USC QBs struggle in blowout
COLUMBIA - It was the sort of game that might have left South Carolina fans curious about Stephen Garcia.
South Carolina beat South Carolina State 38-3 in the first meeting between the two schools Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. But after Gamecocks quarterbacks Blake Mitchell and Tommy Beecher combined for more turnovers than touchdowns, thoughts of removing the highly touted Stephen Garcia's redshirt couldn't be far away for USC fans.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wasn't ready to go that far; however, he confirmed the ugly win showed it might be time for some changes.
"Passing wise, we struggled mightily," Spurrier said after he watched Mitchell and Beecher throw four interceptions and each fumble once. "We just need to reevaluate our passing game and figure out if we can throw or not."
Mitchell's 147 yards and three touchdowns weren't the stats standing out after the game.
Rather, it was his four turnovers, not to mention several other throws that were either way off the mark or nearly intercepted.
Spurrier believes Mitchell is not relaxed in the offense. While the Gamecocks (3-0) did enough to win and will carry a six-game winning streak into next week's game at LSU, there certainly won't be any overconfidence coming out of the Gamecocks' beaks.
"I'm just not throwing like I'm capable of - just not letting it go, not trusting myself," Mitchell said. "Playing like that, we won't stay (undefeated)."
The reason for the victory had as much to do with South Carolina's defense and the pressure it put on S.C. State. Buddy Pough's squad - one that averaged 10 penalties a game before Saturday - committed six in the first quarter alone against the Gamecocks.
In total, the Bulldogs were flagged 14 times for 98 yards. Combined with another strong defensive effort from USC and not even the Gamecocks' offensive frustrations could stand in their way.
Still, despite South Carolina State's mental errors, USC did not take control of the game until a 10-play, 91-yard drive in the Gamecocks' first possession of the third quarter. On that drive, South Carolina tailbacks Mike Davis (58 rushing yards) and Cory Boyd (29 yards) ran at will at the Bulldogs' defense before Davis eventually capped the series with a 9-yard touchdown reception from Mitchell.
Boyd finished the game with 132 yards and a rushing touchdown while Davis contributed 102 yards and that receiving touchdown. It was the first time USC had multiple players rush for more than 100 yards in a game since 2001, when Andrew Pinnock and Derek Watson did so.
It sounds as if there might be more opportunities for Boyd and Davis to repeat the feat. Spurrier hinted at scaling back his team's passing game until either Mitchell calms down or another quarterback steps up. The coach said high-scoring affairs likely aren't going to be coming the Gamecocks' way, especially with road games at LSU and Arkansas.
The prospects of a Spurrier-coached team going run-first, run-second probably sound odd. But Boyd said the change could be temporary.
"Right now, the pass game seems to be like it's on a little low," Boyd said. "But as the games come along and as we gel more as an offense and some of the younger guys step up and be more of a target to Blake, I think you'll see a good Blake Mitchell go out there and put up the numbers that he's used to."
If not, the changes might be more extreme.
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