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Gameday preview: USC vs. Florida Atlantic
Stephen Garcia looks to string two games together when the Gamecocks face the Owls on Saturday.
Gerry Melendez@gmelendez@thestate.com
Posted on 09.19.09
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Injuries
-- USC — LB Rodney Paulk (knee), DT Nathan Pepper (ankle), LB Reggie Bowens (knee) and OL Kevin Young (knee) are out; SS Darian Stewart (neck) is questionable; DT Melvin Ingram (ankle) and DE Cliff Matthews (neck) are probable.
-- Florida Atlantic — RB Jeff Blanchard (knee), RB Willie Floyd (shoulder) and OL Eric Hansen (leg) are out; DL Jimmy Jean (hand) is doubtful.
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Five Storylines
Another notch on the (Sun) Belt
South Carolina is 6-0 against Sun Belt Conference schools, including a 45-6 victory against Florida Atlantic in 2006. The Gamecocks, who are 21-point favorites Saturday, are 22-3 record in home nonconference games since 2000. Florida Atlantic is 1-15 against BCS schools and 0-14 mark on the road since starting its program in 2001.
Take cover
After Georgia set a school record with 252 yards in kickoff returns against USC — including three runbacks of at least 48 yards — Gamecocks special teams coordinator Shane Beamer put several starters on the kick coverage team. Defensive end Cliff Matthews and free safety Chris Culliver bring speed and solid tackling skills to the unit, while Adam Yates can help by knocking a couple kicks into the end zone.
Can Garcia string two games together?
USC quarterback Stephen Garcia had what many considered a breakout game in a losing effort at Georgia, completing 31 of 53 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. The right-hander has taken better care of the ball this season, with one interception in each of the first two games. But Steve Spurrier wants Garcia to be more productive when he scrambles out of the pocket.
Auditioning young playmakers
Tailback Kenny Miles, a redshirt freshman from Georgia, is expected to get the first carries of his career Saturday night. Spurrier also wants to see freshman receiver Alshon Jeffery and first-year tailback Bryce Sherman get a few more touches. If the Gamecocks can build a comfortable lead, it would give Spurrier a chance to look at players such as backup quarterback Reid McCollum before conference play resumes Thursday.
The Hall of Fame awaits
Saturday’s game pits a couple of college football’s winningest coaches. Both Spurrier and FAU’s Howard Schnellenberger rank in the top 12 among active coaches in career victories, and are among a dozen coaches with national championship rings. Spurrier won his at Florida in 1996; the 75-year-old Schnellenberger led Miami to its first title in 1983.
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Game Within the Game
USC Defensive Line vs. FAU QB Rusty Smith
About the defensive line: It’s been a rough week for the Gamecocks’ front four. First, starting tackle Nathan Pepper went down with a severely sprained ankle against Georgia. Then his replacement, Melvin Ingram, rolled his ankle and missed most of the week. End Cliff Matthews is playing with a neck stinger, and tackle Ladi Ajiboye is serving the final game of his three-game suspension.
How it will win: Assistant head coach for defense Ellis Johnson is considering using a three-man front because of the lack of depth at tackle. Coaches believe Ingram will play, though they are not sure for how long. If the Gamecocks are to pressure Smith, their ends will have to get penetration and Johnson will have to pick his spots to blitz.
Key number: 1, number of sacks by USC’s defensive tackles this season (Pepper at N.C. State)
About Smith: The senior from Jacksonville, Fla., is the Sun Belt’s all-time leading passer with more than 8,300 yards and 62 touchdown strikes. Smith has guided the Owls to back-to-back bowl victories and owns nearly all of the school’s major passing records. Smith’s efficiency rating dipped last year as he threw 14 interceptions, but he still is considered a strong NFL prospect.
How he’ll win: Smith did not have a good showing in a 49-3 loss at Nebraska, completing less than half of his passes and tossing two picks. He will have to be patient against a USC defense expected to play a lot of zone coverages and be judicious with its blitzes. Smith is without one of his top targets after Cortez Gent was suspended indefinitely.
Key number: 463, passing yards for Smith in 2007 victory vs. Minnesota, the Owls’ only win against a BCS school in 16 tries.
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Five Questions with Dion LeCorn
The native of Ocala, Fla., caught one pass for 13 yards last week against Georgia in his first action since breaking a bone in his leg on the final play of the spring game in April.
Q: Are you familiar with Florida Atlantic? Do you know where it is?
A: Nah, not really. I saw them play South Carolina a couple of years ago. I just remember seeing film on them, I think. I feel like they’re just like us. Some of them probably didn’t have the opportunity to go to a big school. But they’re athletes just like us. They go out there and do everything we do. We can’t look at them like this is a small school or nothing.
Q: The last time you were on the field you had a pretty severe injury. Were you just ready to have that first hit out of the way?
A: When I first went out there and they threw the ball my way, I kind of had a smile on my face just to feel I’m back in action.
Q: It looked like you still weren’t quite 100 percent. How did the leg feel?
A: I felt pretty good out there. I ran around pretty good.
Q: What are your goals for the immediate future?
A: For this week, probably just trying to get out there a little more and get in the rotation with everybody. I see now we rotate a lot of receivers in and out all the time. Just try to get back in the normal rotation.
Q: What do you think about Stephen Garcia the other night? Can he be a successful SEC quarterback?
A: Yeah. He’s really got the potential. I think he needed that game to show himself that he had the potential, and now he knows what it takes to get out there and do it.
—Compiled by staff writer Joseph Person
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