Let's go ahead and get this first point out of the way: yesterday was a godawful game. The kind of game that really deflates a fanbase that in recent weeks has started to shows signs of life after unexpected wins over both Florida and Auburn this year. That both teams have had their share of turmoil this season is frankly beside the point, because I know of exactly zero even semi-sentient beings that were marking those down as W's. No one. The egg we laid last night was a real stinker, but it, too, wasn't an expected win this season.
Here are a few headliner bullets from this season:
* This is not a roster full of gifted players that great coaching would mold into an 8-9-10 win behemoth. That's abundantly clear.
* This is not a season wrecked by a bad loss to Clemson
* Despite the efforts of one poster to claim otherwise, it's pretty clear that Jason Brown is not a wrongly suppressed team messiah
* Our lines are both just not very good.
Look, Vegas pegged us, IIRC, at 3.5 wins for the season back in August. Vegas is not in the habit of giving up easy money to the masses. The truth is, we played well above expectations. Now, that may bring the "six wins should never be viewed as an accomplishment!!" nabobs out of the woodwork, but that's the truth with this team. We performed at a level that Vegas didn't see coming, and that most of the folks here (if privately polled and forced to pick each game) didn't see coming. That's the truth about this team. Personally, in my heart of hearts, I had us pegged for a minimum of eight losses, with more if we did a typical Carolina faceplant in a winnable game. I'm happy to say that didn't happen. It may have taken smoke, mirrors and some kind of miracle brought on by constant handclapping, but Beamer and his crew somehow got this team bowl eligible. Their kudos are deserved.
All of the above praise does not mean that there isn't a need for substantial change and commitment this offseason from both coaches and players. I won't address a lot of the stupid, ill-sourced "rumors" that sometimes plague this forum, but it's fair to say that there's an appreciable disconnect between what is being espoused on offense, and what is being produced. Yes, there were some confounding play calls and poor coaching decisions, but at the end of the day, we also have to admit that there are no great calls to be made when your O-line gives precious little time to accomplish anything, and even teams with far fewer resources are spending significant time in your backfield.
We need better players. We need a QB that can not just make strong throws, but also can go through his progressions intelligently. I really believe we've made a habit often (but not always) of erring on the side of chasing great athletes who happen to be QBs, rather than great QBs who happen to be athletic. Give me a guy who knows how to step up in the pocket, or to shuffle off to the side, over a kid that has some quicks, but also a completion % around .500. Given me bigs who work as a unit, know their assignments, and move as one. I watched BYU last night - just as an example - and darned if they didn't move and flow as a unit. Takes time, but c'mon, we have too many breakdowns for it to be all coaching, as some have argued for years and years, it seems. At some point, players need to perform, so let's go get some.
For Christmas, I'm going to asking for Beamer to find a better fit at OC - even Dabo was smart enough early in his career to cut ties with a talented guy in Billy Napier and get Chad Morris in an attempt to upgrade). I'm also going to asking Santa to be generous in finding more cerebral, heavy-effort guys on both lines, and a safety or two that won't get burned deep quite so regularly in the portal. Lastly, I'll be asking for a a QB with upside to give Doty and Brown a major push come spring. There shouldn't be anyone in that QB rooms just expecting to get PT.
So, this "would-be fan" is coming back to the fold as a full time fan. Beamer is very much a work in progress, just as this team is, but he's convinced me that at the very least he really cares about Carolina, and about trying to make this program his own and his home for a very long time. Shoot, it took Dabo a few years to surround himself with the right mix of coaches to really take off. If nothing else, I believe that Beamer is well aware of that template, and will be looking to do every bit as well for himself, and our Gamecocks.
Here are a few headliner bullets from this season:
* This is not a roster full of gifted players that great coaching would mold into an 8-9-10 win behemoth. That's abundantly clear.
* This is not a season wrecked by a bad loss to Clemson
* Despite the efforts of one poster to claim otherwise, it's pretty clear that Jason Brown is not a wrongly suppressed team messiah
* Our lines are both just not very good.
Look, Vegas pegged us, IIRC, at 3.5 wins for the season back in August. Vegas is not in the habit of giving up easy money to the masses. The truth is, we played well above expectations. Now, that may bring the "six wins should never be viewed as an accomplishment!!" nabobs out of the woodwork, but that's the truth with this team. We performed at a level that Vegas didn't see coming, and that most of the folks here (if privately polled and forced to pick each game) didn't see coming. That's the truth about this team. Personally, in my heart of hearts, I had us pegged for a minimum of eight losses, with more if we did a typical Carolina faceplant in a winnable game. I'm happy to say that didn't happen. It may have taken smoke, mirrors and some kind of miracle brought on by constant handclapping, but Beamer and his crew somehow got this team bowl eligible. Their kudos are deserved.
All of the above praise does not mean that there isn't a need for substantial change and commitment this offseason from both coaches and players. I won't address a lot of the stupid, ill-sourced "rumors" that sometimes plague this forum, but it's fair to say that there's an appreciable disconnect between what is being espoused on offense, and what is being produced. Yes, there were some confounding play calls and poor coaching decisions, but at the end of the day, we also have to admit that there are no great calls to be made when your O-line gives precious little time to accomplish anything, and even teams with far fewer resources are spending significant time in your backfield.
We need better players. We need a QB that can not just make strong throws, but also can go through his progressions intelligently. I really believe we've made a habit often (but not always) of erring on the side of chasing great athletes who happen to be QBs, rather than great QBs who happen to be athletic. Give me a guy who knows how to step up in the pocket, or to shuffle off to the side, over a kid that has some quicks, but also a completion % around .500. Given me bigs who work as a unit, know their assignments, and move as one. I watched BYU last night - just as an example - and darned if they didn't move and flow as a unit. Takes time, but c'mon, we have too many breakdowns for it to be all coaching, as some have argued for years and years, it seems. At some point, players need to perform, so let's go get some.
For Christmas, I'm going to asking for Beamer to find a better fit at OC - even Dabo was smart enough early in his career to cut ties with a talented guy in Billy Napier and get Chad Morris in an attempt to upgrade). I'm also going to asking Santa to be generous in finding more cerebral, heavy-effort guys on both lines, and a safety or two that won't get burned deep quite so regularly in the portal. Lastly, I'll be asking for a a QB with upside to give Doty and Brown a major push come spring. There shouldn't be anyone in that QB rooms just expecting to get PT.
So, this "would-be fan" is coming back to the fold as a full time fan. Beamer is very much a work in progress, just as this team is, but he's convinced me that at the very least he really cares about Carolina, and about trying to make this program his own and his home for a very long time. Shoot, it took Dabo a few years to surround himself with the right mix of coaches to really take off. If nothing else, I believe that Beamer is well aware of that template, and will be looking to do every bit as well for himself, and our Gamecocks.
Last edited:
