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GAME WEEK 2: Talking Georgia Bulldogs (Discussion Thread)

FeatheredCock

FeatheredCock

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Gamecocks cruised past Coastal. With a feeling good attitude, now will they carry over to Georgia game? That's this week question as we discuss the Gamecocks vs the Bulldogs this coming weekend. South Carolina beat in-state opponent Coastal Carolina 49-15 in Williams-Brice Stadium. The opponent was badly overmatched. It was the noon game on the SEC Network; 75,126 fans showed up and many of them didn’t stay for the second half. The venue will be the same next week, but nothing else will.


South Carolina (1-0) will host No. 3 Georgia, the defending conference champion, in the 3:30 CBS game, the conference’s marquee time slot, and it’s doubtful there will be a ticket to be had by the time the game kicks off.

And next week the Gamecocks will, so how much of what happened against the Chanticleers can be replicated against the Bulldogs?

The best sign for the Gamecocks on Saturday was not on the stat sheet but on the headsets, where Bentley and first-year offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon have found a comfortable and productive working relationship.

So what you say? Le's hear your thoughts about the biggest game in recent years having so much impact for both teams in the national setting for 2018 and maybe beyond.

Georgia_vs_South Carolina_twitter_teamUpcomingSunset(1).PNG​
 
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Yes It will but I believe the Gamecock have a shot to pull of the big upset. What you say?  :animated-applause-smiley-imagesmall:

 
For the first time since DT was quarterback, I think Carolina will score points. To me, the key is if Dowdle/Williams can run the ball at all. If they can get 4/5 yards per clip, that opens Bentley and the passing game. This is the best group of wideouts Carolina has had since Gurley/Alshon- and they may be even better than that. 

UGA will attempt to punch them in the mouth. But USC has never played scared of them (when Jon Hoke wasn't coaching, at least). 

Maybe I'm setting myself up for heartache, but I think USC has a puncher's chance in this one.

 
Listened to Perry Orth

This morning. He mentioned something that I have not seen or heard yet. Werner offenses have had success against Smart's defenses. Its McClendon's offense but I know. 
He can provide some good pointers.Just a another positive for the. Gamecocks. I hope it continues.

 
5 areas where Gamecocks are better than Georgia

The home team has won five of the past six meetings in the South Carolina-Georgia series, including 2012 and 2014 in Columbia.

In fact, in 2014, Georgia was a 5.5-point favorite coming to South Carolina following a big win over Clemson. The 2012 meeting featured two top-6 teams, but the Gamecocks ran away with a 35-7 win over the Bulldogs, who later represented the SEC East in Atlanta. That game was also the last time South Carolina hosted a top-5 SEC opponent.

Some concerns for the Gamecocks, namely at linebacker and in the secondary, were answered in Week 1 with the return of Bryson Allen-Williams from a shoulder injury to have a solid game against Coastal Carolina. And the emergence of freshman starter Jaycee Horn at cornerback, one of the bigger surprises of the preseason, was encouraging.

Here are five areas where South Carolina is better than Georgia:

Wide receivers

Even without Deebo Samuel, the Gamecocks boast Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith and OrTre Smith, who each had at least 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2017. And obviously Samuel is back.

Georgia’s Riley Ridley had a banner national championship game, but was tough to find the rest of the season. He didn’t have a catch in seven games, and had fewer than 50 receiving yards in three others.

The Gamecocks return three receivers who had at least 30 catches last season, and that doesn’t include Samuel. Georgia, meanwhile, can only count Terry Godwin in that category. He’s been out with a lingering knee injury but is expected to return this week. Samuel who missed last year’s game, made four catches for 90 yards against the Bulldogs in 2016.

Special teams

This comes down largely to a comparison of Deebo Samuel and Mecole Hardman because there’s a push at punter and placekicker. Samuel delivered considerably more production on a per game basis in 2017, with two touchdowns in three games. Hardman, though electric in the open field, couldn’t break through for a score all season on kickoff or punt returns. That’s a big reason Samuel was named first-team All-SEC by the coaches this preseason. Samuel is an All-American candidate as a returner, and Georgia fans could relate that his impact is akin to Isaiah McKenzie or even Todd Gurley returning to Georgia.

Quarterback

Jake Bentley had the same completion percentage (62.2) as Jake Fromm despite having considerably more attempts in two fewer games. Bentley was 245-for-394 for 2,794 yards, compared to Fromm’s  181-for-291 for 2,615 yards, putting him ahead in completions, completion percentage, yards and yards per game. After injuries to Samuel and some running backs, Bentley had to do more with less, and that’s one reason he led the team in rushing touchdowns in 2017. Fromm had plenty more help, especially late last season.

Offensive coordinator

Will Muschamp likes to say that Bryan McClendon’s more than a recruiter, but his recruiting haul is tough to top. In his career at Georgia and South Carolina, he’s reeled in some all-time greats, being the primary recruiter for Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, Jamyest Williams and Jaycee Horn. And those Gamecock players hail from the heart of metro Atlanta’s recruiting hotbed. Who was the primary recruiter for star Georgia freshman QB Justin Fields? Not offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, but running backs coach Dell McGee. Of Georgia’s top four assistants, Mel Tucker, Sam Pittman, James Coley and Chaney, it was Chaney who received the lowest bump in salary this past offseason.

