🏈 Depth Puts the Gamecocks at a Disadvantage Against the Tide

[BAMANEWSBOT]

If you will, step back in time a few years with me. No, I don't want to discuss who was on the sidelines calling the plays or who was in the coaches box. I want to talk about who was...

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[crazy4sports]

WOW!

14 total players in his rotation?

Do you have a list of how many they are rotating on the defensive line, or in their linebacking positions?

Amazing!

Since you quote Lombardi...

Voltaire said, "There is no greater burden than a name famous too soon." Or, something like that...

I remember hearing James on CBS saying South Carolina was a top 15 team based on their defense. Is he making that defensive unit too famous, too soon?

 

[TerryP]

WOW!

14 total players in his rotation?

Do you have a list of how many they are rotating on the defensive line, or in their linebacking positions?

Amazing!

Since you quote Lombardi...

Voltaire said, "There is no greater burden than a name famous too soon." Or, something like that...

I remember hearing James on CBS saying South Carolina was a top 15 team based on their defense. Is he making that defensive unit too famous, too soon?

Voltaire, eh? :rofl:

How's this one?

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

I'm sure their are doubts at South Carolina whether they can withstand the physical attack they are going to face. If they are certain they can, that's an absurd thought.

Like I said in that piece, I looked at their player participation chart for last weeks game and counted 19 defensive players who saw action.

But, what it doesn't say is if they were in on special teams, or in with their regulars.

From what I was able to gather, and this is off the top of my head...

They had one guy coming in to sub for defensive ends and one guy for their defensive tackles. So, on the line, out of their four starters they were subbing two.

At linebacker, and this is a little clouded considering their base set is a 4-2-5, they had one.

BUT, you have to take into account that LB unit uses a safety they slide up in what they label a "spur" position. S. Carolina uses three safeties during the game. That said, I counted five in that rotation, so they are subbing two.

At cornerback, subbing one.

So, based on my numbers, 11 starters with six subs in the rotation...18.

However, it certainly sounded like Johnson has confidence in only 14.

It left me a bit wide-eyed as well. Mainly because I think about our DL starting Cody, Washington and Deaderick, who are relieved by Chapman, Dareus, and Davis.

Based on my numbers, just on the DL versus their entire defense, we are subbing half of the numbers on one unit alone.

Then, you start to add Johnson, Harris (this week,) Upshaw, Jordan, Johnson, Rogers, Sharieff...we are into our three deep already.

It really is a statement to our depth, and their lack of depth.

 

[psychojoe]

They knew coming into the season that depth on defense would be an issue. I remember reading somewhere along the way that they've had an injury or two among their DL and LB group, making a testy depth problem even worse. In view of this it would seem logical for Johnson to be aggressive in his calls on first down to try to get a three and out and keep his defense off the filed as much as possible. The 'Cocks don't run it well enough to control the ball that way so they will probably try to make some first downs with their short passing game, with the thought (besides scoring) of keeping their D off the field.