Mapping Out a (Comfortable) Win

posted by David Cloninger, 10/02/2009 01:09:00 PM

“We'll draw a blueprint.”
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Boy, wouldn’t it be nice if just for once, South Carolina’s game went exactly according to plan?

With S.C. State coming to Columbia on Saturday, the Gamecocks want a game where they’ll win, first and foremost. After that comes the descending order of items on the wish list – win comfortably, spare the quarterback, get the backups a lot of work, have fun, etc.

It’s a nice plan to have and in a perfect world, all of it will happen. USC will easily improve to 4-1 and show off several stars of the Williams-Brice Stadium galaxy at the same time. Everyone goes home happy with a pretty win.

I don’t think I’m alone in saying the plan won’t happen on Saturday. There’s been too many instances where the map shows the clear route through the pasture toward the promised land and the Gamecocks have opted for the road through the mountains and swamp instead.

Take the last game USC played against S.C. State. The Gamecocks won 38-3, but it was after they had five turnovers and played like a backup XFL team. Steve Spurrier was so incensed he forbade his quarterbacks to throw in the second half (Blake Mitchell and Tommy Beecher combined for four interceptions and a fumble), so they handed off to Cory Boyd and Mike Davis, who each broke the 100-yard mark.

“Why do I think that’s happened?” replied Spurrier earlier this week. “Because South Carolina State’s got a pretty good team. We’re not a bad team; we’re just not an explosive team yet. We still have hopes we can be someday.”

The Bulldogs aren’t just pretty good, they’re great. They won their conference last year and I’m still wondering how Will Ford didn’t get looks from any bigger schools.

That being said, though, it’s FCS vs. the SEC. Even S.C. State coach Buddy Pough said earlier this week that if would take some extraordinary breaks for his team to shock the Gamecocks.

USC knows it should win and that’s where the plan comes from. The Gamecocks can use this as a chance to heal their hurt players and get more mojo flowing before Kentucky comes in next week.

In a perfect game:

· Stephen Garcia directs three quick touchdown drives and USC’s defense shuts down Ford and Malcolm Long for a 21-0 lead. Backup Reid McCollum can come in for some much-needed game experience while Garcia rests his battered ribs.

· All of the running backs get some touches and at least two hit the 100-yard mark. Tough to do with five of them, but a game like this can make everybody happy for a week or so.

· Alshon Jeffery catches a touchdown while Tori Gurley catches one that isn’t called back.

· Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews play the first half and then take a seat. No need to burn those guys in a game that’s decided, when they’re going to be so vital down the stretch.

· Alonzo Winfield gets a chance to re-earn his spot at spur, while Antonio Allen and Damario Jeffery can play some and then rest their bang-ups.

· The Gamecocks, since they’ll score so much, get a chance to try several different rotations on kick return to see which is the best lineup.

Boom. Easy win, 4-1, USC prepares for Kentucky with several questions answered.

If only.

If I could tell the future, play-by-play, I’d be pulling an Uncle Rico right now, sitting by a pool in L.A. with my soulmate (who just recently became single … more as it develops). There’s no way I can say what will happen on Saturday.

But I know that thinking all of that’s going to happen, clockwork, makes about as much sense as a left-handed shortstop.

I’m positive USC will win on Saturday. I’m pretty sure the Gamecocks will win comfortably, whether or not they look good doing it.

We’ll see if the map-making has become any more legible than it has been.

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