USC-Navy Rewind and a Sneak Peek to Vanderbilt

Am I the only Gamecocks fan who is double fisting with a beverage in one hand and a bottle of Rolaids in the other hand? This game scared me to death and I am just grateful USC escaped with a victory. Navy is an admirable opponent that refuses to give up until the clock displays all zeroes in the 4th quarter. As expected it took Carolina just over three quarters to make defensive adjustments and get acclimated to the speed and precision of how Navy executes its Triple Option offense. It’s very difficult for the Carolina scout team offense to simulate a well-oiled version of the triple option in three days of preparation for Navy. I cannot fault Ellis Johnson’s stop troops for the challenges they faced on slowing down the Midshipmen offense. The combined Rush Attempt-to-Pass Attempt ratio was 91 rush attempts to 34 pass attempts which is almost a 2.5-to-1 rushing advantage. Carolina had eight possessions, scored on four (3 TD’s & 1 FG), one turnover (interception), two turnover on downs and one take a knee at the end of the game. Navy had seven possessions, three TD’s, two punts, one turnover (interception) and one turnover on downs. Not a lot of room for error for either team. So let’s take a look at how USC strategically beat Navy this past Saturday night and remember we are undefeated (3-0) and not playing our best football. Twelve years ago we were 0-11 and the worst team in NCAA. My how expectations have changed in Columbia, SC over the last dozen years!
The Good:
1. Marcus Lattimore - enough said! The sophomore sensation had 37 rushes for 246 yards and three TD’s. Lattimore remains on the Heisman ballot!
2. Lattimore is one of three running backs to rush for over 200 yards during Steve Spurrier’s coaching career (twice for Lattimore, 2010 versus UF he ran for 215 yards) per ESPN.

3. USC’s power running game helped pave the way for 254 rushing yards!

4. I-Formation success: Lattimore ran for 167 yards on 24 carries in the I-formation with a lead fullback & a handful of plays as a single back. That is 68% of his rushing yards (almost 7 yards per attempt) in a traditional formation. It’s what we call old school line-up and punch your opponent in the mouth! His biggest gain of the night in the I-formation occurred on the game’s first play when the sophomore sensation rumbled for 31 yards.

5. Zone Read Option: In the zone read option formation, Lattimore gained 79 yards on 13 attempts. That is 6 yards per rush attempts (not bad!). His biggest gain on a zone read play occurred in the 1st quarter when he gained 21 yards.

6. Third Down Conversion: USC converted 56% (5/9) of its 3rd down attempts

7. Play Keep Away: USC won the time of possession battle with a 2:30 minute advantage (31:15 to 28:45)

8. Pass Efficiency: Garcia completed 72% of his passes (18/25)

9. Spread the Pigskin: Garcia distributed the football to seven different pass catchers (5 WR’s, 1 RB & 1 TE)

10. Spur Antonio Allen: The Ocala, FL senior is playing lights out this year so far. He intercepted the 4th quarter pass to end Navy’s upset hopes and also forced a fumble in the 3rd quarter which USC was unable to recover (margarine hands Marty Markett could not corral the ball before Navy recovered it inside the USC 20-yard line)

11. DE Duo: Defensive Ends Devin Taylor & Jadeveon Clowney made impact plays in crucial moments of the game. Late in the 2nd quarter Devin Taylor stuffs Navy QB Kriss Proctor on 4th & 2 in USC territory. USC turns around and goes 32 yards for a 48-yard field goal as time expires in 1st half. Jadeveon Clowney on Navy’s 2nd possession of the 4th quarter records a tackle-for-loss (3 yards) on first down and then on 2nd & 13, Clowney & Holloman corral a Navy RB for no gain to force 3rd & long. Then on Navy’s final 4th quarter possession Clowney applies tremendous quarterback pressure on 3rd & 7, as the freshman sensation is tackled from behind by a Navy o-lineman, and forces an incomplete pass.

