The Eric Wolford show
Eric Wolford smiled as he walked over to media members after Monday’s practice. By now, the first-year offensive line coach is used to the routine.
“Monday night,” a USC official said to Wolford with a laugh, signaling it was the coach’s turn for interviews.
“Monday comedy show,” Wolford added with a wry grin.
The reason for the weekly Wolford show is simple: Monday night is the first media availability for assistant coaches and players, and that’s when coaches whose units are struggling are requested by reporters.
Wolford actually got somewhat of a reprieve Monday, as special teams coach Shane Beamer was getting more attention for his unit’s kickoff coverage. But it was clear there are still problems on the offensive line, and Wolford, as he always has, patiently answered all our questions.
Normally it’s a matter of personnel – who’s going to be shifted where to fix such-and-such hole. But as the season has worn on, Wolford has apparently figured out that tinkering with his lineup isn’t going to fix it.
It’s just going to take time. Recruiting time, and time in the weight room.
Wolford said his players are “a little bit physically behind,” and need more time with strength coach Craig Fitzgerald, like Wolford an offseason hire by coach Steve Spurrier.
“We need to be stronger, you know what I mean?” Wolford said. “We get matched up against the elite teams’ defensive lines in this league and that’s the thing that shows up. Unfortunately coach Fitz hasn’t had a chance to spend enough time with these guys. I don’t think there’s been enough commitment on the players’ part.
“You’re not gonna make up two or three years in six months, you know what I mean? You need to be benching over 400 pounds and you need to be squatting over six, power-cleaning over 50. Those are the numbers you’ve gotta have. This is the SEC.”
The players need to get “bigger, faster, and stronger” – that’s all? – according to Wolford. And he meant current and future Gamecocks. When he’s on the recruiting trail, Wolford said he always asks the high school coach whether a recruit is the kind that asks for the weight room key, and how much he can bench-press and squat.
The Gamecocks do have enough commitments from future offensive linemen to fill out a new line. And those players have those intangibles.
“No question,” Wolford said. “Those are things that you’ve gotta have. You’re not always gonna have the most athletic guy. You can be athletic all you want, but if a guy is physically stronger than you in this small area, he’s just gonna throw you around.”
At one point, Wolford was asked straight-up if the recruiting the past few years for the line could have been better. He shrugged off the question, saying he wasn’t around and that the guys that are here now are putting forth the effort.
“I just think it’s a little bit unfortunate that they’re a little bit behind,” he said, speaking of the weight room work.
There are some positives, or at least improvements, according to Wolford. Kenny Miles’ yards-per-carry was more than five, and the sack rate is down. But Wolford wasn’t crowing about it.
“We’re making some progress, it’s just unfortunately not as fast as we want it to be,” he said.
11 Comments to “The Eric Wolford show”
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State newspaper sports writer Seth Emerson blogs on University of South Carolina basketball and baseball.
Right on, EW. Nailed it.
“This is the SEC.” Do you think no one in Columbia knew that before you got there, Wolford? Are you saying USC can’t compete, aren’t good enough, because it’s the SEC? Don’t you think that’s getting a little old. Every time the Gamecocks lose, every time a weakness is exposed in a facet of the USC team, it can be explained with the phrase, “It’s the SEC.” “You’re not gonna make up two or three years in six months, you know what I mean? ” Really? Who was the coach the last two or three years? Do you realyy think HE didn’t realize he was coaching in the SEC? You couldn’t just say, “we’re not strong enough yet to beat really good teams,” instead of crying about the SEC? do you think Army’s line is lamenting the fact they couldn’t beat Vandy by more because they are a SEC team. Do you think Utah attributed their bowl win last year to having a SEC caliber line. The SEC line can’t be an excuse for your losing forever.
Get off the internet you loser. You posted that at 2am? Get a job and get off welfare. “losing” South Carolina is 6-2 you lost to Maryland.
tatersluv… you are a big friggin idiot. Worst post I have ever seen… period.
He clearly stated that he wants more strength. Everyone knows the previous line tried to use stunts to make up for strength and depth. I can’t wait till our line gets simple blocking schemes down so eventually we can start pulling stunts successfully. Tater, not having the better players is always an excuse for losing. What’s clemson’s excuse after bbeing second in the acc in recruiting almost every year… The sec in football is like the acc in basketball, you can start 17-0 and still not make the tourney…
taterluver is an IDIOT. I didn’t see any excuse, just facts. Wolford is going to make us be an SEC caliber line, which, tater, is a few notches higher than an acc line. John Hunt did not get the job done in the weight room or on the field and is not here as a result. Wolford was a GREAT hire. He is certainly no Brad Scott, thank God.
taters always amaze me. You try to call us out with a coach that sounds just like bowden. Always “one or two plays” away from the big win. By the way, #19 miami is way overrated. Your division is a joke. Your conference is a joke. Bowl season always shows no one wants the acc chump for their BCS bowl. Who would want a 7-6 Clem Tech team, assuming they can win the acc?
Wolford said his players are “a little bit physically behind,” and need more time with strength coach Craig Fitzgerald, like Wolford an offseason hire by coach Steve Spurrier.
“We need to be stronger, you know what I mean?” Wolford said. “We get matched up against the elite teams’ defensive lines in this league and that’s the thing that shows up. Unfortunately coach Fitz hasn’t had a chance to spend enough time with these guys. I don’t think there’s been enough commitment on the players’ part.
i am starting to hear excuses and i don’t like that all..i didn’t hear him talking about our ol before the season not being as strong…he better get the job done in the next 3 years or he will have to go..
I AM excited to see what our young current ol can be and our incoming ol can do here in the future…
GOOO COACH WOLF AND COCKS!!!
We have an SEC caliber o-line now. We are not the best but somewhere near the middle. We are young and will get better. Great things ahead for the Gamecocks! I can’t wait to play the Taters this year.
yes, we are 6-2 but have lost to uga and bama. we pretty much have beaten all who we were supposed to beat. the ole miss game was a good win since we were underdogs..
our guys definitely dont look beefy. i see where coach is coming from. eckerson, johnson, and lem just dont look like they have been in the weight room enough. granted, they would do well strengthwise vs div 1aa.
the problem is that our recruits cant be expected to bench 400, squat 500, etc for some time..so i see our line being mediocre for awhile..we will have to keep winning on defense and some occasional big plays.
heck, these guys cant go two series’ without a false start or an illegal formation. cant be done..
Wolford said his players are “a little bit physically behind,” and need more time with strength coach Craig Fitzgerald, like Wolford an offseason hire by coach Steve Spurrier.
“We need to be stronger, you know what I mean?” Wolford said. “We get matched up against the elite teams’ defensive lines in this league and that’s the thing that shows up. Unfortunately coach Fitz hasn’t had a chance to spend enough time with these guys. I don’t think there’s been enough commitment on the players’ part.
This says it all..EXCUSES and more EXCUSES. Blame game is in full swing, try starting with the guy in the mirror.