An SOS for SOS
posted by David Cloninger, 1/08/2010 12:31:00 AM
------------------------------- BLIND MELON
As longtime followers of this space know, I have never coached a down of football, which is why I’m usually very careful about criticizing play-calling. I’m not even that good in PlayStation football – I win because I play with the 1989 49ers, who only lost games when they chose to (but I am one of the greatest Tecmo Bowl players of all time).
But as the fallout from the Papajohns.com Bowl continues to sting like venom thrown from a spitting cobra in the sky, I feel compelled to offer a suggestion.
Looking at what has happened in South Carolina’s last two football games and what the Gamecocks will return next year, you, Steve Spurrier, need to change your offensive approach. USC’s defense is keeping it in a lot of games and should continue to do so, but the Gamecocks cannot win games without points.
I get it, I do. Ask my family, friends, employers, anyone who’s ever known me and they’ll all tell you that I’m the undisputed king of bullheadedness. When I make up my mind that something’s going to work the way I want it to, it will.
Or if it doesn’t, I sure won’t admit it.
This is why I always feel a kinship with you, coach. We’re both too stubborn sometimes to know the right answer is not the one we chose, yet we refuse to do anything about it. Because we are both infallible in everything.
The Gamecocks looked terrific against Clemson and horrible against Connecticut. Not coincidentally, they ran the ball against Clemson and not against Connecticut.
You won at Florida with the pass, as you did at Duke and with the Tampa Bay Bandits.
This ain’t Florida. Never will be.
Run the ball. I’m not saying never pass, but de-emphasize it.
Heavily.
The Gamecocks gave up on the run way too soon against Connecticut. Kenny Miles, Brian Maddox and Bryce Sherman combined for 10 carries. Against Clemson, Miles and Maddox combined for 35.
Again, non-coincidentally, USC rushed for 223 yards against the Tigers and 76 against the Huskies. And I don’t believe it’s because UConn’s defense is that much better than Clemson’s.
The Gamecocks had an awful day in Birmingham and it’s getting worse since. When Moe Brown, one of the nicest kids that’s ever been around this program, is screaming at the receivers coach and then revealing he got caught packing a (legal) gun, you had a bad day. When Miles is Tweeting nasty comments – not that I agree with that Twitter garbage anyway (what the hell happened to privacy?) – you’ve got a problem.
So here’s the solution. Take a long, hard look at the offensive playbook, keep some of those beloved pass plays and junk the rest.
Because it is not working.
The Gamecocks stand to return Miles, Maddox, Jarvis Giles, Sherman and may add another recruit to that stable. Eric Baker, if his knee heals up, should be available by the time the 2010 season rolls around. They’ve got a running quarterback and another potential one, should Stephon Gilmore get more snaps.
They’ve got a trio of tall, speedy receivers in Tori Gurley, Alshon Jeffery and D.L. Moore. They’ve got plenty more pass-catchers who are bidding to get on the field and replace Brown.
Their offensive line is the weakest link. It’s losing two starters and it’s never been a model of consistency even with those two. The biggest problem is it’s still two years away, since the incoming class is going to be a whole lot of freshmen who need to sit, weight-lift and get ready for four years of SEC football.
Take all of those factors, remember the Papajohns.com locker room, and here’s what pops out – pieces of the same offenses that had Georgia Tech and Texas Tech combine for 20 wins this year.
Georgia Tech runs the triple option, which seems to be good for USC if it can get the blocking from the line. The Gamecocks definitely have the backs to do it, and for all of the snobs that turn up their nose at the look of it, just remember – it may be achingly outdated, but all it does is win games.
Plus, there’s new line coach Shawn Elliott, who just spent the past four years helping develop Appalachian State and Armanti Edwards into words synonymous with championships. He probably has a few ideas.
Then there’s Texas Tech, which you would love since the shotgun spread throws the ball so much. It would seem to benefit the weaknesses on the line – the big splits the Red Raiders use widen the defense to create running and passing lanes and give the QB a little more room to operate, since the ends have more ground to cover for a sack.
I say, take a little of both, combine them with what you’ve already got and try it. Admitting you were wrong only stings for a little bit.
Or so I’ve heard.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
“When life is hard, you have to change.”
