2006 Statistics

Like most, we see senior Blake Mitchell starting at quarterback come September. Steady improvements in game management and technique under possibly the best QB coach in college football have meant high completion percentages (67% in ’06) and improved team results. But this pro-style incumbent has highly touted sophs Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher (both Spurrier’s recruits) battling for the second team nod, so we will see both sporadically since the Ole Ball Coach can manage such a rotation like few can. Senior Cory Boyd and junior local backup Mike Davis are a bruising pair that can run between the tackles all day, if needed. But neither does nearly as well without fullback Lanard Stafford, a converted lineman strictly assigned to plowing holes for them. Speaking of inside running, finding a center looks to be the top priority for this offense to remain in the top 20 (rushing offense). William Brown, last year’s backup in the middle and currently the lone senior up front, slides back to his regular guard slot to join sophomore Garrett Anderson inside. Most of the OL recruits over the past two classes have been tackles, which is unfortunate since juniors Justin Sorenson and Jamon Meredith are worthy returning starters on the outside. This all works well for the passing game, but the inside will have to gel and prove itself before anyone can claim the Gamecocks are ‘cock-a-doodle-doing’ on all cylinders.

This defense did its job in 2006 – if what counts most is the final score, the Gamecocks held all but two foes to under 30 points and only six got 20 or more. That defense returns almost all of its essential parts as nine of eleven starters are back. The only thing lost at nose tackle is some powerful girth, though newly anointed senior NT starter Joe Reaves was on the field more than off in ’06, so there is no catch up needed there. Junior Nathan Pepper on the inside (with Reaves) and senior Jordin Lindsey on the outside need to really step up and make this a clamp-down run stopping unit. The Brinkley twins don’t seem to have any dilemmas stepping up and making big plays – seniors Casper on the line and Jasper the all-SEC MLB who led the team in tackles and TFLs. Casper and sophomore backup Eric Norwood led the team in sacks (seven), and other developed depth up front means there is no excuse for South Carolina not to finish in the top 30 for run stopping. The other linebackers play much lighter than Brinkley, so watch to see if big SEC foes can push them around in the running game. Marvin Sapp and Rodney Paulk hold their ground well, and the rest of the corps can cover well both underneath and in the deep middle…it’s like they field extra safeties. Such is also exemplified by bulked up sophomore safety Emanuel Cook, who officially backs up Chris Hampton but is too talented to keep off the field (T-3rd in team tackles as a true frosh). Losing Fred Bennett will hurt. Still, finding a compliment to Carlos Thomas on the outside shouldn’t take too long with 2007’s recruiting class so rife with DB talent. The bend-don’t-break philosophy works here, yet after giving up 20+ points in four of their last six games (three of their five losses occurred then) there has to be a focus to get back to the stingy ways this defense is capable of being.