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Expect another week of personnel changes after poor protection
Tide tees off on USC's O-line
USC offensive tackle Hutch Eckerson gets tangled up on a play that resulted in a fourth-quarter sack.
Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com
Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 10.18.09
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The evidence for the struggles of the run blocking were on the statsheet.
The problems of the pass protection could be seen in Stephen Garcia's face.
The South Carolina quarterback was sacked five times by Alabama in a 20-6 loss on Saturday night. As good as Alabama's defense is, it entered the game averaging two sacks per game.
By the end, Garcia was hobbling, his left knee having been bruised. He looked like a quarterback who had spent a lot of time on the ground.
"I'm about to see a doctor here in a minute," Garcia said.
Every week this season, first-year offensive line coach Eric Wolford has juggled his lineup, yanking starters and trying to find the right combination.
After Saturday's performance, expect another week of changes.
The Gamecocks averaged a season-low 2.4 yards per attempt rushing, with the mobile Garcia getting a lot of the yards himself on scrambles. Starting tailback Kenny Miles was held to 40 yards on 15 carries.
No one expected it to be easy to run on Alabama, particularly with All-SEC tackle Terrance Cody clogging up the middle.
But penalties were an unexpected problem. Right guard T.J. Johnson, the only offensive lineman to start every game this season, was called for three penalties totaling 35 yards, the big one a chop block that derailed momentum on a drive into Alabama territory.
"Our offensive line plays about the best they can," coach Steve Spurrier said. "I wish we hadn't played with that many penalties. But we had some mental errors too on assignments that coach Wolford was a little upset about. No, we're not a real sharp team right now."
Much of Wolford's lineup tinkering last week came of necessity. Heath Batchelor, who started most of the season at left guard, quit the team abruptly.
Jarriel King, who began the year as the starting left tackle, started his first game at left guard.
"It's always something, man. I don't know if it's focus level or the crowd getting to us or whatever the case may be," King said. "We've got to be on point. We've got to be more disciplined. We know the snap count. Just look at the ball. When it moves, you move. Simple stuff like that."
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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