NCAA Football: 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks Season Preview

The ole ball coach received quite the off-season extension as Spurrier will now receive a guaranteed salary of $2.8 million in 2011, $2.875 million in 2012 and $2.950 million in 2013. Not a bad life eh?

On top of that, his Gameocks won their very first SEC East crown and despite getting blasted by Auburn in the SEC Title Game and losing pretty convincingly against Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, the future is looking bright in Columbia.

Returning one of the best running backs and wide receivers will do that to you. Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey are two superstars that are primed to breakout for an entire season in the gauntlet known as the SEC. Both give hope to SC fans that they can finally win their very first SEC Championship.

Offensive Outlook

In college football, you are usually only as good as your quarterback is. Having a great defense is one thing, but that will only get you so far in the landscape of the SEC.

Every legit top ten program has an exceptional defense and stud playmakers, but the X-factor always has and always will be how great the signal caller performs in critical stages of a game.

The quarterback quandary at South Carolina is known as Stephen Garcia . He must improve dramatically for that to happen. Garcia was once again suspended in the off-season for violation of team rules as some things just never changed for the young man.

He has been brutal in the past and has hurt South Carolina in many games before, but they finally have playmakers around him that should improve his decision making. 

If you put pressure on Garcia he has folded like a tent because of his inability to escape it. He is far from an athlete, but has a good enough of an arm to hit his teammates in stride for long gains.

He had a coming out party against Alabama completing 17 of 20 passes for 201 yards and three crucial touchdowns with only one pick.

He hooked up twice with his All-American WR Alshon Jeffrey who is a staggering 6’4, 233 with paws the size of a lion. He can pluck pigskins in the dark and has the body control of Sidney Rice when going up for a ball.

Known as a physical wideout who just breaks you down going over the middle while in traffic, Jeffrey has the willingness in him to do whatever it takes to win. 

Garcia or Shaw?

Stephen Garcia will try to impress us against East Carolina who he does not have to watch from the sidelines on favor s last years’ backup QB Connor Shaw.

A young, redshirt freshmen a season ago, Shaw managed the game well and is capable of leading this team. However, he is not the beast in a conference loaded with national powerhouses.

Garcia has dealt with the scrutiny for the past two seasons and he is the only true QB on the roster who knows what he truly expects in Columbia. 

Despite Spurrier for being quoted to say that he does not care who is under center as long as Lattimore is back there just shows you what to expect on offense.

Sure, Garcia has never done anything spectacular or as some would suggest, anything. However, leading the program to it’s first SEC East crown has to count for something.

The Gamecocks have struggled to consistently move the ball on offense to contend for a BCS Bowl, but this year may be the best opportunity in the Spurrier era to accomplish that.

The only way it happens is if SC can dominate the East and knock off two of the top three dogs in the West. That is possible with the following: Lights out defense, ground and pound with Lattimore early and often and threading the needle to Jeffrey in the redzone.

Note: Shaw is starting the opener though Garcia will see significant time also 

Best RB-WR Combo in America?

The offensive line that will be blocking returns thee starters: Kyle Nunn, TJ Johnson and Rokevious Watkins.

Nunn will be asked to protect the blindside of whoever is under center. The loss of Jariel King will be tough to replace, but they should not miss him too much.

Running back Marcus Lattimore has the ability to make everybody a whole lot better.

Among the top three backs in the country and as arguably the top back in the SEC alongside Trent Richardson should carry Spurrier's offense this season.

Lattimore may be the best NFL prospect because of the workload he can handle and more importantly because he is often used as a receiver out of the backfield.

Another big reason why they will be making another appearance in Atlanta will be Alshon Jeffrey. A freak at 6’4”, 233-pounds has a tremendous ability to go up and take the ball away from any would be defenders.

The strength and sure will to break tackles also puts him over the top as the top prospect in the SEC among receivers. Look for the junior to post primetime numbers in 2011.

Who Else Will Step Up?

They needed another playmaker to show up that night and it never happened.

To avoid that again this season, they must have one of the following players step up: DL Moore, Ace Sanders or Justin Barnes.

It would not be a bad thing if all three contributed quite a bit for Garcia because he could use all the help he could get.

