Know your UConn Huskies: DE Lindsey Witten

This is the second installement of "Know your UConn Huskies" and this time we want to introduce you to who the USC O Line will be charged with stopping to save Garcia a headache or two.  His name is Lindsey Witten.

Witten is one of the top DE in the nation and most likely will end up in the NFL next year.  He is a All Big East Selection and will participate in the East-West Shrine Game on 1/23/10. He also was on the Chuck Bednarik Watch List in 2009.  So it is just not LOHD who thinks this guy can play.

In 2009 he logged - 41 tackles, 13 TFLs, 11.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  Not too shabby for the 6 foot 5 inch 260 pound end who wears number 9. 

This kid must be accounted for on every down and USC may need a RB to help out depending on the play.  He is what we like to call a "disrupter."  So USC Interim OL Coach Andy Boyd come up with the right strategy to slow this guy down or it could be a long night in the PapaJ Bowl.

Part 1 - Know your UConn Huskies: QB Zach Frazer

SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team: the linebackers

As a voter in the SEC Power Poll and, subsequently, the All-SEC Team balloting, I've been tapped to participate in the rollout. 
As you know the SEC Power Poll is a group of SEC bloggers (List of Bloggers HERE) and the All-SEC Team is chosen by this group of bloggers based on voting.

I get the honor of revealing the winning linebackers......the envelope, please…

The 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Linebacker are (in order of votes received): Rolando McClain (Alabama), Eric Norwood (South Carolina) and Rennie Curran (Georgia).

Some reasoning on why these 3 are deemed worthy of this award -

1.  Rolando McClain, (Alabama)

His laundry list of accomplishments are too lengthy to mention in this post.  But the 6 foot 4 inch 260 pound "quarterback" of the 'Bama D is the definition of All-SEC in my book and the others as he was a unanimous selection amongst the voters.

Here is his just a tidbit of his higlights from 2009:
• Midseason Sporting News All-American
• Buktus Award winner
• Semifinalist for the Lombardi Award
• Semifinalist for the Bednarik Award
• Leads team with 66 tackles
• Has 2 interceptions and 7 TFL (-28)
• Five straight games with at least 7 tackles

This his junior year, he has helped the Crimson Tide rank fourth nationally in total defense (242.22 ypg) and second in rush defense (68.22).  Oh, and his team is in the national championship game which speaks volumes to his ability and leadership on the 'Bama D.

2. Eric Norwood, (U of South Carolina)

This senior is the key to the SC defense.  He is a Walter Camp 1st Team All-American, All SEC selection according to the league's coaches and the AP.  Mr. Norwood was also a finalist for the Butkus Award in '09. 
In 2009, Norwood had 71 tackles including 49 solo stops.  He finished 3rd in the SEC in sacks (7) and is tied for 8th with 11.5 tackles for losses.  He had 2 INTs and blocked 3 kicks to boot.  He was credited with 11 QB hurries, 3 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.  The 6 foot 250 pound Linebacker is Carolina's all-time leader with 43.0 career tackles for loss and is third on the all-time list in sacks with 22.0.

3. Rennie Curran (Georgia Bulldogs)

This future NFL-er was voted First-team All-SEC by the AP and Coaches in 2009, and was also named First-team All-America by CBSSports.com after leading the SEC in tackles this year as a junior.  In 2009, he had 116 tackles and of those 59 were solo.  So just that number alone says this kid was everyone and had his nose in almost everything the defense was doing on the field.  Curran is considered one of the top weakside linebackers of his class, and has been called "the most dominant defensive player in the game" by The Sporting News.

Others receiving votes:

• Brandon Spikes (U of Florida Gators)
• Sam Maxwell ( U of Kentucky Wildcats)
• Chris Marve (Vanderbilt Commodores)

Related Content:

• LOHD Offical Ballot
• Quarterback: Tim Tebow (Alligator Army)
• Running Backs: Mark Ingram, Dexter McCluster (Roll Bama Roll)
• Wide Receivers: A.J. Green, Shay Hodge (Hey Jenny Slater)
• Tight End: Aaron Hernandez (Team Speed Kills)
• Defensive Backs: Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Javier Arenas, Mark Barron (Gate 21)
• Special Teams:  Butler, Tiffin, Arenas (Georgia Sports Blog)
• Defensive Lineman: Cody, Coleman, Dunlap, Houston, Matthews (War Eagle Reader)

Some Gamecocks Baseball News

Collegiate Baseball released its preseason poll today and it has USC in its rankings.

USC is ranked 28th in the poll (the poll ranks the top 40 teams). The Gamecocks are coming of a 40 win season and lost in a Regional at East Carolina to end last season. Carolina is one of seven SEC teams ranked in the poll.

Texas, LSU, Virginia, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State are the top five teams.

The Gamecocks will open the season February 19th vs Duquesne. 

Also South Carolina junior right-handed pitcher Sam Dyson earned third-team Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America honors as announced by Collegiate Baseball on Monday afternoon - HERE.

All SEC Ballot

As you all know the LOHD blog is part of the SEC Power Poll," which is a group of bloggers from across the SEC.  Look to the right column of this blog for a list of 'who is who' in the SEC Power Poll.  Now with the season done it is time to submit ballots for the "ALL SEC" Team chosen by us the bloggers. 

Here is the LOHD ballot.......

