Gameday forecast for UAB
Read enough about the quarterbacks this week?
Well, we should thank Steve Spurrier for giving us something to write and talk about during the UAB week.
My two cents on Spurrier’s decision to start Chris Smelley over Stephen Garcia: I think it’s a good move.
By doing so, Spurrier is not viewed as having pulled the rug out from under Smelley, who, it should be noted, does have the SEC’s highest completion percentage, is fourth in passing efficiency and won his last start.
By starting Smelley and inserting Garcia in the first quarter, Spurrier has the best of both worlds. He gets to take a long look at Garcia while not completely stepping on Smelley’s confidence.
There’s no question Garcia has a stronger arm and quicker feet than Smelley, but that does not necessarily make him the better quarterback. Like Spurrier said, no one knows what Garcia’s going to do in a game because – other than the three snaps vs. Georgia – no one’s seen him in front of 80,000 (or thereabouts for these nonconference games) at Williams-Brice.
At some point, Spurrier has to find out what he has in Garcia, and this week – before the rigors of the SEC schedule resume – seems like the perfect time.
Will UAB’s defense, ranked 117th out of 119 teams nationally against the pass, be a good measuring stick for the USC quarterbacks?
Sure, why not? If nothing else, Spurrier and the rest of Gamecock Nation will get to see whether Garcia can hit the deep throws that, to this point, Smelley has been either unwilling or unable to make.
My guess is that Garcia will play well. Say what you will about his off-the-field decisions, but the guy can throw the football.
Can he do the other things that Spurrier expects from his quarterbacks? We’ll get a better idea Saturday.
Prediction: USC 35, UAB 13.
24 Comments to “Gameday forecast for UAB”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
I couldn’t agree more JP. Smelley is the only “known” we have right now and hasn’t played as poorly as SS makes it out to be. Its so easy to forget that this is a team sport and without all of the other offensive pieces (OL, RB, WR, TE) clicking – he’s just one cog in the wheel to success or failure. I believe #5 will do well in his entrance from the bench and provide something different for our defenses to prepare for. (he also seems to love the fan attention…all the way back to the chants of “Garcia” in fall camp when he’d come up to visit from FL) I think both QB’s and the offense as a while will only improve as we get to the meat of the schedule.
Do you really think that UAB will hang 13 points on our defense? This being (roughly) the same defense that held the number 3 (soon to be number 1?) team in the nation to just 14 points?
I agree. I think it is a stretch to think that UAB will put up that many points on us. The margin of victory is probably pretty close, but I would say a more realistic score would be 24-3 or somewhere in that area.
Remeber Steve Tanneyhill… Well Garcia could have that same winning mentality.. I never thought Steve was a fabulous QB, but he knew how to win.. He was brash at times overconfident most of the time, but still knew what it took to win.. I have been on the Smelley banwagon from day one, and I still am… but if Garcia can light that fire then let the kid play..
Do we really think UAB will hang 13 on our defense (previous post)? Did we really think Vandy would hang 24 on us?? It’s more about how the teams match up than rankings.
Do we really think UAB will hang 13 on our defense? Did we really think Vandy would hang 24 on us?? Its all about how the teams match up, not the rankings. As for the game forecast, I”m calling for a slight chance of offense, with increasing frustration if we dont hit some deep balls. Often.
CMiller, Tanneyhill was a winner? What exactly made him a winner, I don’t see how he was that great of a QB, what was his record as a starter anyway?
35 points? No way we put up 35. We wouldn’t put up 35 on SC St. I know people around me in the stadium agree that if our offense in year 4 of Spurrier doesn’t get it going, he may want to devote more time, say ALL of it, to Golf
Go Cocks! I love the cocks!!
Taneyhill compiled 8,380 yards in total offense, completing 753 of 1,245 passes, he threw 62 touchdown passes 37 interceptions in his career. Of the 40 games he started, I think he went 20-19-1. Including his senior campaign, which featured a mind-blowing 29-9 touchdown/interception ratio.
I reiterate I never thought Steve Taneyhill was a great quarterback, just that he played with that desire to rule the roost.
That’s just stupid “Reality”. Spurrier’s offense needs a QB that can throw the ball down field. He hasn’t had one. I’m 100% behind Spurrier. He’s just in need of a QB like Garcia. It’s coming… sooner than later. Garcia will make a difference. 35 points may be low!
