Initial impressions of Rattler

[18IsTheMan]

He's obviously light years ahead of what we had to work with last year.

He's not a Heisman candidate.

Had good pocket presence and awareness.

Moved in the pocket well and didn't panic under pressure.

Can use his mobility to make plays.

Made some mistakes (2nd pick was a particularly bad one).

Overall, I'd say he's plenty good enough for us to win 8 or 9 games. He's obviously experienced, comfortable and knows what he's doing back there. If we can't get him a run game, it won't matter a whole lot though.

Unfortunately, he's playing behind our OL, which is good enough for us to win maybe 4 games.

 

[gamecock stock]

As I said elsewhere, I will feel I better know what we have and what's in store after 3-4 games. That being said, I felt after last season, Shane needed to make a change at OC and OL. I'm hoping that after 3-4 games, I will feel happy that he didn't make those changes. Time will obviously tell.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

As I said elsewhere, I will feel I better know what we have and what's in store after 3-4 games. That being said, I felt after last season, Shane needed to make a change at OC and OL. I'm hoping that after 3-4 games, I will feel happy that he didn't make those changes. Time will obviously tell.

Hope Shane does not wait too long to make changes if the offense doesn't get off the ground.

With big recruits for the OL, I'd be wary of putting too much heat on the OL coach at this point.

 

[Lurker123]

Hope Shane does not wait too long to make changes if the offense doesn't get off the ground.

With big recruits for the OL, I'd be wary of putting too much heat on the OL coach at this point.

That's an age old debate. Holding onto a cocah/assistant for the sake of potential in recruits vs current production.

But it is early. Other than 3 patsies and uga (which should all be easy calls), there's only Arkansas as a milestone for the first half the season.

 

[Forkcock]

With our OL play, I'm not sure you can evaluate any QB.

 

[Flounder25]

As I said last night the OL looked exactly the same.SB has made too many good decisions to let that derail the program( as many have said).

 

[BigJC]

Arkansas is going to be a tough game, they looked very physical yesterday. Pittman is building a team based on the model he saw in Athens. Jefferson is big and tough and their OL is big. They opened with a ranked Cincinnati team so they have a much better feel for what they actually have than we do opening with a Georgia State which is pretty equivalent to having our ones playing against our twos.

Georgia looked like a machine against Oregon, whatever losses they had on D have been very adequately filled. Oregon was ranked #11 and while I never thought Oregon was going to win that game, there was no way I would have thought Georgia would have dominated them like they did.

Being 2-2 after week 4 is a real possibility, 3-1 is possible and is probably the best case scenario. The Arkansas game is probably going to determine whether or not we do better than the 5.5 wins we are projected to have.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

There were countless plays where DE's would gash straight to the running back or QB- how? How is that happening so easily? I saw a close up pick of Wonnum lining up next to the guard on one play, it was a close up shot. He looked over to the Guard with doubt and dejection on his face. The same look I would have if I were getting ready to race DK Metcalf. No assertiveness at all. No wonder our D Line looks great in practice. There was a counter play that the guard had to pull out and is supposed to chip the DE. he completely missed and another 3 yard loss. On Pass protection plays if the GA STate player was bull rushing the pocket moved backwards. No push or no stand your ground. back to collapse. Was North Carolina that inept at the end of last year? I watched the firs half of the NC State game- their OL has ballers who would hit, push and maintain contact until the whistle and then after- I watched 5 minutes of the Georgia game and saw the same. A different kind of physicality. I would suspect the coaches know and that is why the push to go after so many OL commits. On one of the plays our Guard tackled their DT who was heading straight to the QB. being slow with your feet is what is causing countless bad plays by our OL. they are slow footed it appears.

 

[TopHook]

Oline is going to get him killed.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

The fear I have, if this were a Arkansas or even a Miss State opponent and we special teamed our way to a victory, then so be it. Other SEC teams should match us in the physicality department. WE appear to be too slow to us any physicality. And this was Ga State. My fear is that with really ugly loses that are coming, recruits will defect and all of this good feeling stuff ends. Love the prospect of a signee but they aren't inked in yet. And another thing, Doty could have performed equally well last night. maybe better, because I think he has the guts to run for first downs more. And another thing, Jordan Burch is soft. He should wreck havoc and seldom does. 275lbs and can run. Stays connected to the OT to see where the play is supposed to go and then its too late to make a stop at the line. He might make contact 4 yds down the field. Frustrating!! LB's did look better though. And another thing, WTH was Cam Smith doing on the overthrown pass where he did very little to alter the outcome. He face the Ga State sideline and appeared the sheath his invisible sword. Dude is believing his press and it is making him deplorable. another play on their sideline, he was in a 3 person pile up after their running back had just peeled off 11 yards and he was seated and his helmet had come off. he jus sat their. Only way he could get attention I guess. he was play acting, then proceeded to get up and was trying to antagonize an argument. Such small thinking. A far cry from the Mechie Post that someone else wisely posted showing a guy focused on the next play.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

