Here are a few practice tidits:
You can forget about any notion that the Carolina coaches or players are taking the S.C. State game lightly. The intensity level in practice is still very high, and this one of the beauties of Steve Spurrier’s coaching style. He approaches every opponent the same, and the players appreciate that coaching style. There are no highs and lows of emotion throughout the year in practice.
The coaches are spending a lot of extra time getting freshmen receivers like Chris Culliver, Jason Barnes, Mark Barnes and Matt Clements ready for action this weekend. They know they need at least a couple of these guys to step up and improve significantly as the season goes on to really open up the passing game. Look for this game to be an opportunity for these young talents to seize the moment and show the coaches they’re ready to take the next step.
The offensive line looks like a different unit in practice than they did less than a month ago. Lemuel Jeanpierre has improved quite a bit in short period of time, and he’s fighting hard to maintain his starting spot at right guard. Gurminder Thind is also getting more and more comfortable with the left guard position, giving OL coach John Hunt more than one option. Garrett Anderson’s versatility has proven to be very valuable this year with his ability to be effective at each guard spot and be the backup center.
Also, Kenrick Ellis remains on the defensive line and has done some good things this week in practice. He just needs to continue working on his conditioning level and his time will come. Terrence Campbell has worked with the offensive line, but it’s too soon to really have a feel for his potential there.
Defensively, the coaches are emphasizing assignment football. S.C. State will run the spread option this weekend with the hopes of duplicating some of the success teams like Wofford and Louisiana-Lafayette have had against the Gamecocks recently. Carolina has the speed and athleticism to stymie an option offense provided they are on the same page and the players are sticking to their assignments. That will be very key this weekend.
With Darian Stewart stepping up with a huge game at safety against Georgia and Emanuel Cook making his return from an appendectomy, the competition level in practice at safety has been high. Stewart was rewarded for his efforts with the start this weekend, but Brandon Isaac isn’t going to go away quietly. Both will play quite a bit, and it’s likely you’ll see both playing on Sundays one day.
I look for the Gamecocks to play well this weekend. It’s an important game for many reasons, and the players and the coaches fully understand that.
You can forget about any notion that the Carolina coaches or players are taking the S.C. State game lightly. The intensity level in practice is still very high, and this one of the beauties of Steve Spurrier’s coaching style. He approaches every opponent the same, and the players appreciate that coaching style. There are no highs and lows of emotion throughout the year in practice.
The coaches are spending a lot of extra time getting freshmen receivers like Chris Culliver, Jason Barnes, Mark Barnes and Matt Clements ready for action this weekend. They know they need at least a couple of these guys to step up and improve significantly as the season goes on to really open up the passing game. Look for this game to be an opportunity for these young talents to seize the moment and show the coaches they’re ready to take the next step.
The offensive line looks like a different unit in practice than they did less than a month ago. Lemuel Jeanpierre has improved quite a bit in short period of time, and he’s fighting hard to maintain his starting spot at right guard. Gurminder Thind is also getting more and more comfortable with the left guard position, giving OL coach John Hunt more than one option. Garrett Anderson’s versatility has proven to be very valuable this year with his ability to be effective at each guard spot and be the backup center.
Also, Kenrick Ellis remains on the defensive line and has done some good things this week in practice. He just needs to continue working on his conditioning level and his time will come. Terrence Campbell has worked with the offensive line, but it’s too soon to really have a feel for his potential there.
Defensively, the coaches are emphasizing assignment football. S.C. State will run the spread option this weekend with the hopes of duplicating some of the success teams like Wofford and Louisiana-Lafayette have had against the Gamecocks recently. Carolina has the speed and athleticism to stymie an option offense provided they are on the same page and the players are sticking to their assignments. That will be very key this weekend.
With Darian Stewart stepping up with a huge game at safety against Georgia and Emanuel Cook making his return from an appendectomy, the competition level in practice at safety has been high. Stewart was rewarded for his efforts with the start this weekend, but Brandon Isaac isn’t going to go away quietly. Both will play quite a bit, and it’s likely you’ll see both playing on Sundays one day.
I look for the Gamecocks to play well this weekend. It’s an important game for many reasons, and the players and the coaches fully understand that.