------------------------------- BLIND MELON
As longtime followers of this space know, I have never coached a down of football, which is why I’m usually very careful about criticizing play-calling. I’m not even that good in PlayStation football – I win because I play with the 1989 49ers, who only lost games when they chose to (but I am one of the greatest Tecmo Bowl players of all time).
But as the fallout from the Papajohns.com Bowl continues to sting like venom thrown from a spitting cobra in the sky, I feel compelled to offer a suggestion.
Looking at what has happened in South Carolina’s last two football games and what the Gamecocks will return next year, you, Steve Spurrier, need to change your offensive approach. USC’s defense is keeping it in a lot of games and should continue to do so, but the Gamecocks cannot win games without points.
I get it, I do. Ask my family, friends, employers, anyone who’s ever known me and they’ll all tell you that I’m the undisputed king of bullheadedness. When I make up my mind that something’s going to work the way I want it to, it will.
Or if it doesn’t, I sure won’t admit it.
This is why I always feel a kinship with you, coach. We’re both too stubborn sometimes to know the right answer is not the one we chose, yet we refuse to do anything about it. Because we are both infallible in everything.
The Gamecocks looked terrific against Clemson and horrible against Connecticut. Not coincidentally, they ran the ball against Clemson and not against Connecticut.
You won at Florida with the pass, as you did at Duke and with the Tampa Bay Bandits.
This ain’t Florida. Never will be.
Run the ball. I’m not saying never pass, but de-emphasize it.
Heavily.
The Gamecocks gave up on the run way too soon against Connecticut. Kenny Miles, Brian Maddox and Bryce Sherman combined for 10 carries. Against Clemson, Miles and Maddox combined for 35.
Again, non-coincidentally, USC rushed for 223 yards against the Tigers and 76 against the Huskies. And I don’t believe it’s because UConn’s defense is that much better than Clemson’s.
The Gamecocks had an awful day in Birmingham and it’s getting worse since. When Moe Brown, one of the nicest kids that’s ever been around this program, is screaming at the receivers coach and then revealing he got caught packing a (legal) gun, you had a bad day. When Miles is Tweeting nasty comments – not that I agree with that Twitter garbage anyway (what the hell happened to privacy?) – you’ve got a problem.
So here’s the solution. Take a long, hard look at the offensive playbook, keep some of those beloved pass plays and junk the rest.
Because it is not working.
The Gamecocks stand to return Miles, Maddox, Jarvis Giles, Sherman and may add another recruit to that stable. Eric Baker, if his knee heals up, should be available by the time the 2010 season rolls around. They’ve got a running quarterback and another potential one, should Stephon Gilmore get more snaps.
They’ve got a trio of tall, speedy receivers in Tori Gurley, Alshon Jeffery and D.L. Moore. They’ve got plenty more pass-catchers who are bidding to get on the field and replace Brown.
Their offensive line is the weakest link. It’s losing two starters and it’s never been a model of consistency even with those two. The biggest problem is it’s still two years away, since the incoming class is going to be a whole lot of freshmen who need to sit, weight-lift and get ready for four years of SEC football.
Take all of those factors, remember the Papajohns.com locker room, and here’s what pops out – pieces of the same offenses that had Georgia Tech and Texas Tech combine for 20 wins this year.
Georgia Tech runs the triple option, which seems to be good for USC if it can get the blocking from the line. The Gamecocks definitely have the backs to do it, and for all of the snobs that turn up their nose at the look of it, just remember – it may be achingly outdated, but all it does is win games.
Plus, there’s new line coach Shawn Elliott, who just spent the past four years helping develop Appalachian State and Armanti Edwards into words synonymous with championships. He probably has a few ideas.
Then there’s Texas Tech, which you would love since the shotgun spread throws the ball so much. It would seem to benefit the weaknesses on the line – the big splits the Red Raiders use widen the defense to create running and passing lanes and give the QB a little more room to operate, since the ends have more ground to cover for a sack.
I say, take a little of both, combine them with what you’ve already got and try it. Admitting you were wrong only stings for a little bit.
Or so I’ve heard.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Previous Blog Entries
David Cloninger. David is a full-time staff writer for GamecockCentral, and covers Gamecock football, men's basketball, baseball and recruiting. He may be reached by email at david(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.