gamecocks have managed just two field goals in their last 23 possessions over six quarters dating back to the second half of last week’s 21-15 win at North Carolina. USC got inside the VU 10 once. Vandy's punter was the MVP in my book, he had six punts pinned USC inside its 20-yard line. The only USC opportunity to score inside the 10, well it ended before the snap. Spurrier was going for it on fourth-and-2 at the 9 with less than a minute to go in the first half -- they were called for illegal substitution. Spurrier changed his mind, settling for a 32-yard field goal by Ryan Succop to cut lead to 17-6 at halftime. Also with the other opportunity to score was when SC drove to the Vanderbilt 13-yard line trailing by 11 early in the second half but Smelley throws another INT. The grade here is a "F."

2. USC O Line must be better.... Well not good here either and the root of the problem. Four of the five starting linemen were called for a false start. VU also tied a school record with seven sacks for 50 yards. Five of the sacks came on first or second down, all but one setting the offense back far enough that it could not convert. In the second quarter, South Carolina drove to the Vanderbilt 18, only to give up a sack on first down and end up settling for a field goal. USC’s other field goal came after a false-start penalty helped snuff out a red-zone chance. The Gamecocks had second-and-10 at the Vandy 17, were penalized and two plays later had to trot out kicker Ryan Succop. And the USC O line could not create running lanes - the Gamecocks rushed for just 86 yards on a season-low 22 carries. Grade here is a "F-."

3. The Two Headed Beast must flourish --- Both quarterbacks moved the team well at times. Smelley was 14-of-24 for 154 yards, and Mitchell was 9-of-18 for 102. BUT the killer was not throwing the ball away and taking sacks and those dang INTs they threw (3 INTs total). Both also made bad reads and threw in double, triple and quadruple coverage. Where is Beecher? Grade is a "F+."

4. If you see blood, go for the kill--- USC could not find any luck out there...no TO's for USC to take advantage of and Vandy executed the field position game perfectly. Not to mention USC was 1-for-12 on third down. Really no chance to do anything on this "key" b/c they could not get things clicking and when the game was in need of a TD, it seemed like we were in slow motion...no hurry up offense or anything. Gotta go with a "F."

5. SC must contain Earl Bennett---USC kept All-SEC receiver Earl Bennett in check. Bennett had two catches for 24 yards — his lowest output since 2005 — and fell a reception shy of tying the SEC career record held by Kentucky’s Craig Yeast. The Commodores tried to get Bennett involved in the running game, but his three carries netted 10 yards. Going with a "A+" here b/c he was not a factor thank god...just think of he was.

What was key to a Vandy win you say?....Well, The Gamecocks’ first two possessions ended with turnovers — a Smelley interception and a fumble by Cory Boyd — that Vanderbilt cashed in for scores. Vandy began five consecutive drives in USC territory and the Commodores’ average starting field position in the first half was the Gamecocks’ 49-yard line; which equals 17 points in the 1st half and enough to win. Big reason -USC O-line was just flat out bad!

Vandy Stuns Gamecocks

USC losses 17-6 to Vanderbilt.

USC is the 15th team ranked in the top 10 to lose this year -- and VU (4-3, 2-3) defeats a team ranked as high as sixth for only the second time ever. VU beat No. 6 LSU in 1937.
The Commodores led 17-0 after the first quarter on three drives combined totaled 76 yards and 12 plays. Two came after turnovers by USC in its first five plays; the third after a punt by the Gamecocks out of their end zone to the USC 43.

Despite arguably Spurrier's worst loss in his three-year tenure, the Gamecocks (6-2, 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference) still control their own destiny. Win out and USC wins the Eastern Division for the first time. For now, however, USC is tied with Georgia (5-2, 3-2), which was idle Saturday, and No. 14 Florida (5-2, 3-2). The problem for USC is the toughest part of its SEC schedule is ahead, with back-to-back trips to No. 20 Tennessee (4-3, 2-2) and Arkansas (4-3, 2-3) before returning home against the Gators.

Box Score

Keys to a Win vs. Vandy

5 Keys to a Win vs. Vandy for the Gamecocks:

1. USC must continue to make the most of scoring opportunities.....The Gamecocks have scored on all but three of their 26 trips inside the red zone and one those three came as USC ran out the clock instead of trying to score in 38-23 victory over Kentucky. The Gamecocks have scored 18 touchdowns (10 passing and eight running) inside the red zone while place-kicker Ryan Succop has hit all five of his field goal attempts (inside the 20). Carolina must seize the opportunities given to them by Vandy, whether it is a fumble or a INT....take advantage of their mistakes.

2. USC O Line must be better....The O line must get it together and erase the 2nd half performance at UNC. Vandy has a good D and a good pass rush so it is time for our O line to have a great game. Give Smelley/Mitchell time to throw and create running lanes for Boyd/Davis. USC has given up an SEC-worst 19 sacks behind a line that remains in flux at the guard position....do better. Watch out for and contain Vanderbilt senior LB Jonathan Goff who had 14 tackles, including 12 solo, against Georgia, both of which tied career highs. He also had a sack and a quarterback hurry. Attention O line -Keep him in check.

