We watched Marcus come of age as a Freshman against UGA ... then own those 'dawgs outright in a 'signature' 35-7 curbstomp win on ESPN's nationally-televised "GameDay" feature the very next year; rushing for 2 TD's and catching a pass for his 3rd TD in that game. And we will NEVER forget Lattimore's 40-carries for 200+ yards down in the 'Swamp' to clinch the SEC East championship ... beat Florida? In Gainesville? Some said it could never be done. We ALL learned there wasn't too much Marcus couldn't do. What a Gamecock.
Marcus Lattimore was a special Gamecock player (and person) in a WHOLE lotta' ways.
BUT!!! ... now (NOW meaning fans everywhere will start to notice) we've got another guy who's quietly gotten it done for a LONG time in No. 22 - Brandon Wilds ... who's already had some big-time games in his career, and THIS year is going to be 'very' special. Brandon LOST an entire season to injury but in the three years he's seen the field he's 'only' rushed for 'bout 1,300 yards at a 5.0 yard per-carry clip, scoring 10 rushing TD's ... and caught passes for another nearly10-yards per catch average with 3 receiving TD's. THAT is 'pretty dang good'. Brandon is STRONG, he's fast and he's smart ... AND, he's got a huge 'heart'. A pretty-much 'overlooked' local-boy coming out of HS ... Brandon Wilds does NOT play like the barely 3* low-to-mid-rated 5.something RB he was 'rated' when he graduated. Nope, THIS YEAR Brandon will be truly awesome.
And he'll get A LOT of help from No. 33, David Williams. VERY fast, very strong and maybe the best 'break-away' threat we have ... Williams WILL HAVE a great year in 2015.
Teams NEVER 'replace' players like Marcus Lattimore ... you just do what's required and put the 'next guy in line' in the place those players once occupied. Our guys are READY ... this is THEIR TIME ... we will be GOOD at running back. Not only can these guys RUN and CATCH ... they've improved 1000% 'blocking'. Football, as much as any 'game' is a 'team' game ... and it's those 'small' things our guys have been willing to work so hard improving that will make the difference for us when making a block (or not) WILL make ALL the 'difference'.
It won't matter WHO gets open if Connor Mitch & Perry Orth are running for their lives back there. Teams are going to blitz sometimes and those guys are going to need to stick a hat in somebody's ribs more often than not instead of doing that 'drop-shoulder, lay-down roll' that so MANY RB's try to get away with, which most SEC DE's and LB's completely ignore. OUR guys are READY.
We WILL BE STRONG at RB in 2015. This is 'their time'. And you can BET ML will be pulling for 'em. I think we'll improve in every facet of our game this year - but the two area's we'll notice almost IMMEDIATELY will be overall RB-play and kickoffs (returns AND coverage). We'll also get back to knocking the opposing QB on his a$$ in his own backfield.
I can hardly wait.
Marcus Lattimore was a special Gamecock player (and person) in a WHOLE lotta' ways.
BUT!!! ... now (NOW meaning fans everywhere will start to notice) we've got another guy who's quietly gotten it done for a LONG time in No. 22 - Brandon Wilds ... who's already had some big-time games in his career, and THIS year is going to be 'very' special. Brandon LOST an entire season to injury but in the three years he's seen the field he's 'only' rushed for 'bout 1,300 yards at a 5.0 yard per-carry clip, scoring 10 rushing TD's ... and caught passes for another nearly10-yards per catch average with 3 receiving TD's. THAT is 'pretty dang good'. Brandon is STRONG, he's fast and he's smart ... AND, he's got a huge 'heart'. A pretty-much 'overlooked' local-boy coming out of HS ... Brandon Wilds does NOT play like the barely 3* low-to-mid-rated 5.something RB he was 'rated' when he graduated. Nope, THIS YEAR Brandon will be truly awesome.
And he'll get A LOT of help from No. 33, David Williams. VERY fast, very strong and maybe the best 'break-away' threat we have ... Williams WILL HAVE a great year in 2015.
Teams NEVER 'replace' players like Marcus Lattimore ... you just do what's required and put the 'next guy in line' in the place those players once occupied. Our guys are READY ... this is THEIR TIME ... we will be GOOD at running back. Not only can these guys RUN and CATCH ... they've improved 1000% 'blocking'. Football, as much as any 'game' is a 'team' game ... and it's those 'small' things our guys have been willing to work so hard improving that will make the difference for us when making a block (or not) WILL make ALL the 'difference'.
It won't matter WHO gets open if Connor Mitch & Perry Orth are running for their lives back there. Teams are going to blitz sometimes and those guys are going to need to stick a hat in somebody's ribs more often than not instead of doing that 'drop-shoulder, lay-down roll' that so MANY RB's try to get away with, which most SEC DE's and LB's completely ignore. OUR guys are READY.
We WILL BE STRONG at RB in 2015. This is 'their time'. And you can BET ML will be pulling for 'em. I think we'll improve in every facet of our game this year - but the two area's we'll notice almost IMMEDIATELY will be overall RB-play and kickoffs (returns AND coverage). We'll also get back to knocking the opposing QB on his a$$ in his own backfield.
I can hardly wait.
