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Game recap: What went right, wrong
Posted on 09.06.08
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Game balls
Jared Cook — The big tight end was the Gamecocks’ main receiving threat after Kenny McKinley went down with a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Cook set career highs with eight catches for 111 yards.
Eric Norwood — The linebacker was not credited with any tackles against N.C. State. But Norwood tied for the team lead with 10 tackles vs. Vandy, including his first sack of the season.
Stephen Flint — Filling in for the injured Tommy Beecher as the Gamecocks’ holder, Flint handled every snap cleanly and made a touchdown-saving tackle when Ryan Succop’s 42-yard field-goal try was blocked.
What went right
The Gamecocks completed more intermediate-length passes with Chris Smelley making his first start of the season. The right-hander had career highs in completions (23) and attempts (39) while throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns.
USC did a nice job keeping Vanderbilt quarterback Chris Nickson (17 yards on 16 carries) hemmed in.
What went wrong
Though the Gamecocks put the clamps on Nickson, they had less success stopping tailback Jared Hawkins, who bulldozed his way to a career-high 84 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Vandy also took advantage of USC’s aggressiveness with several misdirection plays.
For the second year in a row, USC struggled against Vandy’s zone blitzes. The Gamecocks allowed four sacks, including two on back-to-back plays that killed USC’s final possession.
The special teams had three second-half miscues that resulted in a 13-point swing — two missed field goals by Ryan Succop and a fluke muff on a punt return that Vandy cashed in for a touchdown.
Armchair quarterback
With USC looking for an offensive spark, it might be time for Steve Spurrier to take the redshirts off tailback Eric Baker and receiver C.C. Whitlock, both of whom showed flashes of their potential during the preseason. Both freshmen made the trip to Nashville but did not play.
Injury update
McKinley sat out the last three quarters after pulling his right hamstring. His father, Ken McKinley, said he does not think the injury will keep McKinley out of next week’s Georgia game.
Extra points
USC, No. 24 in both polls, became the first ranked team to lose at Vanderbilt since No. 25 Mississippi fell to the Commodores in 1992. ... Safety Emanuel Cook led the Gamecocks in tackles (10) for the second game in a row. ... Spur linebacker Darian Stewart had seven tackles, including two for loss; he forced and recovered a fumble on a first-quarter play. ... Spencer Lanning averaged 44.8 yards on four punts but had a net of 34.5 yards.
— Joseph Person
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