5 questions for Gamecocks as spring practice begins
South Carolina’s most successful football season officially becomes history today as the 11-win Gamecocks turn the page with the start of spring practice.
South Carolina will begin Steve Spurrier’s eighth season as head coach with an afternoon workout at The Proving Grounds, the first of 15 spring practices that will conclude with the spring game on April 14. The practices are open to the public. Today’s practice begins at 4:15 p.m. Here are five questions the Gamecocks will need to answer:
1. WHAT WILL EVERYONE TALK ABOUT?
For the first time since Stephen Garcia walked onto campus for spring practice in 2007, there won’t be a quarterback competition during USC’s spring practice. Despite starting for almost three seasons, Garcia never solidified himself enough to make spring practice boring for the Gamecocks’ signal-callers. It will be this year, though.
Coach Steve Spurrier will talk about competition at the position because he always does, but junior Connor Shaw will be the starter at the end of the spring (and in September) barring an injury. Shaw made steady progress throughout the fall, culminating with eight touchdown passes and one interception in his final three games. He followed that up with an outstanding winter in the weight room, so the stalwart coach’s son has given Spurrier every to think his progress will continue.
There will be a competition for the No. 2 spot as veteran Dylan Thompson tries to hold off redshirt freshman Tanner McEvoy, who will get his first serious snaps this month.
2. WHO WILL CHANGE POSITIONS?
The secondary always seems to be where most of the spring movement is, and this year probably won’t be different.
Senior DeVonte Holloman, who started at safety last season, will get another shot at spur. The Gamecocks tried the same move last spring before moving Holloman back to safety — due in part to the emergence of spur Antonio Allen.
Senior Damario Jeffery, who has started one game in his career, will get another look at linebacker after playing there last spring and moving back to spur, where he played sparingly behind Allen. Jeffery was highly regarded coming out of high school and has a prototypical football frame at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. The Gamecocks would like to get more production from him.
There probably will be more position swaps. Sophomore Corey Robinson, who went from offensive line to defensive line last spring, might go back. He had a good winter workout session, and his size (6-7, 360 pounds) is custom-made to play tackle.
3. WHO WILL PLAY LEFT TACKLE?
Seniors Kyle Nunn and Rokevious Watkins rotated at the most high-profile offensive line position last year, but a youngster will fill the role this season.
Sophomore Mike Matulis, who started the final five games of the season at right tackle, normally would get the first shot, but he will miss the spring after shoulder surgery. That opens an opportunity, particularly for redshirt freshman Brandon Shell, who was a five-star prospect and redshirted last year. Shell had a good winter and should be ready to challenge for playing time.
Cody Gibson also is in the mix, while incoming freshman Brock Stadnik could play guard or tackle. Stadnik enrolled early and will participate in spring practice.
4. WHERE’S THE NEXT NO. 1?
Alshon Jeffery, who wore the No. 1 jersey for three years and set the school’s record for receiving yards, left school with one year of eligibility remaining. Jeffery caught 26 percent of the team’s
passes last year and was one of only two wide receivers with more than 20 catches.
This year’s signing class was highlighted by wide receiver Shaq Roland, but he won’t play until the fall. That leaves this spring as an opportunity, maybe the final opportunity, for veterans such as D.L. Moore, DeAngelo Smith and Lamar Scruggs to prove themselves. Damiere Byrd and Nick Jones are expected to improve but don’t fit the traditional outside deep threat that Jeffery filled.
5. WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Four of the Gamecocks’ nine on-field assistant coaches will be new. Special teams coordinator Joe Robinson, linebackers coach Kirk Botkin, running backs coach Everette Sands and secondary coach Grady Brown will be making their debuts today. They all have key questions entering the spring.
Robinson will seek more coverage consistency this spring. Botkin must find depth to go with Reginald Bowens and Quin Smith. Sands will be without the injured Marcus Lattimore and Shon Carson, so he’ll have to mix-and-match just to get through the spring. Brown’s unit must replace three of five starters.
