5 keys to a South Carolina Gamecocks win vs. FAU Owls

Just look at those nice palmetto trees on the field such a good touch.  Oh...this is suppose to be about my five keys to a Carolina win versus FAU today.  I will be leaving here soon to head to the stadium and as my PREDICTION says watch for SC to win today by a score of 34-10.

I feel this week is pretty simple and basic - just win and avoid a letdown.

5 keys Today

1. Strike first and early --- USC must get out the gates strong today even if it is raining.  SC needs to get some points on the board and build a nice lead so it can cruise to a win today.  Garcia is a key as he must lead this team and move the ball around.

2.  Mistake Free Football ---USC can not allow a letdown to occur today and look past FAU even if they are without their go to guy today.  Garcia has to play smart, be a leader and throw to the right team.  The defense has to tackle and remember X's and O's today.  No "shooting ourselves" today.

3.  Don't let Special Teams hurt twice ---UGa made USC's special teamers look silly last week with 252 yards in kickoff returns against USC — including three runbacks of at least 48 yards — Gamecocks special teams coordinator Shane Beamer put several starters on the kick coverage team.  Fill the running lanes and wrap up.  Learn from the issues and do better b/c Ole Miss is watching.

4.  USC's Interior D --- The Owls will try to establish a running game and I am sure made notes of UGa going up the gut.  So the 3 man front for SC has to be ready to get off blocks and stuff the run.  Also the LB's and Secondary can not miss tackles today.

5.  Avoiding more injuries --- The injury bug has gotten around at USC - LB Rodney Paulk (knee), DT Nathan Pepper (ankle), LB Reggie Bowens (knee) and OL Kevin Young (knee) are out; SS Darian Stewart (neck) is questionable; DT Melvin Ingram (ankle) and DE Cliff Matthews (neck) are probable.  We do not need anymore with a key match up next week vs. Ole Miss.  I think this goes back to point #1 to get out to a early lead, play some new guys, control the tempo of the game and leave today with a Win.

thoughts? 

Gamecocks Clippings / News from the week that was

Gamecocks Football

• Curran breaks up pass at goal line, preserves Georgia win
• Davis: The Reason We Do This
• Gamecocks' goal: A snazzier stadium
• USC O-line in need of a push
• Injuries come at bad time for defense
• Southern Miss is next Thursday night live guest
• Special Orders
• Garcia, offense still have a few kinks to work out
• DT Pepper eyeing return
• USC takes another hit in secondary with Darian Stewart injury
• Gamecocks stirred up for home opener

Former Gamecocks

• Panthers' Munnerlyn puts chip on shoulder to use
• Where are they now: Steve Taneyhill

Garnet and Black Attack Blog Posts

• Previewing Florida Atlantic at South Carolina: Three Keys, Fun Fact, and Prediction
• Previewing Florida Atlantic at South Carolina: FAU's Offense
• Previewing Florida Atlantic at South Carolina: FAU's Defense

News out of FAU Camp / Gamecocks Week 3 Opponent

FAU News
FAU football team works to clean up mistakes
FAU's young reserve receivers must improve with Cortez Gent's absence
FAU wide receiver Cortez Gent suspended indefinitely
Owls Complete Preparation for Gamecocks

Gamecocks Depth Chart vs FAU Owls

Offense

QB
5 Stephen Garcia R-So. 6-2 219
14 Reid McCollum R-Fr. 6-3 218

FB
47 Patrick DiMarco Jr. 6-0 243
46 Dalton Wilson R-Fr. 6-0 223

RB
10 Brian Maddox Jr. 5-11 224
3 Jarvis Giles Fr. 5-11 183
31 Kenny Miles R-Fr 5-9 190

WR
81 Tori Gurley R-Fr. 6-5 227
1 Alshon Jeffery Fr. 6-3 217

WR
9 Moe Brown Sr. 6-0 183
18 Dion LeCorn Jr. 5-11 220

WR
4 Jason Barnes R-Soph. 6-4 199
82 D.L. Moore R-Fr. 6-3 202

LT
76 Jarriel King Jr. 6-5 312
73 Rokevious Watkins Jr. 6-4 340

LG
74 Heath Batchelor R-Jr. 6-7 315
62 Pierre Andrews R-Jr. 6-2 285

C
70 Garrett Anderson Sr. 6-4 315
57 Lem Jeanpierre R- Sr. 6-4 300

RG
55 T.J. Johnson R-Fr. 6-4 300
60 Terrence Campbell R-Jr. 6-3 290

RT
72 Quintin Richardson R-Soph. 6-3 296
66 Hutch Eckerson R-Jr. 6-6 290

TE
88 Weslye Saunders Jr. 6-5 280
87 Justice Cunningham Fr. 6-4 240

Defense

DE
98 Devin Taylor R-Fr. 6-7 232
96 Clifton Geathers Jr. 6-8 281

DT
6 Melvin Ingram R-So. 6-2 297
90 Chaz Sutton Fr. 6-3 243

DT
42 Travian Robertson Jr. 6-4 283
94 Kenny Davis R-Fr. 6-3 287

DE
83 Cliff Matthews Jr. 6-4 249
92 Byron McKnight R-So.. 6-4 229

WLB
40 Eric Norwood Sr. 6-1 252
44 Tony Straughter Jr. 6-0 209
33 Reggie Bowens R-Fr 6-2 233