Offense

QB: Ryan Mallett (Arkansas Razorbacks)
RB: Mark Ingram (Alabama Crimson Tide)
RB: Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss Rebels)
OG: Mike Johnson (Alabama Crimson Tide)
OG: Mike Pouncey (Florida Gators)
OT: Ciron Black (LSU Tigers)
OT: John Jerry (Ole Miss Rebels)
C: Maurkice Pouncey (Florida Gators)
TE: Aaron Hernandez (Florida Gators)
WR: A.J. Green (Georgia Bulldogs)
WR: Brandon LaFell (LSU Tigers)

Defense

DE: Cliff Matthews (South Carolina Gamecocks)
DE: Carlos Dunlap (Florida Gators)
DT: Terrence Cody (Alabama Crimson Tide)
DT: Malcolm Sheppard (Arkansas Razorbacks)
LB: Eric Norwood (South Carolina Gamecocks)
LB: Rolando McClain (Alabama Crimson Tide)
LB: Rennie Curran (Georgia Bulldogs)
CB: Javier Arenas (Alabama Crimson Tide)
CB: Trevard Lindley (Kentucky Wildcats)
S: Eric Berry (Tennessee Volunteers)
S: Joe Haden (Florida Gators)

Special Teams

PK: Blair Walsh (Georgia Bulldogs)
P: Drew Butler (Georgia Bulldogs)
RS: Javier Arenas (Alabama Crimson Tide)

Gamecocks Archie Out for the Year

News broke today that Dominique Archie will have season ending knee surgery. This comes as a surprise as it was originally diagnosed as just a knee sprain. This also brings up some questions as to weather he will pursue a medical hardship for a 6th season of eligibility. Or will Archie just try to get the knee back to playing shape and try the European market.

After the lose to Wofford on Saturday night Carolina is in need of a player that can step up and fill Archie’s shoes.  Archie averaged 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in five games played this season. He is the most versatile player on the Gamecocks roster and he will be a big loss to the team. There is no one player on the team that can rebound, shoot and score the way Archie did prior to his injury. The Gamecocks have not been the same since they lost him.  Hopefully this will motivate some of the younger guys to play hard and make the most of the opportunity to have increased playing time.

Only time will tell what happens this season but all is not lost......or with the injury is the season lost?

Gamecocks Have NO Business Losing to Terriers

First let me say congrats to Wofford. 
They outplayed the South Carolina Men's Basketball team especially down the stretch.  They outrebounded Carolina and got to the charity stripe more often.  Basically it boiled down to the fact that the Terriers came to play and SC didn't bring the energy needed to overcome a good Southern Conference team in Benjamin Johnson Arena.

Wofford earns first victory against South Carolina since 1939 by the score of 68-61.  Wofford (6-6) played close the whole way, never trailed by more than four points, and surged ahead for good with about 10 minutes remaining. The Terriers held the Gamecocks without a field goal on seven straight possessions down the stretch to pull away.  Wofford outrebounded South Carolina, 43-33, and it was 22-11 on the offensive end. 
Carolina could not muster up enough fight to do the little things to get the edge on Wofford.  South Carolina had only three field goals (on nine tries) on its final 18 possessions. One of the buckets was a meaningless 3-pointer in the final seconds by Devan Downey, who led the Gamecocks with 17 points but shot only 5-for-14, including 1-for-5 on 3-pointers, and had five turnovers compared to just one assist.

My hope is that Carolina learns from this and don't blame the loss on being down two starters.  Losing a game like this is not what we want to see every again.  Learn that there are no easy games.  Learn that you have to come hungry for a win every game.  Learn that you must do the little things like box out, dive for the loose balls and make the extra pass. 

I ask that the team look in the mirror and remember how a loss like this tastes.  Move on and don't let this hurt worse come Monday night vs Furman.  Realize that now there is work to do to get in the "Big Dance" and get to work.

Gamecocks Clippings for Saturday

Here is a shot of some selected news for ya...

Gamecocks Football

• Huskies Site Previews USC Run Game
• USC coaches hope extra practices bear fruit
• Sherman hopes to break one in bowl
• Garcia more focused for this year's bowl
• Opportunity knocking for former lineman Boyd
• Know your UConn Huskies: QB Zach Frazer

General SEC
Lane Kiffin Says Tennessee’s Recruiting Was Legal
SEC to use pitch clock to shorten baseball games

Gamecocks Basketball
USC v Woof-ford

Other

• Tarheels top Sandlappers 24-14, snap2-game skid
• Join the LOHD Bowl Challenge through Yahoo
• LOHD finished in 2nd place in the TSK College Football Pick'm League...who says LOHD doesn't know football?

Gamecocks take on Wofford Today in Men's Hoops

The Gamecocks own a 40-18 series advantage over the Terriers, which includes a 78-61 victory over Wofford in the most recent meeting last season.

The Terriers are 5-6 overall, but they are 2-1 at home. Of their six losses this season, four have come by five or fewer points.   In the recent victory over Navy, Wofford forced 19 turnovers and earned a 20-9 advantage in points from the foul line.  The Terriers are led by Noah Dahlman with 18.3 points and 6 rebounds per game. Dahlman also leads the Southern Conference in scoring.

Wofford’s last win in the series came in 1939 – South Carolina has won 21 straight against the Terriers.

South Carolina has gotten off to a promising start, as seven of the team's nine games have resulted in victory. On Wednesday, the Gamecocks had finally got rolling in the second half in route to a win versus Richmond by a 76-58 final.

Gamecocks should win today vs Woof-ford with balanced scoring and strong defense. Devan and Muldrow should lead the charge today and give Carolina a 14+ pt win.

USC Gamecocks junior safety Chris Culliver expects to return in 2010

Per this article, Chris Culliver says he will complete his final year at Carolina.  This is very good news for SC as it means the secondary will be strong in '10.

Here is what the article says -

Culliver again emphasized he doesn’t plan to take a shot at the NFL until he completes his eligibility at USC.  “I don’t think I am going to the NFL,” Culliver said. “You don’t get that experience of playing another college football season back. That is what I really want to do. I want to come back next year and, hopefully, have fun.”