South Carolina Football: Why Gamecocks Offense Is Championship Worthy

South Carolina's football team opens the season slotted as No. 7 in the preseason USA Today poll and is ready to rise to a national championship.  

While the defense is star-studded with Jadeveon Clowney and is expected to have another strong season pending linebacker issues, the offense may have some questions of how effective it will be.  

Push the questions aside.  The Gamecocks offense is championship worthy. 

1. South Carolina's offense has security at nearly every person, even if it suffers any injury setbacks.  

Quarterback Connor Shaw has a strong backup in Dylan Thompson. 

Running back Mike Davis has Brandon Wilds, a power back, behind him.  It also has Shon Carson and Kendric Salley  

The wide receiving corps is deep with players who can step in.  

The tight ends are all extremely talented and the best tight end group in the nation, including third-stringer Drew Owens.  

The offensive line is strong with the starters  Even though the backups are still young, there is a lot of depth. 

If one man goes down, there are plenty more who can move in to a major role in the offense and be very effective.  

2. The Gamecocks boast two impressive quarterbacks.  

Shaw is a proven winner who can use his accurate arm and rushing ability to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.  He flat out wins football games and that is something that wins teams a championship.  

Thompson possesses an NFL-caliber arm and will step in at various times as a change to the offense.  He is a gunslinger with supreme confidence and has a great feel and for his teammates. 

Both quarterbacks have excellent chemistry with their teammates and the leaders that a coach wants to lift a team to a championship level. 

3. Mike Davis is ready to be a workhorse running back. 

Davis is in the tough position of filling Marcus Lattimore's shoes.  

Davis is quick, compact, strong and great in the open field. 

He bursts through the gaps and knows how to use his blockers.  

Davis is young, but prepared to be the premier back with his intense work ethic and athletic abilities.  He is the type of running back who can thrive under head coach Steve Spurrier's offense and help carry this team to a championship.  

4.  The offensive line can play with the best of them. 

Being an offensive lineman in the SEC is no easy task.  Defenses attack, attack, attack and attack some more.  They are relentless.   

But, South Carolina boasts a young line that can hang with the best of SEC defenses, even Alabama.  

The offensive line has to square against one of the best defensive lines in the country in practice every day.  Going up against Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, Chaz Sutton, J.T. Surratt and Gerald Dixon Jr. is a daunting task, but great for the experience of this offensive line.  

A.J. Cann and Brandon Shell are anchors on the line and hold down a solid offensive unit.  

If they can stay tight and neutralize opposing defensive rushes, the Gamecocks' offensive line is yet another key piece to this championship caliber offense.  

5. The wide receivers may not be proven, but they are rearing and ready to go. 

Bruce Ellington is the leader and will be solid in the slot.  

Shaq Roland is the all-around target who is ready to emerge. 

Damiere Byrd is the fastest player on the team and one of the fastest in the country.  His blazing speed can terrorize defenses, especially over the top.  

Shamier Jeffery, K.J. Brent, Nick Jones and others can also play some great football.  

There is no lack of targets here and no cause for concern.  

6. The tight ends are spectacular.  No ifs, ands or buts about it. 

Rory "Busta" Anderson, Jerell Adams and Drew Owens are the best tight end trio in college football.  

All three are quick, big, strong, have good hands and are total acrobats when making catches.  

They make receiving look easy because they are as good as wide receivers.  

Throw in their ability to block by using their big frames and South Carolina has a unit that can lead the way to a championship.  

The tight ends are key to bringing this team to a championship-caliber offense.  

7. The old ball coach is running the show. 

Spurrier is still one of the elite coaches in college football.  He knows offenses and he knows how to win. 

South Carolina is loaded on both sides of the ball and this offense is absolutely championship caliber.