MLB
16 Shaq Wilson So. 5-11 210
41 Josh Dickerson Jr. 6-1 221

SPUR
26 Antonio Allen Soph. 6-2 210
25 Alonzo Winfield R-So. 6-0 230

CB
5 Stephon Gilmore Fr. 6-1 188
36 D.J. Swearinger Fr. 5-11 196

FS
17 Chris Culliver Jr. 6-0 190
11 Jarrett Burns R-Fr. 6-2 180

SS
24 Darian Stewart Sr. 5-11 216
21 Devonte Holloman Fr. 6-2 211

CB
3 Akeem Auguste Soph. 5-10 180
12 C.C. Whitlock Soph. 5-10 173

FAU WR Cortez Gent suspended indefinitely

Little late to pick this up but this is huge for South Carolina on Saturday.  Cortez was the "go-to" guy for FAU and the one wideout that presented some "danger" issues for the young gamecocks secondary.  But no more is this the case as it seems Gent made a 'boo-boo.'

Senior wideout Cortez Gent, Florida Atlantic's all-time leading receiver, has been suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team....FULL STORY HERE.

Lester Jean will start for Cortez Gent,  at 6-3, 195 pounds Jean provides a slightly bigger and stronger target for Smith but he lacks the experience that Gent had.

I still say the gamecocks win 34-10 but losing Gent makes FAU scoring options interesting.

South Carolina Gamecocks vs FAU Owls Preview/Prediction

This coming weekend the Owls travel to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks. The Florida Atlantic Owls enjoyed a weekend without football last week and had time to regroup after traveling to Nebraska on September 5, losing 49-3 to the Cornhuskers.

This game is Columbia will feature two of the 12 active coaches who own national championship rings (Spurrier & Howard Schnellenberger). The last time these two teams played was on September 23, 2006 when the Gamecocks defeated the Owls 45-6 in Williams-Brice Stadium.

These Owls aren't quite Howard Schnellenberger's 1983 Miami team, but the FAU coach will be looking for another upset victory versus the Spurrier lead gamecocks. And this is not a team to overlook with an Ole Miss game starring you in the face next week. The Nebraska score may seem like this way be a cake walk but if mistakes are made then it could result in a heartbreaking loss. And Gamecocks do not need that after “what should have been” versus Georgia last week.

I feel Spurrier will try out some new guys at positions, try a few new plays and keep it simple versus the Owls because the Ole Miss game is huge coming up. So look for USC to try to jump out to a quick lead then start changing personnel. If things go as plan this should allow USC not to stress too much and cruise to a win. But again – no overlooking this game.

FAU on Defense – Very strong in the secondary with 3 veterans but weak in most other areas. Linebacking corp was hit hard by graduations but have speed. Josh Savidge is a good tackle up front that will make running up the middle tough for USC but I feel the big nasty’s for Carolina will figure out how to open some holes. Defense as a whole has lots of questions and USC will be looking to take full advantage of come Saturday night.

FAU on Offense – Rusty Smith will try to do better versus the gamecocks than he did versus the cornhuskers. In that game he was 15-31, 164 yds, 2 INT. There run game was bleak but did have Alfred Morris rack up 85 yds rushing. Go to guy is Cortez Gent and USC will try to stuff the run and shut down Gent.

USC on Offense – Look for Spurrier to do much of the same that he did versus Georgia with a variety of play-calling. Look for a nice balance between passing and rushing early but then to be more rushing as the game wears on. Spurrier wants to get a strong lead early so he can be a bit more conservative down the stretch so Ole Miss doesn’t have much to review in tape. Expecting a healthy dose of rushing blended in with some timely throws to keep the clock moving. Garcia will put up over 200 yds passing and Carolina rushing attack will have over 175 yds.

USC on Defense – The Ellis Johnson coached boys are looking to prove why they are considered one of the best defenses in the SEC. Georgia did not go as planned so look for this group to be fired up and get after it. FAU is a little suspect up front so look for USC to attack thus to disrupt the FAU QB. Look for at least 2 TO’s forced and a possible score.

What to watch for….improved play from Carolina with less penalties and better tackling on special teams. FAU will try to throw the ball on Carolina but that will not prove too successful. USC’s D will be too much for FAU and FAU will not have enough in the tank to shut down USC’s offense.

In Closing…Carolina wants to get some playing time for some new guys this game and leave this home opener with good things to talk about so I expect a good showing from the Cocks and a 34-10 win!

thoughts? is my prediction too low or too high?

Favorite Clemson fan

Check this guy out, you just lost to GT and this is what you do on national TV.


Way to go

Former Gamecocks in trouble with the law again.

Two of my favorite gamecocks of all time are at it again, this time with there father. Some stuff even I can't even make up. Please read this story and let me know what you think.

Former Gamecocks Player Dunta Robinson Fined by NFL

Former Gamecocks Cornerback and current Texan DB Dunta Robinson was fined $25,000 yesterday for wearing customized Nike cleats with the words "Pay Me Rick" written on the heel during the team's season opener Sunday. The message was intended for Texans GM Rick Smith who placed a franchise tag on him

No worries with paying that fine as this guy will make a cool 9 mil in '09.

Dunta was a 1st round selection out of THE University of South Carolina in 2004.

Full Story HERE