Insider Report, October 3rd
With the start of a new football season, GamecockCentral.com is happy to announce a new feature: The Insider Report. Check back each weekday during the season for a new edition.
For continuity reasons, if you have question regarding this report, please use today’s “Ask Tony" thread on The Insiders Forum.
Five Keys To Victory
Success in the red zone - The Gamecocks managed to move the ball well as of late, racking up 74 first downs in their last three games combined. What they haven’t done is score a lot of points and one of the primary contributing factors has been their inability to score touchdowns once entering the red zone. To win this game, Carolina will need to reverse that trend and find a way to get in the end zone once in the red zone.
Protect the football - Another reason Carolina has struggled to score points is because of their inability to protect the football, particularly in the passing game. Whether Chris Smelley or Stephen Garcia is in the game, the Gamecocks must do a better job of taking care of the football and make good decisions on when and where to throw it.
Stay tough on defense - Carolina enters this game as the nation’s best in total defense, allowing a paltry 221.4 yards per game. Ole Miss comes in at third in the SEC in total offense, averaging 386.4 yards. For this to be the lower scoring contest the Gamecocks likely need to it to be to win, their defense must come up big and continue their strong play.
Force mistakes by Snead - While Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead has made his share of big plays for his team this season, he is also prone to making mistakes as evidenced by his SEC worst eight interceptions. The more pressure they can put on him the more likely he is to make a key mistake. Snead is also only completing just over 50% of his passes on the season. A repeat performance from the way they defended Georgia’s Matthew Stafford is just what the doctor ordered for his week’s game.
Handle the “Wild Rebel” formation - Given the success Houston Nutt’s team had against Carolina last season using it, you can bet the Gamecocks will see a large dose of the “Wild Rebel” formation in this game. While Ole Miss doesn’t have any running backs along the lines of Darren McFadden nor Felix Jones, they do have some capable runners that Carolina will need to do a good job of defending.
Recruiting Tidbits
I attended South Pointe’s victory over Northwestern last night and came away very impressed with Stephon Gilmore. He was very impressive with the ball in his hands. He’s always under control and makes it look effortless. I think cornerback is an excellent fit for him based on his speed, quickness and change of direction he displayed. I’m still hearing very positive returns where Carolina is concerned with Gilmore.
I also thought Clemson commitment Devonte Holloman. He has good speed and anticipation skills and was more physical than I expected him to be. Sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney looked the part of a player who will be one of the best in the class of 2011.
Northwestern sophomore quarterback Justin Worley is also going to be a highly recruited player in the future. He has the poise of a senior, a strong arm and a quick release. I understand he grew up a North Carolina fan, as both of his parents attended school there, so they could be the early team to beat if they pursue him.
If you have any news or tips you'd like to share, please send an email to recruiting@gamecockcentral.com
This post was edited on 10/4 1:51 PM by Brian Shoemaker
With the start of a new football season, GamecockCentral.com is happy to announce a new feature: The Insider Report. Check back each weekday during the season for a new edition.
For continuity reasons, if you have question regarding this report, please use today’s “Ask Tony" thread on The Insiders Forum.
Five Keys To Victory
Success in the red zone - The Gamecocks managed to move the ball well as of late, racking up 74 first downs in their last three games combined. What they haven’t done is score a lot of points and one of the primary contributing factors has been their inability to score touchdowns once entering the red zone. To win this game, Carolina will need to reverse that trend and find a way to get in the end zone once in the red zone.
Protect the football - Another reason Carolina has struggled to score points is because of their inability to protect the football, particularly in the passing game. Whether Chris Smelley or Stephen Garcia is in the game, the Gamecocks must do a better job of taking care of the football and make good decisions on when and where to throw it.
Stay tough on defense - Carolina enters this game as the nation’s best in total defense, allowing a paltry 221.4 yards per game. Ole Miss comes in at third in the SEC in total offense, averaging 386.4 yards. For this to be the lower scoring contest the Gamecocks likely need to it to be to win, their defense must come up big and continue their strong play.
Force mistakes by Snead - While Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead has made his share of big plays for his team this season, he is also prone to making mistakes as evidenced by his SEC worst eight interceptions. The more pressure they can put on him the more likely he is to make a key mistake. Snead is also only completing just over 50% of his passes on the season. A repeat performance from the way they defended Georgia’s Matthew Stafford is just what the doctor ordered for his week’s game.
Handle the “Wild Rebel” formation - Given the success Houston Nutt’s team had against Carolina last season using it, you can bet the Gamecocks will see a large dose of the “Wild Rebel” formation in this game. While Ole Miss doesn’t have any running backs along the lines of Darren McFadden nor Felix Jones, they do have some capable runners that Carolina will need to do a good job of defending.
Recruiting Tidbits
I attended South Pointe’s victory over Northwestern last night and came away very impressed with Stephon Gilmore. He was very impressive with the ball in his hands. He’s always under control and makes it look effortless. I think cornerback is an excellent fit for him based on his speed, quickness and change of direction he displayed. I’m still hearing very positive returns where Carolina is concerned with Gilmore.
I also thought Clemson commitment Devonte Holloman. He has good speed and anticipation skills and was more physical than I expected him to be. Sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney looked the part of a player who will be one of the best in the class of 2011.
Northwestern sophomore quarterback Justin Worley is also going to be a highly recruited player in the future. He has the poise of a senior, a strong arm and a quick release. I understand he grew up a North Carolina fan, as both of his parents attended school there, so they could be the early team to beat if they pursue him.
If you have any news or tips you'd like to share, please send an email to recruiting@gamecockcentral.com
This post was edited on 10/4 1:51 PM by Brian Shoemaker
