First 3 Game Times Set for SC

So .... what should we realistically expect our record to be after those three games?

quote:

---

So .... what should we realistically expect our record to be after those three games?

---

We are dealing with some unknowns coming into this season.

Will we have a better pass rush?
Have the DB's learned and improved?
Can Mitch complete over 65% of his passes?
Will the left side of the OL be ok?

Those are the 4 big questions. I'm not worried about our Run game, or Run defense. I think those will be strong, and I think we'll be strong on Spec Teams.

Considering those 3 matchups:
unc will run the HUNH spread, so can we rotate fresh defenders who contribute quality reps and can their DC, Chizik, turn around that defense of theirs in 1 year? It was worse than our's.
I think we win this game.

kent will have a better team this year than last year. So to me this game is going to depend on the defense at home. We'll be able to move the ball against them, but can we stop the wildcat RB? I believe we'll focus on that a lot in the weekly practices leading up to the game.
I don't remember the last time Kent beat us at home,
I think we win this game.

uga will be the toughest of those 3 games, but their offense won't be as good as last year's. Their QB situation is worse off than our's, but their OL is better. Their RB situation is better. We have better WR's and despite what the media writes, I like TE Adams better than their Jeb.
Their defense had a much better year than us last year. However, we should have a better pass rush. This is an away game though, but we have beaten them 4outta5 years and the HBC loves beating georgia.
This is a toss up game for us.

Realistically, anything from 0-3 to 3-0 could happen, b/c of our unknowns. If we beat unc and kent and have a pass rush, I will be very confident we'll beat uga.

Gun to my head, I would say 3-0, b/c I refuse to forecast failure when every other school is dealing with unknowns as well.

quote:

---

Their QB situation is worse off than our's

---

How so?

quote:

---

However, we should have a better pass rush

---

2-1 is realistic.
1-2 happens if we have a slip up against UNC or UK.
0-3 would be the end of the Spurrier Era.


And why the hell are we opening SEC play with UK?

Our thought process is that we have all Juco d-lineman up front. These are actual DE's. I actually think our defense is going to be pretty good or at least not as bad off as people think or want to believe. They will be experienced.

quote:

---

The projection summary had some credibility until you made this claim. There is no way in hell you believe this, but I’d like to hear your thought process...

---

Our DE's last year were awful, we're bringing in the 2 best JUCO DE's in the country in Lewis and Sawyer, plus a new scheme with the 4-3 and Hoke's version of the nickel. We'll also have the most talent and depth at the DE position that we've had since '12. BAW is going to be on the field more in the 4-3 base and he's an excellent pass rusher.

Why do you think our pass rush won't be better?

UNC:

The Tarheels have a pretty solid offense, and they return most of their key offensive players plus all I think of their OL. USC actually had a better offense than they had last year (they trailed in everything but scoring offense, where they averaged about 1 point more per gm than we did in a weak ACC), but we lost more key personnel from last yr. than them.

As bad as our defense was last season, their's was even worse. Both teams now have new DCs as a result, and UNC's DC (Gene Chizik) hasn't been a true DC for years, and further I don't think UNC made the kind of improvements in personnel to their unit as USC did with ours, so I would think that USC should hold an edge defensively in this game - maybe even a decisive edge.

Our QB Mitch will most likely have a few hiccups in this game - hopefully they are as few as possible. USC has a good chance to win this one...


Kentucky:

Last years' UK game was a total meltdown by the Gamecocks. Lost 45-38 after leading 38-24 about half-way through the 4th. Thompson throws 2 INTs in USC's last 2 possessions that give UK the lead, and that kills our chances of tying the score. UK's Kemp rushes 14 times for 116 of his 131 yards for the day, plus scores 2 TDs and we can't stop him.

UK's defense was as bad as ours was last season. They have as many questions there this off-season as we do. IMO due to it being the season-opener in W-B and due to the nature of the loss to them last season, our team will be eyeing this game, and the fanbase will be as well. Our offense should get another breather against a poor defense to make things happen, and hopefully our staff prepares for the wildcat option better this time around. I think USC should be favored to win this game as well...

UGA:

This will be the best of the 3 defenses by far, and it will be on their home field. They feel they let one get away last season in Columbia, and I'm sure even if they didn't, they'd have this game circled on their calendar since we've beaten them 4 of the past 5 years.

UGA has some questions of their own with a new QB and new WRs, and they typically are a bit slow to get the team going every season. It's another scenario for both teams as they start over with new QBs for consecutive seasons - last season Thompson passed on UGA with ease in the 1st half, which I think is due to SOS having UGA's number in play-calling.

This will be tough game. Without knowing more about both teams, the logical call would be that USC loses to UGA here. However in any case I think we give UGA a battle, and if we see improvements in our defense and Mitch plays with confidence I can see us pulling a surprise win here....

quote:

---

Why do you think our pass rush won't be better?

---

I must have misinterpreted your statement. I read that as, USC will have a better pass rush than UGA since the write-up was comparing different positions. My mistake.

To your question, I do think the Gamecocks will be much improved at rushing the passer. If only by default, since last year’s team lacked the top line talent. From an outside perspective, the Gamecocks seemed to put a premium on DE in last years class. Between Lewis, Blackshear, Wideman and Sawyer, I think there is enough talent in numbers to put some pressure on the opposing the offense.

Do we miss Brad Lawing?