Notebook: Gamecocks D prepared for both QBs

South Carolina’s defense had to shift gears early Saturday when Kentucky starting quarterback Maxwell Smith was knocked out of the game due to an ankle injury.

Smith returned to the Wildcats’ lineup Saturday after missing last week’s 38-0 loss to Florida due to a shoulder injury, but the promising sophomore only made it two plays against South Carolina before leaving after being sacked by Byron Jerideau.

Smith was replaced by freshman Jalen Whitlow, whose dual-threat ability gave the Gamecocks’ defense problems in the first 30 minutes. Whitlow rushed seven times for 13 yards (gaining 29 but giving back 16 on sacks) and completed 8-of-13 passes for 71 yards in the first half.

“We knew that (Whitlow) could run the football,” Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “We had talked about it during the week because we didn’t know if Max Smith would be ready to play anyway. We kind of prepared (for Whitlow) anyway.”

Whitlow finished with 114 yards on 12-of-23 passing and 6 yards on 16 carries.

“I always got to be ready,” Whitlow said. “First half, I think I played all right. Second half, we lost some focus and intensity. We just got to put it all together.”

BACK AGAIN

For the sixth time and first since South Carolina’s upset of No. 1 Alabama in 2010, ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast from Columbia on Saturday when No. 5 Georgia comes to play in Williams-Brice Stadium.

The show will again set up in the Horseshoe rather than the school’s new Farmer’s Market parking and tailgating area.

"The Horseshoe is one of the best sites we've ever had for College GameDay,” Lee Fitting, the show’s senior coordinating producer, said in a statement released Saturday night. “The picturesque collegiate backdrop creates the perfect setting for the show. Given the fact that a highly-ranked Georgia team is coming to town will only add to the excitement of Saturday morning.”

TURNING POINT

Kentucky missed a chance to put more distance between itself and South Carolina in the first half when the time ran out on a Wildcat drive at the the Gamecocks’ 1-yard line.

“I am sort of glad they didn’t get that one right at the end of the first half, 24-7 would have make you want to think you have to throw all the time, but 17-7, we had a better plan, get in the I-formation, give it to (Marcus) Lattimore, let him run,” Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said.

The Kentucky drive was set up when Spurrier decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from South Carolina’s 34-yard line. Center T.J. Johnson snapped the shotgun snap over quarterback Connor Shaw’s head, giving the Wildcats the ball at the South Carolina 10-yard line with 1:00 remaining in the half.

“That’s the first bad, high ball T.J. has really thrown all year,” Spurrier said.

SHELL STARTS AGAIN

South Carolina was forced to shuffle its offensive line again Saturday night due to a shoulder injury to regular starter Mike Matulis. Matulis missed several days of practice this week and was replaced at right tackle by Brandon Shell. Sophomore Corey Robinson made his second straight start at left tackle.

South Carolina has only started the same offensive line quintet twice this season, against East Carolina and UAB. The changes have been forced by inconsistency and injury. Shell, a redshirt freshman who was groomed for the starting left tackle job throughout spring practice and the preseason, started the first game at left tackle but was replaced during the game. He did not return to the starting lineup until Saturday.

“I think they all played pretty well,” said Spurrier, who called the team’s pass blocking “so-so.”

South Carolina has started the same three interior linemen – guards Ronald Patrick and A.J. Cann and center T.J. Johnson – in every game. Shell and Robinson played the entire first half despite offensive struggles. The Gamecocks had only 108 total yards in the first 30 minutes. Matulis made the trip with the team and dressed out for the game.

BIG PLAY PROBLEM

A defense that had limited big plays through the first four games was hurt by them in the first half. South Carolina gave up eight plays of more than 10 yards to the Wildcats in the first half, four in the first quarter and four in the second. Five of those plays went for 16 yards or more.

RED ZONE SCORE

The Gamecocks gave up their second red zone score, and first during critical time, when Kentucky running back Raymond Sanders rushed 10 yards to put Kentucky ahead 17-7 with 1:52 left in the first half. Sanders’ score was the first rushing touchdown South Carolina surrendered this season. The three previous touchdowns had all come through the air.

POWER FOOTBALL

After struggling offensively in the first half, South Carolina opened the second half in the I formation and marched 73 in six plays for a touchdown. The 30-yard scoring pass from Connor Shaw to Damiere Byrd came on a play-action pass.

AUGUSTE BACK

Senior cornerback Akeem Auguste returned to the field for the first time since last season’s Georgia game.

Auguste missed all but one game last season due to a foot injury that required offseason surgery. He missed spring practice but returned to the practice field in the preseason, only to suffer a groin injury that kept him out of the first four games this year. Auguste entered the game in the second quarter in place of Victor Hampton and was called for pass interference during his first series.

EXTRA POINTS

... Kentucky converted four-of-eight third downs in the first half.

Marcus Lattimore carried the ball five times for 12 yards in the first half.

Safety Brison Williams had six tackles in the first half.

Senior defensive end Devin Taylor registered his first sack of the season in the third quarter.

This story was originally published September 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Notebook: Gamecocks D prepared for both QBs."