Practice report: O-linemen shuffle roles, responsibilitiesAugust 25, 2014
No backup QB determined yet, Mangus saysWhat a difference a month makes.
The preseason depth chart had Cody Waldrop or Clayton Stadnik starting at center for No. 9 South Carolina, and Alan Knott third-string. Will Sport was behind Mike Matulis at right guard.
Three days before No. 21 Texas A&M visits, Shawn Elliott said that Knott may have been starting if he’d have been healthy.
“If he had been here in camp, I don’t know if the other guys would be vying for the (center) spot,” Elliott said on Monday. “Just to tell you the truth. He has really done well.”
Knott, a redshirt freshman, tore his meniscus in early July and missed most of the preseason. He returned just as Matulis went down with a sprained knee, forcing a rotation.
Waldrop moved to right guard after he had trouble consistently snapping the ball well, Knott has begun to rep at center and Sport is the backup at center and guard. It should be Stadnik at center on Thursday with Waldrop at right guard.
“I think I’m feeling pretty comfortable at center, but I can do either,” Sport said. “This is the first time I’ve really gotten a lot of reps at center, but the main thing is just getting my snaps right and getting all that straight in my mind. Once Cody Waldrop hurt his side that one day, Clayton didn’t really have a backup, so he wanted me to get some reps there.”
“It’s a little bit of weight off your shoulders, you can concentrate on making blocks a little better than I did before,” Waldrop said. “Hopefully I can do my job there.”
It’s all good
Perry Orth and Connor Mitch continue to battle for the No. 2 spot behind starter Dylan Thompson.
“They’re both doing some good things,” coach G.A. Mangus said. “Both young, both haven’t played a bunch, so the more reps they can get, and they’re splitting a bunch of reps in practice. It’s all about knowledge and knowing the more they play, the better they get. We’ll see how it goes.”
Any butterflies?
Thompson has been watching film of the Aggies.
“Their defense is really athletic,” he said. “They’re young but they’re athletic. That’s something you always got to look out for.”
As for himself, he wants game day to get here. Like almost every player in the country, he’s tired of facing his teammates.
“Just excited. Just ready to go play,” he said. “I’m sure Texas A&M is the same way.”
Heard is the word
Receiver Carlton Heard was recently placed on scholarship. He revealed why on Monday.
“It was a play during 7-on-7,” he said. “I had made a good play and (Steve Spurrier) was like, ‘You’re on scholarship for that catch.’ I think it was a jump ball.”
Injury report
Players who did not practice or wore yellow jerseys were: TE K.C. Crosby (right foot), DE Blake McClain (foot), OL Brock Stadnik (knee), DE Devin Washington (hamstring), OL Mike Matulis (left knee), CB Jamari Smith (left foot) and OL Donell Stanley (wrist).
Next
The Gamecocks will practice at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. It is closed to the public.
Videos
Dylan Thompson after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HraNLbK9FSU
Shaq Roland after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfIv1f5esak
Cody Waldrop after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ1BE54xcjs
No backup QB determined yet, Mangus saysWhat a difference a month makes.
The preseason depth chart had Cody Waldrop or Clayton Stadnik starting at center for No. 9 South Carolina, and Alan Knott third-string. Will Sport was behind Mike Matulis at right guard.
Three days before No. 21 Texas A&M visits, Shawn Elliott said that Knott may have been starting if he’d have been healthy.
“If he had been here in camp, I don’t know if the other guys would be vying for the (center) spot,” Elliott said on Monday. “Just to tell you the truth. He has really done well.”
Knott, a redshirt freshman, tore his meniscus in early July and missed most of the preseason. He returned just as Matulis went down with a sprained knee, forcing a rotation.
Waldrop moved to right guard after he had trouble consistently snapping the ball well, Knott has begun to rep at center and Sport is the backup at center and guard. It should be Stadnik at center on Thursday with Waldrop at right guard.
“I think I’m feeling pretty comfortable at center, but I can do either,” Sport said. “This is the first time I’ve really gotten a lot of reps at center, but the main thing is just getting my snaps right and getting all that straight in my mind. Once Cody Waldrop hurt his side that one day, Clayton didn’t really have a backup, so he wanted me to get some reps there.”
“It’s a little bit of weight off your shoulders, you can concentrate on making blocks a little better than I did before,” Waldrop said. “Hopefully I can do my job there.”
It’s all good
Perry Orth and Connor Mitch continue to battle for the No. 2 spot behind starter Dylan Thompson.
“They’re both doing some good things,” coach G.A. Mangus said. “Both young, both haven’t played a bunch, so the more reps they can get, and they’re splitting a bunch of reps in practice. It’s all about knowledge and knowing the more they play, the better they get. We’ll see how it goes.”
Any butterflies?
Thompson has been watching film of the Aggies.
“Their defense is really athletic,” he said. “They’re young but they’re athletic. That’s something you always got to look out for.”
As for himself, he wants game day to get here. Like almost every player in the country, he’s tired of facing his teammates.
“Just excited. Just ready to go play,” he said. “I’m sure Texas A&M is the same way.”
Heard is the word
Receiver Carlton Heard was recently placed on scholarship. He revealed why on Monday.
“It was a play during 7-on-7,” he said. “I had made a good play and (Steve Spurrier) was like, ‘You’re on scholarship for that catch.’ I think it was a jump ball.”
Injury report
Players who did not practice or wore yellow jerseys were: TE K.C. Crosby (right foot), DE Blake McClain (foot), OL Brock Stadnik (knee), DE Devin Washington (hamstring), OL Mike Matulis (left knee), CB Jamari Smith (left foot) and OL Donell Stanley (wrist).
Next
The Gamecocks will practice at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. It is closed to the public.
Videos
Dylan Thompson after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HraNLbK9FSU
Shaq Roland after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfIv1f5esak
Cody Waldrop after Aug. 25 Gamecocks practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ1BE54xcjs