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Gameday preview: USC vs. Kentucky
South Carolina kicks off its game with Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com /Erk Campos
Written by Joseph Person
Posted on 10.11.08
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survey:
Keys to the game, a key matchup and five questions with Clifton Geathers.
Three Keys
Take advantage of scoring chances
Points figure to be at a premium in a game featuring two of the top defenses in the country. Kentucky leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing 7.8 points per game, as well as red zone defense. Opponents have cracked the Wildcats’ 20-yard line six times in five games and come away with two field goals. USC needs to be more creative in short-yardage situations, mixing in play-action and misdirection runs with the quarterback sneaks.
Win the field position game
Gamecocks punter Spencer Lanning has three punts in the past three games. The inactivity might have contributed to Lanning’s 9-yard shank last week at Mississippi. USC is last in the SEC and near the bottom nationally with a net punting average of 31.6 yards, a figure inflated by four touchbacks. Lanning must get more air under his punts or angle them toward the sideline to keep the Wildcats backed up.
Don’t let Lyons roar
Kentucky lost several of its top offensive playmakers to graduation, although senior receiver Dicky Lyons Jr. has tried to pick up the slack. Lyons leads the SEC with 31 catches, an average of 6.2 a game. Although most of Lyons’ receptions have come on short routes — covering an average of 8.1 yards per catch — the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder is dangerous after the catch, as well as on punt returns.
Key matchup
QB Chris Smelley vs. CB Trevard Lindley
About Smelley: A week after hearing boos at Williams-Brice Stadium, Smelley responded in a big way in a 31-24 win at Mississippi. The right-hander threw for a career-high 327 yards and three touchdowns and was named the SEC’s offensive player of the week.
How he’ll win the matchup: Earlier this season Smelley had a tendency to lock in on one receiver rather than go through his progressions. That could get him in trouble against Lindley. If Smelley gets time in the pocket and surveys the whole field, he should be able to build on last week’s performance.
Key number: 63.1
Smelley’s completion percentage, which ranks second in the SEC behind Mississippi State’s Tyson Lee (66.2 percent).
About Lindley: The 6-foot, 175-pound junior is part of a defense that ranks third nationally against the pass. Lindley, a native of Hiram, Ga., has two interceptions and leads the SEC in passes defended.
How he’ll win the matchup: Lindley has great instincts and the ability to break on the ball, helping him set the school record for pass breakups (29) in less than three seasons. With Kentucky expected to play a mix of man and zone coverages, Lindley will try to read Smelley and add to his interception total.
Key number: 6
Of Lindley’s seven career interceptions, six have come in Kentucky wins.
Take five with Clifton Geathers (defensive end No. 96, Georgetown)
The 6-foot-7, 284-pound sophomore comes from Georgetown County’s first football family: Clifton is the younger brother of former Georgia and current Bengals’ defensive end Robert Geathers Jr. and nephew of former All-Pro defensive lineman Jumpy Geathers.
Q: Given your background, were there any other sports you played or was your birthright to be a defensive end?
A: Not really. I did track, discus. I did basketball. My uncle was a basketball player for a while. He was a basketball player in (junior) college, then decided he was going to play football (at Wichita State) and got drafted.
Q: How long did you play basketball?
A: I played in high school (at Carvers Bay). I thought I’d have been a pretty good basketball player, but football just took over.
Q: Do you still get out in any rec leagues and throw it down?
A: Nah, I’m not going to try that. Not right now. I’ll break my hand on the goal or something.
Q: So you can dunk, obviously?
A: I can do just about anything.
Q: This probably isn’t a fair question, but who’s the best athlete in your family?
A: I don’t know. My little brother (Kwame) is a D-tackle and an O-tackle (at Carvers Bay). My little cousin (Clayton), he does just about everything on the team. I don’t know. I can’t say that.
Previewing USC at Kentucky
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