Grading the Gamecocks: Midseason report card

With his team at the midway point of its season, Steve Spurrier found himself looking forward and back this week.

As the South Carolina coach talked Tuesday about the progress he hopes the Gamecocks are making, Spurrier looked over his shoulder at the dry-erase board where USC’s remaining six opponents are listed.

“We’re very healthy right now at the halfway point, and we realize we’ve still got the best teams coming up,” Spurrier said. “The strength of the schedule’s coming up in the last six.”

The Gamecocks (4-2) faltered in the second half of last season, losing their final five games to plummet from the rankings and the bowl picture.

The State examines the highs and lows from USC’s first six games and whether the Gamecocks will have a stronger finishing kick.

BIGGEST MOMENT

Having dropped six consecutive SEC games, the Gamecocks needed a win at Mississippi. With the Rebels leading 21-17 and driving in the third quarter, safety Chris Culliver popped Dexter McCluster at the USC 6-yard line, forcing a fumble that Emanuel Cook returned 52 yards. The Gamecocks went on to claim their first conference road win in more than a year.

LOWEST MOMENT

Trailing No. 2 Georgia 14-7 midway through the fourth quarter, USC faced a second-and-goal at the 1. On a sweep left, Mike Davis left his feet at the line of scrimmage and fumbled into the end zone on a hit by Rennie Curran, evoking memories of Andrew Pinnock’s goal-line fumble vs. Georgia in 2002.

BEST BOUNCE

Defensive tackle Nathan Pepper was in the right place when Clifton Geathers sacked and stripped the ball from Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead. Pepper scooped up the loose ball and ran 29 yards for USC’s first defensive score of the season.

WORST BOUNCE

Leading Vanderbilt 10-3 in the third quarter, USC forced the Commodores to punt. Brett Upson’s short punt hit the leg of Addison Williams, who was blocking and had his back to the ball. Vandy recovered, hit a 31-yard touchdown pass on the next play and beat the Gamecocks for the second year in a row.

WE HARDLY KNEW YE

For four months Spurrier sang the praises of quarterback Tommy Beecher, who was named the starter after the April spring game. But after Beecher bombed in the opener with four interceptions vs. N.C. State, the affable right-hander scarcely has been heard from. He fell to the third team and no longer holds for kicks.

BACK FROM THE DEAD

After missing the 2007 season due to injury and inconsistency, Bobby Wallace was working on the scout team and looked to be little more than an afterthought. But after Spurrier’s first USC recruit ran for 51 yards on six carries against Alabama-Birmingham, he was elevated to second team behind Mike Davis.

BEST DEBUT

Though he played three snaps against Georgia, Stephen Garcia’s coming-out party was two weeks later against UAB. The right-hander ran for a game-high 86 yards and a touchdown while passing for 131 yards and a score.

WORST INJURY

Kenny McKinley’s hamstring injury in the first quarter at Vanderbilt looked harmless enough. The All-SEC receiver tried to re-enter the game and talked about playing the next week against Georgia. But the senior missed three games before returning against Ole Miss. He needs four catches to pass Sterling Sharpe as USC’s all-time receptions leader.

BIGGEST IMPACT BY A NEWCOMER

After signing with the Gamecocks as a defensive lineman in 2005, King finally made it to campus in August and was moved to the offensive line. The 6-foot-7, 304-pound King was the starting left tackle by the second game, allowing coaches to move fifth-year senior Jamon Meredith to guard.

SECOND-HALF OUTLOOK

The performance of quarterback Chris Smelley and the young receivers against Ole Miss was an encouraging sign for an offense that struggled to hit big plays with McKinley out. USC needs to spice up its running game, perhaps with shifty freshman Eric Baker. But the offense likely will go as Smelley goes, so the line must protect him.

Defensively, the Gamecocks have been better than advertised. USC has play-makers at every position, and first-year coordinator Ellis Johnson has shown an ability to make in-game adjustments. Even with the schedule becoming more difficult, the defense should give the Gamecocks a chance to win every game.

Prediction: 7-5 and a berth in the Music City Bowl

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.