Good night for USC QBs; more on Dungy visit
Much better night for Connor Shaw on Tuesday during his second practice with the Gamecocks.
After struggling with nerves during the first workout before spring break, the right-hander showed off a strong arm on a pair of scramble-play throws. The second was most impressive: He ran to his left, threw back across his body and hit Dion LeCorn in stride down the sideline.
“Connor made a couple of good scramble plays. He scrambled out and hit a couple of deep balls tonight,” Steve Spurrier said. “He’s got a chance. He’s just got a lot to learn.”
As for the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback …
Some observers, including this blogger, have been critical of Stephen Garcia’s leadership in the past. But it looks like he is starting to take ownership of this team in his fourth year.
He seems to be more vocal and is trying to encourage the young quarterbacks behind him. After Aramis Hillary (who has been reinstated following last week’s underage drinking arrest) made a poor throw during 7-on-7s, Garcia gave him a fist-bump when he reached the sideline.
The first crack in Garcia’s tough exterior was revealed after the bowl loss to UConn when he became emotional and had to try to fight back the tears because the Gamecocks were unable to send Eric Norwood and the other seniors out with a win.
Garcia said it took him until winter workouts to get over the defeat.
As for Garcia’s continued growth as a quarterback, Spurrier wants him to cut his 37 sacks from last season in half in 2010.
Garcia has always been refreshingly candid with the media – he conceded Tuesday he didn’t do as many as the QB drills over spring break as the coaches would have liked. But he is beginning to sound more like a leader.
“I feel like a veteran, but I’ve still got two years left and I’m going to use every single day I can to get better,” Garcia said Tuesday. “I’ve been in the system for four years now. I think it’s about time I figured it all out.”
Other notes and observations on a cool night on Bluff Road:
–USC is taking steps to improve its kick coverage. Special teams coach Shane Beamer did a drill Tuesday in which the coverage team ran the entire length of the field – something I don’t remember seeing the Gamecocks do last season.
–T.J. Johnson is still adjusting to the move from guard to center. Johnson, who said he’d never played center before this spring, had a couple of low snaps Tuesday that Garcia couldn’t dig out.
But Garcia believes Johnson will be fine, and complimented him for his “mean streak.” Johnson is a good player. I’m betting he figures out the snapping business.
–Tony Dungy spoke to USC’s team Tuesday afternoon after speaking engagements earlier in the day at the Broad River correctional complex and Columbia International University.
Dungy’s message to USC was hard work and teamwork.
“He gave us two words that we can remember,” Spurrier said. “And our guys seemed to do that better tonight.”
Dungy pointed out that Spurrier indirectly played a part in his career, which culminated with Dungy becoming the first black coach to win a Super Bowl in 2007. Before Tampa Bay hired Dungy in 1996, the Bucs first approached Spurrier, who was in the middle of a successful, 12-year run at Florida.
“If he had taken the Tampa job, I don’t know where I would be,” Dungy said. “So I owe him a lot.”
18 Comments to “Good night for USC QBs; more on Dungy visit”
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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. 
Hard work and teamwork are three words. Just sayin…
[...] quarterbacks have been working on drills to help them avoid sacks this fall.9. This writer says Stephen Garcia is becoming more of a leader in Columbia.10. USC’s coaches will be keeping an eye on these five offensive players this [...]
Who’s saying those are the words? Maybe they are a secret.
[...] Thank God. [...]
Put together as twwo words on a tee shirt…and hand em out to every player.
Now that’s funny, sb. And now it was “nerves” that Shaw was struggling with. Joe had erroneously reported that it was SEC speed.
Hope Shaw ends up starting by mid-season.
