'Cocks Fall Short to Florida

"While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert it only irritates." - Samuel Johnson

With that said I will not attempt to tell you how great Carolina played Saturday in this loss, although their level of effort and play was a marked improvement over the three previous contests. Yes, to fans it is more soothing to maximally address what was done right Saturday night, but for a team that is looking for an identity I would hope you could learn from your miscues so that they're not repeated. I am as proud as anyone of Carolina's effort last night. However, you don't win ballgames on effort alone. There are no moral victories.

I will let you in on one undisputed truth. "When a team goes into a game not expecting to win it, 99% of the time they won't." Now I don't mean all of the players mind you, but enough of them with that attitude will effect the outcome of the game. Player's will ultimately wait for the proverbial "other shoe to drop" and no matter how valiantly they perform, eventually that lack of confidence will manifest itself in the form of a game defining moment. Now, who takes advantage of that game defining moment usually determines the eventual victor. The University of Florida took advantage of that moment Saturday night and therefore reaped the rewards and the victory.

When you need to play mistake free football, ultimately it is a mistake that will do you in. And so it went for the Gamecocks Saturday night as they fell to the Florida Gators at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC by the score of 24-14.

In position to tie or take a 3rd quarter lead from Florida, the #1 team in the land, the 'Cocks couldn't get it done. Gamecock QB Stephen Garcia tossed a game changing interception that was returned 54 yards. The subsequent return led to a Florida touchdown which extended the Gators lead to 10 points and sealed the 'Cocks fate.

Bottom line, turnovers cost you ballgames. The final results will show that Florida had three big take aways vs. none for the Gamecocks. The Gators converted the first of Stephen Garcia's two turnovers into the eventual game winner. Of course the turnovers were the catalyst for the touchdown but there were a mixture of ingredients that created the final outcome. Let's take a look at the game within the game:

I hate to keep saying that the important statistics were a wash, but that seems to be the case once again for this contest, with a few exceptions. However, those few exceptions are glaring and tell a tale. Besides the 2 interceptions, South Carolina fumbled the ball 5 times and lost one of those fumbles. This statistic shows that the 'Cocks are not taking care of the football. This cost Carolina big time in the Tennessee game and again last night. Compare that with Florida's zero turnovers (this is also a trend with opposing teams) of any kind and you get the picture.

Florida punted three times, we accumulated zero return yards. We punted six times, Florida accumulated 85 return yards. Once again our special teams allowed a big return.

We were out rushed 140-61 although the attempts were basically identical 39-33. Sadly, this statistic was not unexpected. I will add that Brian Maddox did make some hard effective runs when given the ball, carrying the pill for 17 of the 33 attempts. Stephen Garcia was not very effective as a runner garnering 24 yards on 13 carries. Is it just me or does Garcia not look as fleet of foot as advertised? Now, he did have a nifty maneuver for a much needed first down but he does not look comfortable running the ball to me. The other two backs used by the 'Cocks accumulated 4 yards. Compare that with Florida's three backs (Rainey, Demps and Moody) who combined for 120 yards rushing with 46, 39 and 35 respectively. That's the kind of rushing distribution needed from a team without a featured back. Is Jarvis Giles officially through? Inquiring minds would like to know. We could have used some of his athleticism in situations yesterday.

Stephen Garcia was 17 for 32 for 186 yards with 2 interceptions. He was sacked 6 times! Which tells you what you already know about the offensive line. To be fair I'm quite sure some of those sacks were caused by Garcia holding onto the ball to long. Now we don't want Garcia forcing passes into double coverage but at the same time we don't need him scared to throw the ball in fear of it being intercepted. The blitzes that Florida brought meant that there was plenty of one-on-one coverage down the field.

I don't know about you folks but I think the 'Cocks have to take some shots down the field in the passing game. I understand that Charlie Strong was dialing up "exotic blitzes'' on defense all night. OK, then we need to make some adjustments at halftime and dial up some "exotic pass plays." You cannot live off of screens, throws to the flat and underneath routes without the opposing defense eventually tightening the vice on you. On our first scoring drive we threw a deep out to Alshon Jeffery. Those were the type of passing plays that kept Florida honest and resulted in a successful drive. It is imperative that you stretch the field against a great defense. You have to keep great athletes honest, you play right into their strength when you limit your own options. I say throw the ball down field and let your athletes make some plays.

