David Pollack on USC: ‘They’ve got a chance with their schedule’
Between now and the season-opener against North Carolina on Sept. 3, we will ask 50 people: “What do you think about the Gamecocks in 2015?” Today’s panelist is David Pollack, ESPN college football analyst and former Georgia defensive end:
“I don’t know what to think about them. I really don’t. The knowns: I know Pharoh Cooper is a beast. I know he’s great with the ball in his hands, throwing it, catching it whatever. He’s done great. That’s one of the knowns. The offensive line is losing a ton. People don’t realize that South Carolina’s offense was great a year ago. It was all-time great. Dylan Thompson was spinning it. It was so good, and now I think the offense is going to take a step back but I also think the defense has to take a step forward. Jon Hoke has got to be a good addition. Watching them on tape last year, I thought at times they looked lost. I don’t see impact players across the defensive line. That needs to be fixed. I know they have a ton of JUCO guys come in. I don’t know what to expect from them. Their schedule is not terrible. They’ve got a chance with their schedule. I believe they are a lot closer to the 10-win South Carolina teams than they are to last year’s team. Remember, last year they had three games they blew double-digit leads in the fourth quarter. I mean, I don’t think that’s going to happen again. That’s tough to do.”
Josh Kendall