12. FG Kicker: Back-to-back games Jay Wooten has nailed a long field goal (48-yard FG) right down the middle with plenty of distance

13. 4th Quarter Run Defense: Held Navy to 59 yards rushing in the second half. Navy had only 17 yards rushing in the 4th quarter combined on two drives.

The Bad:

1. Third down Defense: Coming into the game USC allowed 45.2% in two games, ranked 93rd in NCAA (per ESPN). Navy converted 9/14 third down conversions for a 64.3% clip on Saturday night. After the Navy game USC’s third down defense is now yielding 51%. This is an atrocious indictment on this team’s inability to get off the field in crucial situations! If Ellis Johnson, Lorenzo Ward, Brad Lawing, Jeep Hunter and John Butler do not correct this ISSUE, the Gamecocks will not have the magical season we all hoped for in pre-season.

2. Red Zone Turnovers: USC failed to score its first red zone attempt on the first drive of the 3rd quarter when Garcia was hit as he tried to throw the ball away and fluttered a duck into the waiting arms of a Navy defender at the 9-yard line. When offensive possessions are minimized like Saturday’s game; turnovers in the red zone can make a huge difference in a win or a loss.

3. Early QB Jitters: Garcia once again missed open wide receivers for big plays early in the game. He barely overthrew Ace Sanders on a deep post route on Carolina’s opening drive. Then on the very next play he airmails a wide open Bruce Ellington by seven yards. Ellington would have easily picked up a first down and probably much more. Ellington was on Navy’s 28-yard line and the ball landed on Navy’s 21-yard line. I guess Garcia thought he was throwing to Shaquille O’Neal!

4. First down Rush Defense: In the 1st quarter USC allowed Navy eight rushes for 65 yards on first down. That averages to eight yards a rush. Unacceptable!

5. Red Zone Defense: The Gamecocks failed to keep the Midshipmen from reaching the end zone inside Carolina’s 20-yard line on two opportunities.

6. DT Robertson Running Mate: It’s about time for another defensive tackle to step up and make some plays alongside senior Travian Robertson. Robertson is getting double teamed constantly while his interior teammate is getting physically overwhelmed. Junior Aldrick Fordham is a serviceable backup but he is not a SEC-type starter along the defensive line. Hopefully freshman Kelcey Quarles returns for the Vanderbilt game as he sat out Navy’s game with a concussion.

7. Give Ellington the Ball: Athlete Bruce Ellington touched the ball three times on Saturday night. Once on a screen pass and twice on kickoffs. Spurrier has to devise schemes to get more touches to Ellington as the season moves forward.

8. First Half Run Defense: USC's defense surrendered 215 yards on the ground to the NCAA's #1 Rush Offense in the first half.

The Ugly:
1. The only ugly moment in the game occurred in the 2nd quarter when Garcia was sacked. On 2nd & 10 with a five wide receiver formation, Garcia sat in the pocket for seven seconds scanning the field for an open wide receiver before deciding to run when he was tackled from behind for a five yard loss. As a redshirt senior, please throw the ball away if after seven Mississippi you cannot find an open wide receiver!

Oh well a win is a win and we’ll take a three point or 30-point win right now although my stomach would prefer a 30-point win. As we look forward to Vanderbilt on Saturday night (ESPN2/7 p.m.) new Vandy Head Coach James Franklin (former Offensive Coordinator at Maryland) has invigorated the Commodores program with a defensive mentality. Vanderbilt is a top-20 defense in many NCAA defensive categories (20th scoring defense per ESPN) on this young season as they demonstrated on Saturday intercepting five passes (per www.secsports.com) versus Ole Miss, returning one INT for a touchdown. On offense RB Zac Stacy had 169 rushing yards, including a 77-yard touchdown run versus Ole Miss as the Commodores spanked Ole Miss 30-7. It’s an SEC East Division opponent and the undefeated (3-0) Commodores should not be overlooked.

My next blog will be Wednesday afternoon when Spurspective will give an update on USC basketball recruiting, the Gamecocks football recruiting hotboard and some more USC/Vanderbilt tidbits.

Go Gamecocks!