3. The Two Headed Beast must flourish ---Whether it is Blake or Chris at QB, the passing offense for USC must succeed against Vandy. Smelley has completed 56 percent of his passes for 982 yards and nine touchdowns; Mitchell has a 60 percent completion rate with 391 passing yards and three touchdowns. Each has thrown four interceptions. One of the two or both has to step up a lead the offense.....our passing offense must have success for Boyd/Davis to have good games.

4. If you see blood, go for the kill---USC must finish the game strong and let's win big b/c five of SC's six wins have been by an average of 11.2 points; the sixth was a 38-3 victory against South Carolina State. Don't let up or think about Tenn next week...beat the socks off of them, no more close games please.

5. SC must contain Earl Bennett---Junior leads the league in receptions (7.33 per game) and is second in receiving yards (88.3). That has been done with blanket coverage from everyone Vandy has faced this season. He is dangerous and the USC secondary should keep him in front of them. Also don't blow a coverage assignment or miss a tackle on him b/c if so the TD Vandy.

Prediction - USC 34 Vandy 17

Ohhh GAy

The state newspaper started it off with "The Ole Doll Coach" yesterday and then followed up it with a gamecock scooter story. What are some reason why Stephen Garcia would be riding around town in Jean shorts and a scooter?

What is next Ron Morris for AD, or even better Clemson’s new head coach.

A little chat and some Bowl Projections

Another hat tip to our friend at The Dead Guy's SEC site, he posted about the newly released bowl projections which I share with you below. Seems Carolina is moving on up the "prediction ladder."

Check out where some are predicting the Gamecocks to go 'bowling' this year.....Do you agree?

Here's the Bowl Predictions from:
CBS Sportsline
Fox Sports
ESPN

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In other news, seems Blakey-y will get some PT this week....our friend at Garnet and Black writes about it here. I am not sure what to think about Blake-y getting some reps. Part of me says he may deserve it since he is a senior and all but I think we should not screw up a offense that needs to find rhythm. A QB has to have trust and rhythm with his offensive weapons and it seemed (at least in the 1st half) Smelley was getting there. Doing a two QB approach may hurt things but who knows.....I guess let's trust Spurrier since he is paid the big bucks and is a offense guru. What do you guys think out there about Spurrier's decision?

Lastly, what the heck is all this about???? A dress up game with Steve.....what is the world coming too (h/t: http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/)

USC Thoughts

“We made it harder than it had to be,” USC Senior RB Cory Boyd said walking back to the locker room after the UNC win (from the state paper).

That quote say it all about USC’s inability to put teams away. The Gamecocks have little trouble proving their superiority over lesser opponents. They can put those teams on the ropes as they did Saturday against a vastly inferior UNC squad. But USC cannot deliver a knockout punch. Thus, the final 21-15 score and the heart-thumping finish when USC defenders needed to bat down a ball in the end zone as time expired.

Funny, because there was a time not that long ago when USC would have lost this kind of game. The game-clinching field goal would have clanked off the upright, as happened Saturday, and the last-ditch pass by UNC would have fallen in the hands of a receiver.

So you have to give USC credit for somehow getting over that hump this season. The Gamecocks manage to win despite playing BAD at times. They win ugly. But the important thing is they win.

Who is your Heisman Fav?

We have reached the mid point of the season and now time to turn it up a notch for most teams as they head into the 'meat' of the schedule. As crazy as this football season is and how no one is safe in the Top 25, who are you thinking will win the Heisman this year?

ESPN has it nicely laid out here.

I think it is Matt Ryan's to win.

If he and the BC crew can win the ACC and BC remain in the Top 5 then the trophy is his. I say this b/c McFad got shut down against Auburn on national TV (Auburn held the junior to 17 yards on 43 carries. McFadden added 5 yards on one catch and 29 yards on one return.) Not to mention his team is not helping his chances - The loss to the Tigers drops the Razorbacks to 0-3 in the SEC.

Tebow is too young but he will win a Heisman before he leaves UF, just not this year.

Hart at UM is still overshadowed by the App State loss and not to mention a recent ankle injury hurt want was a great performance this past weekend.

Then there is the guy out west - DeSean Jackson- right, you are saying "who"....well he is flashy and can play ball but Cal just does not have the national exposure to make him a contender. Not to mention he was held to four catches for 5 yards and one rush for 8 yards this past weekend.

My dark horse is Colt Brennan, just b/c he puts up insane passing numbers and if UH goes undefeated then it could be a "feel good story" to give him the Heisman since the team even if 12-0 will not get a BCS bid.

So who are you placing bets on to win the Heisman this year?

Below is the 5 leading candidates, according to most everyone so far this season.

1. DeSean Jackson, Cal
2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
3. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
4. Matt Ryan, Boston College
5. Mike Hart, Michigan