Depth at running back

Georgia’s depth at running back took a couple of serious hits the last two weeks with the injury to Zamir White and the first-half suspension to James Cook. All of a sudden a backfield that was expected to have four or five options is down to mainly D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien. South Carolina, meanwhile, is expecting the return of Mon Denson, to go with Rico Dowdle, who didn’t play against Georgia last season, Ty’Son Williams and A.J. Turner.

 
After the first game, ESPN dropped Georgia in their playoff ranking from #3 to #7, and reduced Georgia’s chances of winning Saturday to 73.3% (down from 79.1%)Note: The Gamecocks have won three of the last four games against Georgia in Columbia, S.C., although the lone loss came in Kirby Smart's first season, a 28-14 victory for the Bulldogs. Smart is 2-0 against South Carolina, with both wins coming by 14 points. ESPN's SEC Nation will be in town for this matchup between the former Georgia defensive backs. Like Georgia, South Carolina is coming off an easy win over an FCS opponent, beating Coastal Carolina 49-15. Returning starting quarterback Jake Bentley and versatile offensive weapon Deebo Samuel will be at the forefront of Georgia's defensive gameplan this week. Despite the 45-0 win over Austin Peay, Georgia's chance of winning at South Carolina went down. The Dawgs now have a 73.3-percent chance, down from 79.1-percent previously.

 
Five storylines for South Carolina’s showdown with Georgia

South Carolina and Georgia meet Saturday for the 10th time as ranked teams. The game will be televised by CBS at 3:30 p.m.

The Gamecocks have won six of the previous nine such matchups, but they’ll need a big upset this week to continue that trend. The No. 3 Bulldogs (1-0) are 10-point favorites against the No. 24 Gamecocks (1-0). Here are the five storylines that will go the furthest toward determining who wins this matchup:

Georgia’s offensive line

The Bulldogs offensive line averages 328 pounds per man, which is going to present a challenge for South Carolina’s inexperienced defensive line. Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp acknowledged this week that this matchup was causing him concern and he was trying to “muddle through” a solution. The most likely scenario is that Muschamp does everything he can to utilize the Gamecocks defensive speed, particularly in the form of Buck end Bryson Allen-Williams, who only weighs 230 pounds but might have the quickness to give Georgia problems. Look for Allen-Williams to line up all across the front.

South Carolina run game

In the last two seasons, South Carolina has been outrushed by Georgia 568 yards to 73 yards. Obviously, the Gamecocks have to close that gap. Their offense can help by getting to triple digits in rushing as a team, which its only done nine times in Muschamp’s 16 SEC games so far. South Carolina installed a new up-tempo offense in large part to help its running game against powerful defenses like the Bulldogs have. The Gamecocks believe their pace can get them some easy yards as Georgia defenders hurry to get lined up.

Deebo vs. Deandre

A one-on-one matchup between two projected first round NFL Draft picks is enough to get 10 NFL scouts into the stadium on Saturday. South Carolina senior wide receiver Deebo Samuel created a bit of a social media stir this week when he said, “Who?” when asked about Deandre Baker, Georgia’s senior cornerback. In real time, the comment didn’t feel like a diss, just a player more familiar with an opponent’s No. 18 than his name. However, it’s likely that Baker is eager to make him remember the name after Saturday.

Turnover margin

To Muschamp’s chagrin, South Carolina’s only forced one turnover (a Rosendo Louis fumble recovery) against Coastal Carolina last week. The Gamecocks probably need to do better against the Bulldogs. A 10-point underdog needs the ball to bounce its way a few times. In the last two years, South Carolina is minus-3 in the turnover battle in this game with five giveaways to the Bulldogs’ two.

Home sweet home

The Gamecocks home venue is sold out and figures to have its wildest atmosphere since the 2015 Georgia game when No. 24 South Carolina upset No. 6 Georgia 38-35, converting a late fourth down to seal the victory. The game will be played in the SEC’s marquee spot – 3:30 on CBS. None of Georgia’s players have seen Williams-Brice Stadium close to its best because the Bulldogs last trip to Columbia, S.C., came for a delayed game played on a Sunday that was played before a half empty stadium.

 
‘Becoming a rivalry.’ What Georgia thinks of South Carolina

ATHENS, GA. Georgia’s Larry Munson Trophy Room, named after its legendary broadcaster, pays homage to some of the greatest moments and figures in Bulldogs football history. You can find Herschel Walker in there, Champ Bailey and David Pollack. There’s a tribute to the 2018 Rose Bowl win and Uga, voted the nation’s No. 1 mascot in 2017.

The Governor’s Cup, a golden trophy that’s topped with a ball-carrier throwing a stiff-arm, is enclosed in one corner. It’s there to highlight Georgia’s annual clash with Georgia Tech. “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” is the name given to a game that’s been played every year since 1925. The Bulldogs are the current holders of the hardware after last season’s 38-7 win in Atlanta.