Link: http://www.gogamecocks.com/2012/03/13/212224/ggf-5-questions-for-gamecocks.html
South Carolina’s most successful football season officially becomes history today as the 11-win Gamecocks turn the page with the start of spring practice.
South Carolina will begin Steve Spurrier’s eighth season as head coach with an afternoon workout at The Proving Grounds, the first of 15 spring practices that will conclude with the spring game on April 14. The practices are open to the public. Today’s practice begins at 4:15 p.m. Here are five questions the Gamecocks will need to answer:
1. WHAT WILL EVERYONE TALK ABOUT?
For the first time since Stephen Garcia walked onto campus for spring practice in 2007, there won’t be a quarterback competition during USC’s spring practice. Despite starting for almost three seasons, Garcia never solidified himself enough to make spring practice boring for the Gamecocks’ signal-callers. It will be this year, though.
Coach Steve Spurrier will talk about competition at the position because he always does, but junior Connor Shaw will be the starter at the end of the spring (and in September) barring an injury. Shaw made steady progress throughout the fall, culminating with eight touchdown passes and one interception in his final three games. He followed that up with an outstanding winter in the weight room, so the stalwart coach’s son has given Spurrier every to think his progress will continue.
There will be a competition for the No. 2 spot as veteran Dylan Thompson tries to hold off redshirt freshman Tanner McEvoy, who will get his first serious snaps this month.
2. WHO WILL CHANGE POSITIONS?
The secondary always seems to be where most of the spring movement is, and this year probably won’t be different.
Senior DeVonte Holloman, who started at safety last season, will get another shot at spur. The Gamecocks tried the same move last spring before moving Holloman back to safety — due in part to the emergence of spur Antonio Allen.
Senior Damario Jeffery, who has started one game in his career, will get another look at linebacker after playing there last spring and moving back to spur, where he played sparingly behind Allen. Jeffery was highly regarded coming out of high school and has a prototypical football frame at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. The Gamecocks would like to get more production from him.
There probably will be more position swaps. Sophomore Corey Robinson, who went from offensive line to defensive line last spring, might go back. He had a good winter workout session, and his size (6-7, 360 pounds) is custom-made to play tackle.
3. WHO WILL PLAY LEFT TACKLE?
Seniors Kyle Nunn and Rokevious Watkins rotated at the most high-profile offensive line position last year, but a youngster will fill the role this season.
Sophomore Mike Matulis, who started the final five games of the season at right tackle, normally would get the first shot, but he will miss the spring after shoulder surgery. That opens an opportunity, particularly for redshirt freshman Brandon Shell, who was a five-star prospect and redshirted last year. Shell had a good winter and should be ready to challenge for playing time.
Cody Gibson also is in the mix, while incoming freshman Brock Stadnik could play guard or tackle. Stadnik enrolled early and will participate in spring practice.
4. WHERE’S THE NEXT NO. 1?
Alshon Jeffery, who wore the No. 1 jersey for three years and set the school’s record for receiving yards, left school with one year of eligibility remaining. Jeffery caught 26 percent of the team’s
passes last year and was one of only two wide receivers with more than 20 catches.
This year’s signing class was highlighted by wide receiver Shaq Roland, but he won’t play until the fall. That leaves this spring as an opportunity, maybe the final opportunity, for veterans such as D.L. Moore, DeAngelo Smith and Lamar Scruggs to prove themselves. Damiere Byrd and Nick Jones are expected to improve but don’t fit the traditional outside deep threat that Jeffery filled.
5. WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Four of the Gamecocks’ nine on-field assistant coaches will be new. Special teams coordinator Joe Robinson, linebackers coach Kirk Botkin, running backs coach Everette Sands and secondary coach Grady Brown will be making their debuts today. They all have key questions entering the spring.
Robinson will seek more coverage consistency this spring. Botkin must find depth to go with Reginald Bowens and Quin Smith. Sands will be without the injured Marcus Lattimore and Shon Carson, so he’ll have to mix-and-match just to get through the spring. Brown’s unit must replace three of five starters.
Link: http://www.gogamecocks.com/2012/03/13/212224/ggf-5-questions-for-gamecocks.html