We are not getting the type of production out of our receivers that is needed. Alshon Jeffery had 6 catches for 57 yards, but half of his production was on one 24 yard play. Jeffery was a forgotten man in the second half. Same goes for the other Carolina receivers. Moe Brown and Jason Barnes both had two catches each with half or more of their production on a single catch. Now, do we credit the Florida defensive or our offensive game plan for our passing woes? I would have to say it was a combination of both last night. The combination of continuous blitzes by Florida and conservative pass plays by Carolina gave the Gators defense the edge.

A bright spot was the reemergence of Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders who struck for 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD. He had a long of 15 which means that most of his catches were very effective on average. Maybe he knew what he was talking about when he said he needed the ball more?

The Carolina defense played well until Garcia's 3rd quarter faux pas. That miscue seemed to deflate the sellout crowd and the Gamecock defense. My defensive MVP on the night would have to be Clifton Geathers. He did not lead the team in tackles, that honor went to corner Stephon Gilmore. However, he did lead the team in defensive intensity which allowed Carolina to keep pressure on Tim Tebow and make it uncomfortable for the former Heisman Trophy winner for most of the night. Geathers finished with 7 tackles, 5 solo, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Stephon Gilmore finished with 10 tackles, 6 solo. All-America Eric Norwood finished the night with 4 solo tackles but provided constant pressure and played disciplined assignment football.

I will also credit the 'Cocks defense with Florida's field goal misses. The defense bowed up and kept Florida out of comfortable field goal range. I will attribute the poor field position on those kicks rather than a bad night for Sturgis on the FG misses. Those attempts were definitely not gimmes from that range.

I think this little tidbit says how far we have come on defense. It's ironic that Tim Tebow's Heisman hopes were solidified on this field two years ago and probably ended on this field last night. Tebow needed a great performance. The Gamecock defense did not allow Tebow the opportunity to generate the offensive numbers needed to make him the front runner for this years Heisman. "He who giveth also taketh away."

I believe Carolina has learned valuable lessons this season that will definitely benefit them in the future. Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Smith used to tell us "Football ain't easy, if it was everyone would be here playing it." That is true, and to be a great football team you must meet your challenges head on and learn from them. It is also a trait you will carry into life. Because like Joe Frazier says, "Life don't run away from nobody, life runs at people."

Next up for the Gamecocks are the Clemson Tigers. Clemson is playing good football and has three offensive weapons that must be accounted for at all times. Those weapons are C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford and Michael Palmer. If Carolina can limit the damage done by that triumvirate on offense the sky is the limit. I think there is enough film on Clemson to understand what they like to do offensively. There should be no reason whatsoever to allow C.J. Spiller out of the backfield without coverage. They will attempt that wheel route and expect Carolina to cover Spiller with a linebacker like every other team has this season. We cannot let that happen. Clemson may attempt the play were they have a man run off the field, only he doesn't, and goes wide open down the sideline. Please don't fall for that stupidity. The Tiger's will run a three or four receiver set in which all the receivers will run verticals with the exception of Jacoby Ford, he will come underneath the verticals at about 25 to 30 yards. They will run this play early on and toss the ball like they are going for a deep strike, except they will harmlessly float it deep out of bounds. Undoubtedly they will bring out this play again in the fourth quarter and this time go to Ford underneath for 35-40 yards. We just need to be cognizant of their money plays and make them work for what they get.

Clemson's defense is very stout and will give you the underneath pass. They like to keep everything in front of them much like the Gators. It will be imperative that we take our chances down the field. If you don't keep them honest defensively they will take away those short and medium routes later in the game. Clemson will capitalize on turnovers. They have had their own difficulties in the red zone but usually are effective in converting turnovers to points. We have played well at home this year and will have that advantage. Like it or not this is a season defining and program defining game. "We Must Protect This House." Go Carolina, Beat Clemson!