So count one rivalry for UGA. It also has the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” with Auburn and another with Florida that used to go by the official title, “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

So where does South Carolina fit in?

The Gamecocks and Bulldogs play for a 71st time Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Only Clemson has played USC more. The No. 24 Gamecocks (1-0) and No. 3 Bulldogs (1-0) are both ranked entering this game for a 10th occasion.

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp, a former Georgia safety, said Tuesday that USC-UGA has “been a great rivalry through the years. And I expect another outstanding game on Saturday.”

Stakes in this one might heighten the sense of the series’ overall magnitude. Georgia, reigning SEC champions, was picked in the preseason to win the league’s East Division. USC, coming off a 9-4 year and Outback Bowl win, was pegged second.

The Bulldogs and Gamecocks outscored their Week 1 opponents by a combined 79 points.

A division title on the line in Week 2?

“I think it’s becoming (a rivalry),” said senior UGA defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter. “It’s definitely one of the tougher, more physical games that we play. Especially coming over these past years and how the tables have been turned and we’ve been going back and forth. I think it’s a game that we take very seriously. They’re doing the same thing.

“Like I said, everybody’s going to come out and give it their best. We’re going to get South Carolina’s best. And they’re going to get our best. It’s going to be a great football game.”

Muschamp and Georgia coach Kirby Smart were Bulldog teammates. They’ve twice been on the same coaching staff.

“Obviously I have a relationship with Coach Muschamp, and they do a tremendous job over there,” Smart said. “Watching them progress their program over the last couple of years, they’ve gotten better with each season.

“We had a hard-fought battle two years ago on the Sunday game, and then last year’s game was probably one of the most physical we played in. It was a really tough, physical game. A lot of breaking the wheels when it comes to running the ball, them and us.”

 
Running the ball in new offense will be ‘huge’ against Georgia folks.

South Carolina rolled up 557 yards of total offense in its season-opening 49-15 win over Coastal Carolina last week, including 250 yards and four touchdown passes from quarterback Jake Bentley. 

But perhaps the most significant accomplishment by the offense was the performance of the offensive line and running game, which combined to produce 263 yards rushing. That’s 43 yards more than the run game’s best single-game output in 2017. 

Hopefully, that performance is a sign of things to come in South Carolina’s new up-tempo offense. Being able to run the football will be a huge key Saturday against No. 3 Georgia, which had one of the best defenses in the country last year. 

“Defensively, they are solid up front. We just have to go out there and play our game,” offensive guard Zack Bailey said. “We have to move them off the ball. We have to attack them and we have to set the tempo and make sure we can run the ball efficiently and effectively.” 

“Winning on the line of scrimmage in critical games like this is pivotal,” head coach Will Muschamp said this week. “Be able to stay balanced on offense, be able to run the ball, be able to throw the ball, protect the quarterback, be able to stop the run defensively, those are all things that are critical in every game. I would say it would be a big indicator of who wins the football game is who wins on the line of scrimmage on Saturday.”

Though the fast-pace offense is expected to open up the passing game and produce big plays — South Carolina had 294 yards and five TD passes vs Coastal — a big part of the switch also was to jumpstart a running game that was 12th in the SEC last year with 122 yards per game. 

It worked in the season opener with the Gamecocks averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Starting running back Rico Dowdle produced the fourth 100-yard game of his career, rushing for 105 yards on 15 carries (7.0 ypc) and a touchdown. Ty’Son Williams added 82 yards on 11 carries (7.5 ypc) and a touchdown. A.J. Turner had just two carries but gained 24 yards, most of it on a 17-yard run, while receiver Deebo Samuel had an 11-yard run. 

The running game indeed opened up the offense, leading to passing touchdowns of 24, 22 and 27 yards. The Gamecocks had 15 explosive plays (20 yards or more) in the game. 

Muschamp said improving the running game was a “huge part” of implementing the new offense. 

“When you watch teams that play with tempo and how effective they are running the football, a lot of it has nothing to do with getting a hat on a hat in the run game. A lot of it has to do with displacement of a defensive player, not being aligned or having his eyes in the right spots,” Muschamp said. “It’s so hard offensively right now, unless you are just elite from an ability standpoint, to create explosive plays. In order to create some explosive plays, in the passing game especially, you need to be able to run the ball and stay balanced and create one-on-ones down the field. There’s no question that was a big part of it.”

Bailey said the Gamecocks may try to speed up the tempo against Georgia in an effort to catch its defense off guard. 

“We can definitely go faster,” he said. “We just have to make sure we pound them up front and move them off the ball.” 

Muschamp said the Gamecocks will continue to use multiple backs, with Dowdle, Williams and Turner all getting playing time and opportunities in the run game. Short-yardage back Mon Denson also returns from a hamstring injury this week. 

“There's only one and they all want to carry it. But I think it's a very unselfish room,” Muschamp said. “That's the one thing I think through competition, they can either pull you apart or pull you together. And I think I've seen a group that's galvanized itself and pulled itself together as far as approach and wanting us to be successful. And regardless of who's carrying the ball, let's win games. That's been fun to watch.”

 
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