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Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/kkfoster@thestate.com/
Fans line up to get a picture and autograph of quarterback Stephen Garcia.
GoGamecocks.com
5 offseason storylines for USC football
Stephen Garcia’s growth and USC’s experiment with two-way players are among the things to watch
As he addressed the media following his fifth spring as South Carolina’s coach, Steve Spurrier was asked to identify his biggest concern entering the offseason.
“Biggest concern? We don’t have any concerns,” Spurrier said. “We’re just trying to get better. Whole team trying to get better, simple as that.”
The improvement project begins this week as the Gamecocks start voluntary 7-on-7 passing drills, where players meet on their own; coaches are prohibited by NCAA rules from attending.
Spurrier believes getting everyone to participate in the summer workouts is key to a successful fall. Here are five other offseason priorities:
HOPE STEPHEN GARCIA TAKES CHARGE
The Gamecocks have leaders on both sides of the ball, but it helps when a team’s quarterback possesses those qualities. After making it through spring practice incident-free for the first time in three years, Garcia talked about setting an example this summer in the weight room and on the practice field.
USC’s coaches draw up scripts for the players to use at the passing drills. But as the starting quarterback, Garcia will set the tone and go a long way in determining how productive those sessions are.
WEIGH THE RISKS/REWARDS OF TWO-WAY PLAYERS
Committed to maximizing the abilities of his best players, Spurrier tried defensive end Cliff Matthews and cornerback Stephon Gilmore on offense this spring at tight end and quarterback, respectively.
Given the lack of depth on defense, particularly in the secondary, the coaching staff must decide whether the upside of using Matthews and Gilmore on offense is worth the risk of injury. Gilmore took a hit in the spring game from a player who forgot quarterbacks were off-limits, which did not escape Ellis Johnson’s notice.
“You don’t want the starting corner laying in the training room,” said Johnson, assistant head coach for defense. “I don’t know. It’s not my decision. But the kid’s come in and won the starting corner job, and it took him a week to do it.”
DOUBLE-TRAIN SAFETIES TO PLAY CORNER
Captain Munnerlyn’s early departure to the NFL, C.C. Whitlock’s suspension and Jay Spearman’s shoulder injury forced Johnson to go with a pair of walk-ons, Cedric Snead and Brandan Davis, behind starting corners Akeem Auguste and Gilmore.
With Whitlock’s academic situation up in the air, Johnson is considering having free safeties Chris Culliver and Antonio Allen learn the corner position in case they are needed.
But before Johnson would go through with such a move, one of the incoming freshman safeties must prove in about two weeks he can make the two-deep.
FIND SOME TOUGH GUYS UP FRONT
After one spring practice, Spurrier said it looked like his offensive linemen were afraid to block Eric Norwood, who ran roughshod over the line during his limited spring reps.
Spurrier hopes new offensive line coach Eric Wolford and first-year strength coach Craig Fitzgerald will mold the linemen into stronger, meaner players. He said USC had a plan in place for them this summer and predicted “they should improve.”
The offense made strides in the spring with Garcia’s continued development and a new-look running attack. But so much of the offense’s success will depend on whether the line adopts a more aggressive attitude and starts pushing Norwood and Co. back.
MONITOR THE HEALTH AND GRADES OF A FEW KEY PLAYERS
Starting receiver Dion LeCorn (leg) and backup linebacker Josh Dickerson (shoulder) had surgeries in recent days after getting injured in the spring game. Both are expected back for preseason practice.
Less certain is the status of starting defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye and Whitlock, whose suspensions are related in part to academics. Johnson has received encouraging reports on both players, although it could be weeks before their fate is known.
While Travian Robertson played well in his place, losing Ajiboye would be a big blow to the defense.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.
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