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Final scrimmage offers few answers

Spurrier finds some good and some bad with the team’s offense Tuesday

Written by JOSEPH PERSON

jperson@thestate.com
Posted on 08.20.08
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If this was South Carolina’s last dress rehearsal, Steve Spurrier is a little concerned about what opening night might look like.

The USC coach had a mostly dreary assessment of his offense in the team’s final preseason scrimmage Tuesday at Williams-Brice Stadium, citing a lack of pass protection and a so-so outing by starting quarterback Tommy Beecher for a performance he summed up as “nothing spectacular.”

“We’re generally pretty slow at this time. We’re always slow against our defense, no matter how good or how bad our defense is. So I don’t know the answer,” Spurrier said. “We look better on the practice field than we do in here. I don’t know why. But that’s not a good omen, is it?”

But a couple of the Gamecocks’ key offensive cogs —Beecher and All-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley — had a more upbeat spin on the offense.

And the stat sheet, at least, supported their optimism.

Beecher and Chris Smelley combined to complete 10-of-23 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown and found several receivers for the longest pass plays of the preseason. There were four completions that covered 28 yards or more, including Beecher’s 57-yard scoring strike to Jason Barnes.

“I’m excited about the way the offense has been playing these last couple days,” said Beecher, who defended his linemen.

“We were able to hit some big plays downfield. Obviously, you have to have time to be able to do that. They’ll keep getting better. I’m not worried about the offensive line.”

Despite playing without McKinley, tight end Jared Cook, tailback Mike Davis and three offensive line starters, Spurrier was looking for more consistency on offense.

Beecher was 5-of-12 passing for 118 yards, while Smelley was 5-of-11 for 83 yards. Neither threw an interception.

“(Beecher) did all right. He just didn’t have a lot of time, didn’t have a lot of guys (open) — I don’t know. He didn’t do much,” Spurrier said. “Chris Smelley probably did a little better overall. But maybe had a little more time, maybe had a guy open.”

But Spurrier said Beecher remains the starter for the Aug. 28 opener against N.C. State, adding he was not sure whether Smelley also would play against the Wolfpack.

McKinley, the senior from Mableton, Ga., said the Gamecocks are eager to play someone other than their USC teammates, particularly the offensive players.

“We’re playing these (defensive) guys every day. They know what we do. They know our plays. It’s going to be different when we go out and play N.C. State, who has no idea what we’re coming out with,” McKinley said. “We’ve been with these guys three or four weeks, so they’re starting to know our tendencies and everything we do. So I’m thinking we won’t know anything sure until next Thursday.”

Even Spurrier, toward the end of his session with reporters Tuesday night, was starting to find some positives to take into the N.C. State game-planning.

He mentioned the big plays by the receivers, the fact that there were no serious injuries and this:

“Sometimes it’s good you don’t get overconfident this early in the year.”

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.

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