Georgia widens gap in SEC Eastern division
If you watched Steve Spurrier’s press conference without seeing the game Saturday, you’d probably have thought that the Gamecocks had just suffered a loss.
Spurrier was frustrated that his team let the Knights get back into the game in the fourth quarter. It was the second game in a row in which the defense allowed an opponent to fight its way back.
Spurrier was annoyed and said for the second time this season that changes are going to be made to the defense. He suggested that the Gamecocks play more three-deep coverage, which cornerback Victor Hampton said the team already does.
Clearly, the coach is tired of sweating it out every game. And he isn’t the only one frustrated; the players are, too.
Jadeveon Clowney said in the postgame press conference that some of his teammates were smiling and waving to the crowd when they had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The junior said he told them that the game wasn’t over yet.
South Carolina gave up another long drive and a touchdown to make it a three-point game.
“This ain’t high school anymore,” Clowney said. “You have to play until the clock ends around here.”
Whatever the problem is, it must be fixed soon. The Gamecocks may be able to get away with a lackadaisical effort against Kentucky, but after that, the team is on the road for three straight weeks.
The Gamecocks are 1-1 on the road and have given up 66 points in those two games.
The main problem on the defense is simply youth and inexperience. Fans got used to seeing a dominant defense led by D.J. Swearinger and DeVonte Holloman, and frankly, that isn’t going to return this season. It’s a longer process than that.
But I know one thing is for sure: In practice this week, defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and Spurrier are going to make sure that the young players know they can never feel comfortable with a lead.
And with a third of the season behind them, there should start to be improvements in the defense in the third and fourth quarters. If there is not, however, there is no way that the Gamecocks will get away with it on their three-game road trip.
LSU-Georgia
As most fans know, this game was very important to the Gamecocks.
They needed a win from LSU in order to catch Georgia in the east. However, that didn’t happen. Georgia pulled out a 44-41 victory. Apparently you don’t need a defense when you have Aaron Murray.
I’m sure LSU coach Les Miles was thinking, “What the heck happened?” It has been a long time since the Tigers have given up 44 points.”
Now, there is virtually no chance for the Gamecocks to overtake the Bulldogs. Georgia has one ranked team left on the schedule in No. 18 Florida, and I’m still confused as to why the Gators are in the top 25.
The Bulldogs must lose two of their remaining six SEC games, and the Gamecocks have to win out the rest of their SEC games.
While it’s not entirely impossible, the prospects look bleak for the Gamecocks’ hopes for Atlanta.