South Carolina Football: Connor Shaw Should Sit Until He's 100 Percent

Different week, same questions for South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier.

Connor Shaw missed last weekend's 48-10 win over East Carolina after suffering a bruised shoulder in the Gamecocks' opening night win over Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Spurrier said Thursday that Shaw's status for this week's game versus UAB will again be a game-time decision, according to WLTX 19 in Columbia, SC.

Shaw has thrown a little bit this week, but he's still easing back into the role of South Carolina's starting quarterback.

Unless he's absolutely 100 percent, Spurrier should sit him.

Backup Dylan Thompson clearly can handle the job in Shaw's stead. Thompson completed 21-of-37 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns last week versus the Pirates. 

Considering that South Carolina's offense utilizes the zone read when Shaw is healthy, he's more susceptible to injury. Because of that, it's important to keep Thompson healthy and ready in case he's called upon when the Gamecocks get into the meat of their SEC schedule.

That's not to say that South Carolina should treat Shaw with kid gloves. It shouldn't.

But if there's even the slightest chance of Shaw re-aggravating that shoulder, there's no reason to trot him out there.

We know the Gamecocks are going to get with Shaw.

He's a good runner, and underrated passer and tough as nails.

Keeping him that way is Job 1 for the South Carolina staff. Because of that, there's no reason to put him at risk against UAB now that it's clear that Thompson can handle the job.

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