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Morris: Spurrier seeks way to scare up offense
Wofford cornerback Preston Roseboro No. 24 pulls down USC quarterback Chris Smelley (7) by his shirt tail during the second quarter Saturday as South Carolina is tied Wofford 10-10 at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., Sept. 20, 2008.
C. Aluka Berry/caberry@thestate.com /The State
Posted on 09.21.08
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IN THE LAND of missed opportunities that was Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night, South Carolina failed to capitalize on the biggest one of all. It found no answers against Wofford for an offense that continues to frustrate its coach and its legion of fans.
This was expected to be the first of two games against lesser-talented opponents in which the offense was supposed to iron out its wrinkles. Instead, the offense looked like a badly pressed suit.
So frustrated were USC fans, they booed the performance several times. Then its coach all but booed his offense in his post-game comments.
“I attribute it to all of us,” Spurrier said of the offense’s inability to score points. “(The blame goes to) me, to the quarterback, to the line to the receivers, to all of us. We’re just all not doing well right now.”
USC needed a 17-yard touchdown pass from Chris Smelley to Dion LeCorn with 1:58 remaining to seal the victory and to run its scoring total to 23. On the surface, that total might sound OK until one considers that Presbyterian scored 21 against Wofford and Charleston Southern matched USC’s output.
“Wofford’s got a pretty good defense,” Spurrier said, “but, obviously, their talent’s not near what we’ve been facing.”
With that, Spurrier announced that changes are on the way. He said Stephen Garcia will get a long look in practice this week and could start in place of Smelley on Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham.
“We’ve got to do something different around here, even if it’s wrong,” Spurrier said. “We’ve got to do something. We can’t just keep going like this... . The fans would like to see the ball launched about 50, 60 yards downfield. We can’t even get one launched. We’re afraid to launch one.
“Maybe Stephen will do it.”
It was a little strange to hear Spurrier be so critical of an offense that rolled up 30 first downs, never was forced to punt, converted seven of 11 third-downs and totaled 376 yards.
Again, a little scratching beneath the surface and one could find all kinds of holes in an offense that has now managed nine touchdowns in four games and is beginning to look more and more like the offense of a season ago. That offense suffered through one stretch of eight consecutive quarters without a touchdown.
This offense, Spurrier said, plays like it is scared. Much of USC’s deer-in-headlights approach could be attributed to an interception thrown by Smelley on the game’s second play from scrimmage and Smelley’s second-quarter fumble.
As a result, Spurrier said USC became tentative in attempting to throw the ball downfield. Smelley’s 23 completions —- on 33 attempts —- went for a paltry average of 8.8 yards. The most effective pass play was a short dish off to the running back, and the longest completion of the night went for 20 yards.
“Right now we’re afraid to do it,” Spurrier said. “Just scared to do it. Scared we’re going to get sacked or fumble, or scared he’s going to throw an interception. We’ve got to try, keep trying somehow... . That’s where we are. That’s why we’re going to keep trying people to see if we can throw the ball downfield.”
USC’s run blocking was not “all that super,” either, according to Spurrier. USC gained an average of 4.1 yards per carry, but it was a first-and-goal at the Wofford 4-yard line late in the third quarter that Spurrier found most appalling.
“We couldn’t smash it in from the 4-yard line against Wofford,” Spurrier said, the disgust evident in his tone of voice. It was the same disgust fans voiced loudly at some of Spurrier’s play-calling and at some of the offense’s shortcomings.
Few probably expected to express displeasure at Spurrier’s offense one-quarter of the way into his fourth season at USC. Hard as it might seem to believe, Spurrier is still looking for better line play from his offense, more sure-handed receivers, a solid running back and, now, a new quarterback.
Interestingly enough, Spurrier might have found that quarterback immediately following the game. That’s when he sought out Wofford’s Ben Widmyer, whose decision-making was impeccable, and his leadership of the Terriers’ offense was truly outstanding.
Widmyer completed eight of 13 passes for 100 yards and ran 10 times for 59 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown sprint in the second quarter. What most impressed Spurrier was that Widmyer did not throw an interception and did not fumble.
“Good game,” Widmyer said Spurrier told him. “Now, go out and win the Southern Conference.”
Unfortunately for Spurrier, trades are not allowed in college football. So, he now goes about a desperate search around USC’s locker room for anyone to play like Widmyer did on Saturday.
The land of opportunity for that quarterback awaits again on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Listen to Morris Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. on ESPN Radio 93.1 FM
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