Wofford “hung” 13 points on the ol’ Gamecocks. A close game here will certainly make the old ball coach think hard about coming back to coach this pathetic program. USC will never be a factor in the SEC. Just beat Clemson and flush the rest of the season down the drain.
erik thats crazy to think like that u already given up we got a strong enough schedule and can pull out some close ones and finish up ranked pretty high we have already shown that we can compete with the ga and fl type schools we just cant have stupid mistakes
Gee wiz Eric, how can you be so optimistic? Isn’t this Steve’s team? Isn’t he the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach? Which part of the team is performing poorly?
Any failure is not the fault of the “program”. There are no witches casting a spell on USC. Good players and good coaches will succeed at USC just like at any other school.
I agree with JP to start Smelley is a good move on Spurrier’s part. The problem is not necessarily the QB or the WR’s this season. I am going to throw this out there to see if you agree. John Hunt has been the o-line coach for 4 years. We have had many problems protecting the QB and making holes for the RB in the last 4 seasons as well. I wonder if maybe they aren’t molding very well because of the o-line coach. The o-line is the foundation of an offense, and when it’s unsturdy the whole offense is unsturdy. This could explain the lack of Spurrier-esk offense hear at Carolina. Can John Hunt get the job done and rally his troops to work together to make a sturdier foundation? Is it just me or when a junior college transfer from VA comes in for his first year on the o-line and is pretty much the best player we have on the o-line, does gamecock nation need to start calling for another o-line coach?
Totally agree with the KA post. I do think the offense as a whole is rather bad though. Sure I’d love a QB to step up and make some plays/reads. For that to happen our o-line needs to actually block, give the qb and receivers time, and open up some form of running game. It ALL starts with the o-line. I have been supremely disappointed in QB play, but it’s kinda hard to play good when you’re being chased and sacked consistently. Our QB’s have played scared, and with good reason behind that o-line anyone would be.
I keep hearing people say that “We have no idea what SG will do because he hasn’t really played any (OK…if you want to take that laser strike that he threw across his body while running left..that hit the receiver in the hands….take that play and the other two out, you’re right. He has no game experience). We truly don’t know what SG will do. On the other hand, what we DO know that Smelley WILL do is throw interceptions. Will SG follow suit? As stated, none of us know for sure. If whatever SG does do gets rid of the astouding number of turnovers, then I’m all for whatever else it is that SG is going to do.
I think they should put Garcia in when they need an exciting play..like a deep throw or QB scramble..but still let both of them play
I just want to say for everyone that wants to fire Spurrier. Look back at the history of USC football. He is the first coach since Joe Morrison to have 3 or more CONSECUTIVE years of .500 or better and I have no reason to think that this year will be any different. That has been 20 YEARS of inconsistent, sorry football. We are just now starting to compete with other schools in fund raising, so yes it will take time but we are FINALLY surrounding the program with good coaches and good players. IT WILL TAKE TIME. YOU CANT COMPETE IN THE SEC OVERNIGHT!!! Go Cocks. No bandwagon jumper here, just a true loyal FAN!!!
Good on ya Sean, that is the only way that we will ever have a competitive situation.
Well I have said it before on Cocky talk and I’ll say it here. Why is Beecher off the Radar. Everyone has forgotten about him. We could possibly have a three headed monster in the SEC.
I love that the coach is starting Smelly, He is a good QB, without a doubt.
I just think his decision making makes him look one dimentional.
If he can begin to look for the 2nd and 3rd reciever instead of always dumping it off to Mike Davis he can improve overall AS the offensive leader.
And our running back is who? Hopefully a tandem of Brian Maddox and Eric Baker. Let Davis come in on 3rd and long. If we can establish the run, it will open up the passing lanes. Geraldo
Did someone actually advocate terminating SS’s tenure? And no guys with the butterfly nets showed up? Obviously someone whose loyalties lie elsewhere.
I think it’s a great move by SOS to start Smelley. The guy has the talent but just needs to make make better decisions which experience will only help. For you recruiting junkies who love Garcia based on his 5* QB rating remember that our last one was Keith Madkins from Charlotte who was higher rated than Michael Vick. I think he ended up playing for NC Central. High school star ratings mean nothing. Just look at the NFL starters who were lightly recruited.
For those of you who think that high school credentials mean everything, Smelley was Mr. Football in Alabama. The only reason the Tide’s Mike Shula didn’t go after him is that he thought that he had a great chance to get Tim Tebow, the once in a decade QB…Peyton was the last.
Joe,
Have you heard anything on Beecher’s health?