I don’t think the “thats 3 words” comment by sacbouy was funny at all….just sayin
BTW, i thought Garcia was less than average in several games last year…very disappointing QB play in my book…but then i would read some rather complimentary words about his play after those games and really wondered if all these folks patting him on his backside had watched the same game i had just watched….Anyway, there are many QBs out there who seem to have better field vision, better pocket presence, and are more consistent throwing good passes than Garcia shows….Does anyone else remember seeing the running back standing all alone at the 1 yard line near the sideline during the Georgia game? That was the exact same RB that Garcia had just faked the ball to. The RB rolled over to the sideline and turned for the ball….but Garcia never even glanced at him again…instead Garcia the “happy feet” panic stricken QB forced a REALLY BAD THROW OVER THE MIDDLE THAT WAS IN-FREAKING-COMPLETE and USC loses the GEORGIA game….well guess what…I STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN OVER THAT ONE! …..And that is just one of the games I still have sticking in my craw…there are several others but I really don’t want to rant on and on about them cuz it only makes me turn gray, lose hair, sleep restlessly, gain weight, and lose friends….so I will continue to try to just “let it go”…..but then i read some crap about ….”well i didn’t do as many drills as they wanted me too” and these bad feelings start welling back up inside of me…. HEY COACH Spurrier….how about coach that dadgum QB up or find a better one!….darnit i wasn’t gonna lose my cool but….
What about being down 13-6 to BAMA in the third qtr and Jason Barnes wide open over the middle with NO ONE between him and the endzone..OVERTHROWN! and let’s not talk about the THREE fades thrown to Jeffrey or that INT against Florida inside their 25 yd line down 17-14. The offensive line has taken all the heat for all the sacks but the truth he’s responsible for half of them.
I agree. Its not funny Garcia. The coaches know what it takes for you to perform and execute and apparently those drills are important.
” he didn’t do as many as the QB drills over spring break as the coaches would have liked”
I am sure that’s what Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford said every spring much to the delight of their coaches. He had done nothing, Blake Mitchell is Peyton Manning compared to this goober.
Garcia…
Problem is our best returning QB – Quit.
I concur with G’cock 17. Garcia leaves so much to be desired in a QB. He under throws everything! I’d really really like to see what the other 3 QB’s can do. Give Garcia a clipboard and baseball hat. We’d be so much better off.
Well I was going to say the Muslims didn’t think the Swedish cartoonist was so funny, either; but y’all have got enough goin’ on with your QB who made Clemson’s defense look like a last place ACC team last year.
We have the best ballance this season with age and talent we have had in years… should win a few we wouldnt normally win to have a good chance of playing in an upper level bowl game and may even scare the SEC east for a chance at the SEC championship…got to get by georgia and tenn and fla has to lose a couple for us to get it done. Score the td instead of fumbling on the 2 yrd line for a change…this would make for a great season.
Garcia led the SEC in offense last season. Just sayin’.
Garcia loses so many games because he panics, throws an uncatchable off-target ball (lots of times) and fails to “see” the field….just like in that Georgia game…
In the Georgia game, coaches made a GREAT Call, Team executed including the OL but Garcia panics and doesn’t see the WIDE open running back for a game winning TD….instead….IN-COMPLETE…..par for this below average QB…..just sayin.
I am NOT drinking the GARCIA kool-aid….he has proven OVER and OVER….he is NOT a winner as our QB….just sayin (since that seems to be the catch phrase).
Some of yall (actually almost all) have said that Garcia isnt our best option at quarterback. That he needs to be on the sideline with a clipboard and a ballcap? I firmly disagree. There are only so many Tebows,Bradfords and Mcoys out there and guess what? All those guys played elsewhere at progams that have enjoyed more sucess over the years. Fact is those guys are gone. Yet another fact those guys had better O lines blocking for them,and more actual game time under their belts. Bash away all yall want but let me ask you these questions before i go. First who would you put at quarterback in place of him? All we have are a bunch of underclassmen and players that have never taken a live snap in college ball. So with that how can anyone maintain that a fourth year junior quarterback and returning starter is less of a viable option at winning than an untried and untested say…hmmm Aramis Hillary or Connor Shaw? Just sayin. I couldnt resist.