Game week 2: Talking Charleston Southern Buccaneers (Discussion Thread)

[FeatheredCock]

Game week 2: Talking Charleston Southern Buccaneers (Discussion Thread)

Sept. 02, 2019

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Next up comes the home opener with Charleston Southern (0-1) of the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision. Will any other QBs — Ryan Hilinski or Dakereon Joyner — get a chance to play? Muschamp said those plans are yet to be finalized. “We’re evaluating everything right now moving forward,” Muschamp said. “We’ll know more as we move forward.”

CSU fell by 33 points in its opener to Furman, making South Carolina’s next game — at least on paper — one that allows for reserve players to see field time. Michael Scarnecchia and Joyner, Bentley’s backups last season, finished USC’s rout of Chattanooga, the Gamecocks’ lone game against an FCS foe.

Hilinski, a freshman and four-star prospect from California, beat Joyner for the No. 2 job last month. Asked when he’ll decide if anyone besides Bentley takes snaps against CSU, Muschamp said the staff would meet Sunday night. “We’ll move through that,” Muschamp said. “There’s a lot of variables with that. It wasn’t all one person (against UNC), I can assure you of that.”

While QB evaluation continues, South Carolina will tweak its offensive line against the Buccaneers. Bentley was sacked three times against the Tar Heels and the Gamecocks gained just 34 rushing yards after halftime.bUSC, from left to right tackle, started Sadarius Hutcherson, Donell Stanley, Hank Manos, Eric Douglas, and Dylan Wonnum, in Charlotte. “We’re going to look at some different combinations,” Muschamp said. “I’m not ready to comment right now. We talked today as staff. We had practice (Sunday) and shuffled some guys around. We’ll continue to do that before Tuesday’s practice. ... We had too much penetration.


INJURY REPORT


Muschamp said Sunday night that cornerback A.J. Turner, receiver OrTre Smith, and safety J.T. Ibe — all potential starters or immediate backups — practiced Sunday after missing the North Carolina game with injuries.


HURRICANE WATCH


As Hurricane Dorian continues its threat toward the state, Muschamp said he and USC athletics director Ray Tanner has yet to discuss possible contingency plans for Saturday’s game. “The important thing is securing our coast and the people on the coast,” Muschamp said. “Whatever happens, happens. There’s nothing we can really control as far as those situations. Those decisions are in great hands.” Hurricane Florence caused South Carolina to cancel its 2018 game with Marshall.

 

[FeatheredCock]

STORYLINES TO FOLLOW

 Tucked between a shocking loss to North Carolina and a showdown with No. 2 Alabama is this game with Charleston Southern. The only opponent from the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision on USC’s schedule is coming off a blowout loss to Furman. On paper, this should be an easy afternoon for Will Muschamp’s team. But after the lackluster showing in Charlotte, every tiny bit of struggle will scrutinized.

 South Carolina’s last game against an FCS foe ended with a reserve quarterback behind center. The 49-9 win over Chattanooga in November 2018 featured Michael Scarnecchia and Dakereon Joyner after Jake Bentley. Should a similar storyline play out against Charleston Southern, it’ll mean Ryan Hilinski makes his long-anticipated debut. A good showing by Hilinski only ups the fan base’s hankering for a change after Bentley’s struggles in Week 1.

 Charleston Southern first-year coach Autry Denson played for former Gamecock coach Lou Holtz at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish’s all-time leading rusher inherited a program coming off a 5-6 season. The Buccaneers haven’t fared well in recent games against FBS competition, falling to Florida in 2018 (53-6), Mississippi State in 2017 (49-0), Florida State in 2016 (52-8) and Alabama in 2015 (56-6).

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN PLAYERS TO WATCH

 Quarterback Jack Chambers completed 18 of 25 passes for 192 yards, while running for 24 yards and a score in the 46-13 loss to Furman. He didn’t have any turnovers, but was sacked five times. The redshirt sophomore from Georgia has only made two career starts.

 Defensive end Nate Salley was perhaps Charleston Southern’s biggest bright spot in the Furman loss. The senior captain recorded nine tackles, including three for loss and a sack.

Guard Stephen Haralambis attended the same Chapin High School of Gamecocks Hank Manos and Will Register. The senior has made 21 career starts.

 

[ConwayGamecock]

If there's any positivity regarding an oncoming category 4 hurricane, it's that it at least appears to be losing it's energy. Last night around 11 pm, the NOAA site had Dorian as a high Cat. 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds around 185 mph. That is some scary stuff. By 11 am today, it had slowed down however to 155 mph, and sits at 150 mph now. We still have 2-3 more days before Dorian moves up around the SC coastal area, so hopefully it continues to dwindle down. It's still a Cat 4 storm, and those are still very dangerous, but every little bit of reduction is welcomed.....