Sanders caught 25 balls for 316 yards along with two touchdowns. A small 5’7”,166-pound lightweight of a freshmen a season ago Sanders needs to become a reliable target in the slot of Spurrier’s offense.

The offensive line is nothing special, but has productive through the years. Expect Lattimore to make them look like a top ten unit in the nation this year with his ability burst past the secondary and power to run over any SEC front seven.

If the six returning starters on defense can regain any momentum they had in the SEC East a season ago, we could be looking at another appearance for Spurrier in the SEC Championship against the SEC West.

Best Line in SEC and Beyond?

The front four was ferocious a season ago with Ladi Ajiboye and Cliff Matthews wreaking havoc against the stellar competition they faced.

Also, there was one more man that helped carry the line. Meet 6’7”, 249-pounds enforcer and bookend Devin Taylor. Though just a junior this beast from Beaufort, SC has the heart of a lion and the strength of one too.

Taylor and Travian Robertson will be expected to carry and anchor the line alongside the top incoming freshmen in America, Jadeveon Clowney.

At 6’6”, 247-pounds, Rivals.com compares him to the next Mario Williams formerly with the NCST Wolfpack and now with the Houston Texans.

Clowney is an absolute freak coming off the edge and should make a significant impact in his very first game. He is a grown man for just being 18 years old.

The following are the stats he accomplished during his senior season at South Pointe in Rock Hill, SC: 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 11 caused fumbles, six fumbles recoveries, 43 quarterback pressures and five defensive touchdowns.

Holy hell! This kid truly is a freak and we have seen many freaks in the past bottom out and never reach their full potential coming out of high school.

However, with a solid defensive coordinator in Ellis Johnson watch for Clowney to live up to the hype if he can stay healthy. Book him on being a factor in which could make this the best defensive line in the nation.

Underrated Back Seven

The linebacker corps lost Tony Slaughter and Josh Dickerson, but have a few who are expected to fill the void.

Shaq Wilson is coming off a torn hamstring and will likely start at weakside linebacker.

Antonio Allen will be playing the SPUR which is like an extra safety/outside linebacker except he can roam wherever he pleases to.

Rodney Paulk has starred before and you can expect Quin Smith to see a ton of playing time as well. 

The linebacker corp has not been special yet because they have not yet recruited a consistent amount of four and five stars quite yet. In time, the LB unit will be fine with a solid front four playing ahead of them.

The secondary on the other hand will just feed and tee off by the presence that the defensive line brings.

They return one of the finest defensive backs in the SEC with Stephon Gilmore. At 6’1”, 189-pounds he is a rangy defender that has speed to burn.

He graduated from the same high school that Clowney came from (South Pointe) and like Clowney was named Mr. South Carolina by recording 14 rushing TDs as the starting QB.

Gilmore is a true playmaker that can take a pick six back to the house at any time.

CC Whitlock, DeVonte Holloman and Akeem Augustine will shore up the rest of the secondary in what many are expecting to be the most underrated part of the team. 

Drama's Forecast

This South Carolina squad has been picked as the media darling by some people, but most are stilling taking either Georgia or perhaps even Florida (Tom Luginbill).

The Gamecocks are loaded with offensive talent and depending on how Garcia plays will determine how far this team goes.

Opening on the road in the second game of the season against Georgia may determine who wins the East right out of the gates.

The UGA Bulldogs will be quite the team as well, but I feel that Gamecocks have the better defense and are loaded with All-Americans in Lattimore and Jeffrey.

The receiving core is vastly underrated.

The defensive front can be absolutely amazing with the athleticism up front, but Spurrier and his team needs to learn how to put away teams with that killer instinct.

Three road tilts against Mississippi State, Tennessee and Arkansas should be quite the challenge outside of their September trip in Athens.

I feel they can win three of those four which would give them a date in Atlanta against the West Division winner with a chance to achieve their first ever SEC Championship.

RETURNING STARTERS: 7 Offense/ 6 Defense

PROJECTED RECORD: 13-1, 8-1 (Includes SEC Title & Bowl)

PROJECTED FINISH: First in East, First Overall

PROJECTED BOWL: BCS Sugar Bowl