Post-Auburn Stream of Consciousness Reflections

Did you think you’d get through a Gamecock football season without a dagger to heart or five like that game Saturday night?  Sucker.  Or newbie. 

Here are some random musings on what I saw Saturday night:

Stephen Garcia should still be our starting QB – I wasn’t surprised Connor Shaw came in, but I didn’t agree with it.  Garcia “is what he is” to borrow a phrase – a guy who is a warrior and will make a few plays for you, but will also drive you mad by doing things like fumbling on consecutive fourth quarter drives against Auburn.  He also gives us our best chance to win, as long as…

He takes a knee when a play breaks down – OK, maybe taking a knee is a little drastic, but learning when and how to slide would be helpful.  He protects the ball fine on designed runs.  But when he scrambles, there’s usually about a 50/50 shot somebody’s going to rip the ball away from him.  On the bright side, when he’s throwing the ball, he’s lucky to have…

Alshon - 8 catches, 192 yards, 2 TD’s.  At this pace, he’s easily first team All-SEC, and if we can win some important games and stay in the national consciousness, he should get all-American consideration.  Another guy I know will not get all-SEC consideration because…

Ace Sanders needs more touches - The one time he got the ball Saturday night he did his best Noel Devine imitation and picked up a first down for us.  Screens, reverses, end arounds, whatever - get this guy the ball.  He could give our offense a dimension that helps open up the running and passing games.  And speaking of Ace Sanders…

Isn’t it about time we had a decent return game? - It’s almost impossible that we haven’t at least lucked up into a decent kick returner in the last twenty years.  I’m ok with Stephon Gilmore as a punt returner, I think he’ll break one eventually.  (Of course, if the other team rarely or never punts that reduces his chances drastically.)  Chris Culliver is somehow, someway near the top of the all-time SEC kickoff return list without ever breaking one.  Chalk it up to longevity I guess.  Bryce Sherman must be living off his performance during last fall practice to still be getting opportunities.  Give Sanders a chance.  On the other side of the ball…

The defense isn’t as bad as they showed Saturday - I’m still trying to talk myself into this one.  History tells us Saturday night was an aberration.  Ellis Johnson defenses are solid if not spectacular, and he’ll get things corrected.  Being ranked 11^th in total defense in the SEC is disturbing, but even with our deficiencies I think we’ll be competitive defensively going forward (fingers crossed).  It would certainly help if we could figure out…

Where has Cliff Matthews gone? - I’ve seen a guy wearing #83 running around on the field, but if it was Cliff Matthews he would actually be making tackles.  Maybe he’s getting triple-teamed because our opposition knows…

Our linebacking corps stinks - The return of Shaq Wilson was supposed to help, but I’m afraid we are still well into the bottom half of the SEC as far as talent at this position goes.  Which is why…

People need to back off the DB’s - Once EJ realized our linebackers couldn’t stop the run (specifically Newton), we had to go to a zone that resulted in some easy completions for Auburn.  Most people, including me, were down on Gilmore, Culliver, and Co. after Saturday night, but if our front seven had played better we wouldn’t have had to change our game plan.  (The fact that Culliver is a walking personal foul penalty waiting to happen is a topic for another time.)  And while we’re talking about game plans, I really don’t think it will help to have two weeks to prepare for…

Alabama - Ugh.  We have to stew on the Auburn loss for two weeks and then face the one team on our schedule that we can’t beat.  That’s right, I said it.  I firmly believed as recently as Saturday night we could.  But after watching them come from behind against a pretty good Arkansas team in one of the most hostile environments around, and then watching us cough up our game, I just don’t think it can happen.  At the moment they are just too big, too strong and too talented.  But fear not Gamecock fans, because I still believe…

We can win the SEC East - I’m not as confident as I was, but I certainly think we can beat Kentucky, Vandy and Tennessee.  Arkansas will be tough, but getting them at home this year is a huge bonus.  Assuming at least one Florida loss between now and then (probably this weekend), our game in the Swamp would be for a trip to Atlanta. 

Hang in there Gamecock fans, there’s a long way to go.  Problem is, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.