Five Things We Learned From The USC-SC State Game
posted by Scott Hood, Monday, October 05, 2009
1. 50 Percent Of Something is Better Than 100 Percent of Nothing: The South Carolina offense was flat out awful in the first half. They couldn’t get anything going consistently. Out of the six possessions, the longest drive traveled 51 yards and even that took eight plays. In fact, one drive consumed nine plays but ultimately gained only 17 yards. The second half, though, was different story because Stephen Garcia was a much better quarterback and the offensive line played much better. In my opinion, possibly the biggest play of the game was the bullet Garcia threw to Moe Brown to pick up a key first down in SC State territory on USC’s first possession of the second half. Two plays later, Kenny Miles scampered 22 yards for the first TD of the second half. Confidence is a quarterback’s biggest ally and that third-down conversion was the fuel for the second half.
2. The USC Defense Doesn’t Need Eric Norwood To Have a Big Game All The Time: One of the lasting images from this game will be Norwood’s shake and bake moves following his interception. But, with USC content to stay back and not blitz SC State very much, Norwood had a season-low three tackles and no sacks. But, in my opinion, that’s a good sign for the USC defense. Football is the ultimate team sport and you never want to have to rely on one guy too much. Five defenders with a team-leading six tackles is one of the most encouraging statistics I’ve seen all season. Clifton Geathers had one of his best games with six tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
3. Kenny Miles Is USC’s Best Running Back: Miles’ 22-yard TD run early in the third quarter as a thing of beauty. He found a seam in the middle of the SC State defense, bounced off a would-be tackler and stormed into the end zone. Right now, Miles offers running backs coach Jay Graham the best combination of speed, power and toughness, and consistently keeps running north-south. Jarvis Giles has plenty of speed as he showed on a 33-yard run but is still susceptible to running backwards at times rather than simply taking what the defense gives him. Giles has the talent to become USC’s featured back someday but must learn that some of the things he did in high school are no longer possible against Div. I defenses.
4. Stephon Gilmore Will Make USC Fans Forget About Akeem Auguste: In more ways than one, too. With Auguste out for at least the next two games, possibly longer, Gilmore becomes the featured cornerback among a trio that also includes sophomore C.C. Whitlock and true freshman D.J. Swearinger. Gilmore will also replace Auguste as USC’s top punt returner. He snapped off a 35-yard return that set up USC’s third touchdown in the third quarter. With Auguste out, Gilmore will stay busy. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a true freshman but Gilmore is capable of handling it with his demeanor and quiet confidence. Through five games, Gilmore is sixth on USC with 19 tackles, a sack, one interception (a momentum-changing pick against FAU), two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
5. Steve Spurrier Keeps His Promises: Come hell or high water, Steve Spurrier was going to get Garrett Chisolm into the game. After the head coach vowed all week the walk-on from West Ashley High School would see action somewhere along the offensive line, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Chisolm spent the entire game standing on the sidelines watching. That is, until the final minutes of game. Without consulting Assistant Head Coach For Defense Ellis Johnson, Spurrier tossed Chisolm into the game as a defensive lineman while USC was trying to make a goal line stand against SC State. Johnson laughed it off after the game, saying he wasn’t sure what defensive front to call with Chisolm in the game, adding Chisolm would not play defense. Spurrier said Chisolm should contribute on offense this Saturday against Kentucky. The legend grows.
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Is there anything to learn from a four-touchdown win over a Div. I-AA school? You betcha. Every game is a lesson, and Saturday night’s 38-14 win over SC State was no different. Here are five things we learned from the game.
1. 50 Percent Of Something is Better Than 100 Percent of Nothing: The South Carolina offense was flat out awful in the first half. They couldn’t get anything going consistently. Out of the six possessions, the longest drive traveled 51 yards and even that took eight plays. In fact, one drive consumed nine plays but ultimately gained only 17 yards. The second half, though, was different story because Stephen Garcia was a much better quarterback and the offensive line played much better. In my opinion, possibly the biggest play of the game was the bullet Garcia threw to Moe Brown to pick up a key first down in SC State territory on USC’s first possession of the second half. Two plays later, Kenny Miles scampered 22 yards for the first TD of the second half. Confidence is a quarterback’s biggest ally and that third-down conversion was the fuel for the second half.
2. The USC Defense Doesn’t Need Eric Norwood To Have a Big Game All The Time: One of the lasting images from this game will be Norwood’s shake and bake moves following his interception. But, with USC content to stay back and not blitz SC State very much, Norwood had a season-low three tackles and no sacks. But, in my opinion, that’s a good sign for the USC defense. Football is the ultimate team sport and you never want to have to rely on one guy too much. Five defenders with a team-leading six tackles is one of the most encouraging statistics I’ve seen all season. Clifton Geathers had one of his best games with six tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
3. Kenny Miles Is USC’s Best Running Back: Miles’ 22-yard TD run early in the third quarter as a thing of beauty. He found a seam in the middle of the SC State defense, bounced off a would-be tackler and stormed into the end zone. Right now, Miles offers running backs coach Jay Graham the best combination of speed, power and toughness, and consistently keeps running north-south. Jarvis Giles has plenty of speed as he showed on a 33-yard run but is still susceptible to running backwards at times rather than simply taking what the defense gives him. Giles has the talent to become USC’s featured back someday but must learn that some of the things he did in high school are no longer possible against Div. I defenses.
4. Stephon Gilmore Will Make USC Fans Forget About Akeem Auguste: In more ways than one, too. With Auguste out for at least the next two games, possibly longer, Gilmore becomes the featured cornerback among a trio that also includes sophomore C.C. Whitlock and true freshman D.J. Swearinger. Gilmore will also replace Auguste as USC’s top punt returner. He snapped off a 35-yard return that set up USC’s third touchdown in the third quarter. With Auguste out, Gilmore will stay busy. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a true freshman but Gilmore is capable of handling it with his demeanor and quiet confidence. Through five games, Gilmore is sixth on USC with 19 tackles, a sack, one interception (a momentum-changing pick against FAU), two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
5. Steve Spurrier Keeps His Promises: Come hell or high water, Steve Spurrier was going to get Garrett Chisolm into the game. After the head coach vowed all week the walk-on from West Ashley High School would see action somewhere along the offensive line, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Chisolm spent the entire game standing on the sidelines watching. That is, until the final minutes of game. Without consulting Assistant Head Coach For Defense Ellis Johnson, Spurrier tossed Chisolm into the game as a defensive lineman while USC was trying to make a goal line stand against SC State. Johnson laughed it off after the game, saying he wasn’t sure what defensive front to call with Chisolm in the game, adding Chisolm would not play defense. Spurrier said Chisolm should contribute on offense this Saturday against Kentucky. The legend grows.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.