And first off, we haven't been bad in many many moons so stop the whining.
I have taken a lot of time off from this site. My absence from here has seen me and my family move from Kansas to Oregon while simultaneously filming a reality television show. It's been a real experience for sure. I haven't been able to commit much time to Gamecock fanaticism due to the urgency of rebuilding my career, but I suffered through last season just like everyone else. My Gamecocks didn't have much success, and neither did my attempt at stardom. So what.
The glaring issues we had last year were exaggerated by our ill-advised switch to a new defensive scheme. Clowney was a once in a decade player, and Quarles proved to be almost equally as damaging, but facing those losses did not warrant a change of scheme that not one soul on our returning roster was familiar with. I knew that, you knew that, and now Lorenzo knows that. That defense could not hold against any opponent and gave up huge plays over and over. That being said, I absolutely believe this unit will bounce back with a little added fire from the bad taste of last year, but also with added focus with a new coach who is 100% proven. It is not cliche to draw attention to the late game leads we blew. It is simply FACT, and inexcusable. It accounted for a 7-6 record that should have been an easy 9 win season. You can't argue it. It is the very reason why people are shocked when a team loses a 14 point lead with less than 5 minutes left! It just doesn't happen often.
We also had a difficult time replacing Shaw. His ability to convert 3rd downs through his scrambling was invaluable. Thompson did not have that intangible, and due to this inability, he never controlled the clock or the trenches. He racked up passing yards, but our greatest success has come from ball control. I believe Mitch will provide this intangible once again. Nunez and Cooper can also provide it. I think we are in better hands now with an unproven QB than we were last year with an equally unproven pass only QB. I love what Thompson did here as a Gamecock, but we need the dual threat back, period. When you combine that defense with that lack of offensive ball control, you will not win many ballgames.
If you think this team is depleted of talent, you are simply denying the recruiting that has taken place here over the past 5 years. Go back and look at the 11 four stars from last year, then take a moment to look at the contributing three stars from the past, then take a quick gander at who we are battling for those players, and you might want to tip your hat to this staff. We are consistently in the top 20 nationally in recruiting. Stop whining about the two star guy. That's picking fly crap out of pepper, looking for an excuse to show your ignorance. We have never, and I MEAN NEVER, seen this kind of consistent talent here at USC!
We foolishly took young talent recruited for one defensive scheme, and tossed them into a failed one, yet when all was said and done, they survived the firing squad. They are men now. Our offense posed only two threats instead of three due to Thompson's lack of mobility. It's just statistics really. If I had 33% fewer things to worry about, I would probably be more successful too.
Enjoy your bone A&M, Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Missouri and clempsun, because this team will not be the same one you beat last year. Before last year, we were 42-11 this decade! We won 80% of our games folks! And we are in the SEC. In my over forty years of being a Gamecock Fan, I have never witnessed such. We have the same coach. The same one who folks said would leave for Florida, Bama, Tennessee and Arkansas. The same coach that brought you here to the point where you could bitch about one bad season out of many good ones. The same one who recognized the problems from last year and has made drastic moves to correct them. You think you can match wits with him? Be my guest.
The talent is here, the fan base is here, the facilities are here, the coaching staff is here, and you better make damn sure you recognize that THE TALENT IS HERE!
Strap'em on Gamecocks, this year will be a good ride! GO COCKS!
I have taken a lot of time off from this site. My absence from here has seen me and my family move from Kansas to Oregon while simultaneously filming a reality television show. It's been a real experience for sure. I haven't been able to commit much time to Gamecock fanaticism due to the urgency of rebuilding my career, but I suffered through last season just like everyone else. My Gamecocks didn't have much success, and neither did my attempt at stardom. So what.
The glaring issues we had last year were exaggerated by our ill-advised switch to a new defensive scheme. Clowney was a once in a decade player, and Quarles proved to be almost equally as damaging, but facing those losses did not warrant a change of scheme that not one soul on our returning roster was familiar with. I knew that, you knew that, and now Lorenzo knows that. That defense could not hold against any opponent and gave up huge plays over and over. That being said, I absolutely believe this unit will bounce back with a little added fire from the bad taste of last year, but also with added focus with a new coach who is 100% proven. It is not cliche to draw attention to the late game leads we blew. It is simply FACT, and inexcusable. It accounted for a 7-6 record that should have been an easy 9 win season. You can't argue it. It is the very reason why people are shocked when a team loses a 14 point lead with less than 5 minutes left! It just doesn't happen often.
We also had a difficult time replacing Shaw. His ability to convert 3rd downs through his scrambling was invaluable. Thompson did not have that intangible, and due to this inability, he never controlled the clock or the trenches. He racked up passing yards, but our greatest success has come from ball control. I believe Mitch will provide this intangible once again. Nunez and Cooper can also provide it. I think we are in better hands now with an unproven QB than we were last year with an equally unproven pass only QB. I love what Thompson did here as a Gamecock, but we need the dual threat back, period. When you combine that defense with that lack of offensive ball control, you will not win many ballgames.
If you think this team is depleted of talent, you are simply denying the recruiting that has taken place here over the past 5 years. Go back and look at the 11 four stars from last year, then take a moment to look at the contributing three stars from the past, then take a quick gander at who we are battling for those players, and you might want to tip your hat to this staff. We are consistently in the top 20 nationally in recruiting. Stop whining about the two star guy. That's picking fly crap out of pepper, looking for an excuse to show your ignorance. We have never, and I MEAN NEVER, seen this kind of consistent talent here at USC!
We foolishly took young talent recruited for one defensive scheme, and tossed them into a failed one, yet when all was said and done, they survived the firing squad. They are men now. Our offense posed only two threats instead of three due to Thompson's lack of mobility. It's just statistics really. If I had 33% fewer things to worry about, I would probably be more successful too.
Enjoy your bone A&M, Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Missouri and clempsun, because this team will not be the same one you beat last year. Before last year, we were 42-11 this decade! We won 80% of our games folks! And we are in the SEC. In my over forty years of being a Gamecock Fan, I have never witnessed such. We have the same coach. The same one who folks said would leave for Florida, Bama, Tennessee and Arkansas. The same coach that brought you here to the point where you could bitch about one bad season out of many good ones. The same one who recognized the problems from last year and has made drastic moves to correct them. You think you can match wits with him? Be my guest.
The talent is here, the fan base is here, the facilities are here, the coaching staff is here, and you better make damn sure you recognize that THE TALENT IS HERE!
Strap'em on Gamecocks, this year will be a good ride! GO COCKS!