 

[Cockypantherfan]

Hoping this pushes out to sea so it doesn’t affect people on the coast and also our game.

 

[$Billz]

  Manos got his ass handed to him for sure. He is just not physically ready to play center I guess. My problem with the whole game is how badly our staff got out coached. We never really tried to pressure unc young QB and we could not tackle and took bad angles all game. One other thing I noticed was our LBs and DBs were showing by angles of their feet and bodies which way they were going. You do that kind of crap and even a freshman QB is going to torch you. 

  I'm really at a loss for words. We now have to put a young QB in and play the hardest schedule in the country. I hope I'm dead wrong but the kid and our team are in for a very long year. Especially if our coaches continue to coach like they have been. Losing to the likes of unc and virginny is pathetic and uncalled for. I was thinking to loss to uva. was due to us really not wanting to be there, but I guess that thinking was wrong. 

 

[FeatheredCock]

Changes for Saturday’s game

Gamecock fans can expect to see some different things on Saturday for South Carolina’s first home contest of the 2019 season. In the lead-up to Carolina taking on Charleston Southern in Williams-Brice Stadium, here’s what we’ve learned.

• For starters, a change at QB

This has been covered already, but the Gamecocks will be going with true freshman Ryan Hilinski under center following a substantial injury to Jake Bentley. The former Rivals100, Elite 11 prospect will make his highly-anticipated debut at noon.

• Offensive line shuffling

It seemed likely that USC would go with a different combination up front after the starting five from the UNC game did not turn in a stellar effort. The middle of the line was identified as the biggest issue, and some shifts are in order. Donell Stanley will shift back over to center after beginning the year at left guard. Jordan Rhodes will take over that vacated slot on the left side, and game one starter Eric Douglas will battle it out with Jovaughn Gwyn for another spot at right guard.

• Personnel returning on defense

J.T. Ibe is slated to be back from injury on Saturday, and he figures to man one of the safety spots. That likely means R.J. Roderick will start at the other spot. Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu could play corner with Jammie Robinson at safety, or A.J. Turner (also back from injury) could play a corner spot and send Horn to nickel. Either the way, the secondary will have two guys back that should factor in somewhere.

 

[Gamecocks1137]

AJ Turner plays with a lot of heart so I am really glad he will be back and ready to go. The QB change will be interesting to see, and I really hope we found a blue chip/gem in Ryan. I want to see this team dominate (The way that they should) and do it for a whole 60 minutes. Never let off the throttle, I don't care if we score 100 points and the other team has to negotiate for shorter quarters in the second half. Please play with intensity Gamecocks, you are better than the last game. 

 

[kingofnerf]

 

[ShepCock]

Hank Manos has started two games at Center and our Offense - and Offensive Line - have been very sub-par. It might be unfair to blame our woes just on Manos, but if it was me, I would put Stanley back at Center and start Jovaughn Gwyn with Eric Douglas at Guard. That would give us more size and experience across the board - Gwyn is one of the strongest players on the roster. The line HAS to be more physical.

Especially true if we're going to run it 50 times a game.  Which we should.

 

[CoverTwo]

Hank Manos has started two games at Center and our Offense - and Offensive Line - have been very sub-par. It might be unfair to blame our woes just on Manos, but if it was me, I would put Stanley back at Center and start Jovaughn Gwyn with Eric Douglas at Guard. That would give us more size and experience across the board - Gwyn is one of the strongest players on the roster. The line HAS to be more physical.

I think its pretty clear Manos needs another year of development. I'm curious if he is going to have the frame to get up to 300lbs. He is currently listed in the 280 range. I'm not sure what he came in at. I hope everyone is willing to give him time to develop and not dismiss him because of his Virginia and UNC performance.

 

[CoverTwo]

It'll be interesting to see what kind of impact JT Ibe makes this weekend. He was reportedly having a tremendous Fall camp so I'm excited to see him finally play next to RJ Roderick.

We are really feeling the effects of a handful of things at the Safety position:

1) Jamyest Williams lack of size.

2) Jonathan Gipson's transfer

3) Jaylin Dickerson's season ending injury.

4) The lack of development of Jamel Cook.

5) Almost all of our 2016 and 2017 DBs have either washed out or graduated.

I'm also excited to see Donnell Stanley, Jordan Rhodes, and Jonathan Gwyn start to build chemistry. That could be the move that saves our season offensively.

 

[AikenGameFan]

He was a Center in HS. 6'-4" 275# so he really has not developed a whole lot yet. I think and SEC center needs to be about 320# and strong.

Let him keep at it this year and fill in for relief a little and next year he might be there.

Meant to quote Cover 2