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Morris: Spurrier becomes a witness for the defense

Steve Spurrier Stephen Garcia vertical

Steve Spurrier talks with quarterback Stephen Garcia in the third quarter.

Gerry Melendez@gmelendez@thestate.com

Posted on 09.04.09
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RALEIGH

WHAT IN THE name of Steve Spurrier is going on here?

The Head Ball Coach has turned conservative in his old age. No more daring calls deep in his own territory. No more razzle-dazzle plays when the opposing defense least expects it. Heck, there were only a handful of downfield passes in South Carolina’s season-opener Thursday night.

We can only conclude after USC’s 7-3 victory over N.C. State that the realization of Spurrier’s situation has set in. To win, Spurrier must go right wing in game management. He must let his defense win games, and use his offense to control the ball as much as possible.

“We gave a big ovation to our defensive team,” Spurrier said of the team gathering afterward in the locker room beneath the Carter-Finley stands. “We all realized they won the game for us. It was a team victory.

“We’re all going to take the win, but hopefully some day we can win a 42-39 game around here.”

Understand, Spurrier’s previous four South Carolina teams have won games similar to Thursday’s. There was the 15-0 victory over Mississippi State to open the 2006 season and 34-0 pasting of N.C. State to open the 2008 season in a game that was 3-0 at halftime.

The difference is that everyone expected Spurrier’s offense to be different as those seasons progressed. He has not fielded many teams over his coaching career that centered on the defense, and the offense produced just enough to win games.

Not so much this season.

There is every reason to believe — and why not? — that this USC defense can carry the team. By the looks of things on Thursday, there also is every reason to believe the offense will play to that thinking.

With Spurrier-coached teams at Florida, time of possession was a worthless statistic. His teams scored at a furious pace, and rarely did the Gators hold possession of the ball longer than their opponents.

With this team, it is a statistic worth noting.

“At halftime, we had the ball for almost 20 minutes,” said USC quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus. “So, we at least won the time of possession. If we can do that and not turn the ball over, and as good as we are on defense and they’ve only got to play nine or 10 minutes every half, I think we’ve got a heck of a chance.”

From the outset, it was clear Spurrier and new offensive line coach Eric Wolford were serious when they talked throughout the preseason about establishing a running game. USC called running plays on eight of the game’s first 10 plays, and finished the game with 42 runs and 22 throws.

“A lot better, a lot better,” quarterback Stephen Garcia said of the play of the offensive line. “Coach Wolford has just changed the entire attitude of the offensive line.”

The offensive line charged off the line of scrimmage at times, pushing N.C. State’s defense backward and creating holes not seen for most of last season. The final statistics show that USC gained a mere 108 yards on the ground, but that number is misleading. The Gamecocks gained 154 yards rushing, only to lose sizeable yardage to three sacks and another broken play.

It was not a matter of USC struggling to move the ball. It did. Unfortunately, the offense could not capitalize on scoring opportunities, other than the 14-yard touchdown drive that followed a fumble recovery in the first quarter.

Three other times the offense moved inside N.C. State’s 20-yard line only to come up empty. The Gamecocks botched a field goal attempt on a bad snap, missed a field goal and ran out the clock to end the game at the N.C. State 18.

Lost opportunities aside, USC’s offense proved to be effective although hardly dazzling. That effectiveness was partly due to taking pressure off Garcia, who could operate the offense without having to make big plays on his own.

There were only a couple of times when USC took what could generously be called gambles on offense. The Gamecocks went for it on a fourth-and-1 at the N.C. State 11 in the third quarter and got the first down. Unfortunately, a missed field goal attempt followed.

Then, facing a third-and-4 at its 39-yard line in the game’s waning minutes, Garcia connected with Moe Brown on a 33-yard pass that clinched the victory.

“Thank God it was completed, or I might have been thrown off the team,” Garcia said.

It turned out to be USC’s longest play from scrimmage. Granted, that’s not what anyone expects from a Spurrier-coached offense. But it just might be what will define this team, one that can win games with little offense and standout defense.

Afterward, Spurrier departed the media room and shook his head as he walked. “Seven to three,” he said to himself. “Seven to three.”

It might be a refrain he repeats often this season, and that might not be a bad thing.

Listen to Morris Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. on ESPN Radio 93.1 FM

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