Dial was in position twice to make an interception. Got beat by smaller receiver who wanted it more. after the receptions on both plays he didn't react, act angry, bring hands to helmet. Kind of like oh well. Shouldn't he be pissed off. I did like seeing Different guys getting Playing time. DK Smith was in as well and Nick Em. Ark just needs to watch this one game to see Dial on an island and throw Hazlewood out there. Yikes i'm worried about next week.

 

[gamecock stock]

Arkansas is going to be a tough game, they looked very physical yesterday. Pittman is building a team based on the model he saw in Athens. Jefferson is big and tough and their OL is big. They opened with a ranked Cincinnati team so they have a much better feel for what they actually have than we do opening with a Georgia State which is pretty equivalent to having our ones playing against our twos.

Georgia looked like a machine against Oregon, whatever losses they had on D have been very adequately filled. Oregon was ranked #11 and while I never thought Oregon was going to win that game, there was no way I would have thought Georgia would have dominated them like they did.

Being 2-2 after week 4 is a real possibility, 3-1 is possible and is probably the best case scenario. The Arkansas game is probably going to determine whether or not we do better than the 5.5 wins we are projected to have.

Anyone who had Florida penciled in as a win, better use their eraser. Billy Napier was my first choice to replace Muschamp. So, I'm not surprised that the Gators knocked off number 7 Utah. Satterfield really needs to get the offense straight. The defense and special teams are in good hands with Clayton White and Pete Lembo. Get the offense going and then we can surprise people this season.

 

[The Reel Ess]

I think he will have to run some for us to beat some SEC teams.

 

[cockyferg]

Dial was in position twice to make an interception. Got beat by smaller receiver who wanted it more. after the receptions on both plays he didn't react, act angry, bring hands to helmet. Kind of like oh well. Shouldn't he be pissed off. I did like seeing Different guys getting Playing time. DK Smith was in as well and Nick Em. Ark just needs to watch this one game to see Dial on an island and throw Hazlewood out there. Yikes i'm worried about next week.

At the same time, we don't want guys getting too upset after a bad play and mentally taking themselves out of the game. I'd rather him be stoic than remain inside his own head through the next plays. But I see what you're saying about passion. Everyone is different. Perhaps his was more of an internal struggle than an outward reaction.

 

[The Reel Ess]

nm

 

[BigJC]

nm

Florida beat a top 10 team as an underdog with a new head coach in his first game.

 

[muscleknight]

Utah's ranking was based on last year's results.

 

[Prestonyte]

Hope Shane does not wait too long to make changes if the offense doesn't get off the ground.

With big recruits for the OL, I'd be wary of putting too much heat on the OL coach at this point.

Don't necessarily need to change the coach - just the blocking schemes. The current schemes are either too complicated to execute or too easy to take advantage of by the defense.

 

[Prestonyte]

He's obviously light years ahead of what we had to work with last year.

He's not a Heisman candidate.

Had good pocket presence and awareness.

Moved in the pocket well and didn't panic under pressure.

Can use his mobility to make plays.

Made some mistakes (2nd pick was a particularly bad one).

Overall, I'd say he's plenty good enough for us to win 8 or 9 games. He's obviously experienced, comfortable and knows what he's doing back there. If we can't get him a run game, it won't matter a whole lot though.

Unfortunately, he's playing behind our OL, which is good enough for us to win maybe 4 games.

Agree with your analysis. He could have Connor Shaw type play making ability but lacks the OL to make it happen based on last night's performance by the OL. Shaw would not have made the second INT but would have dumped it to the open receiver for the 1st down. So decision making may be another issue.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Florida beat a top 10 team as an underdog with a new head coach in his first game.

As you can see I retracted that statement.

 

[Tngamecock]

Spencer played very well. We lose that game last year. His one int was bad play…he said it and knows it. The first int was on Brown. Had a few throws slightly behind the receiver but overall for first game he looked like a person that gives us hope. This guy came out of the shoot running for his life…the OLine will be the reason if we fail. They need to man up and stop this whiffing blocks and two people double teaming one defender while another one runs right by them.

Poor Lloyd dealt with the same crap run blocking he got every play last year. He’s now healthy enough to say screw it and break outside.

This week and next will set a tone

 

[The Reel Ess]

Agree with your analysis. He could have Connor Shaw type play making ability but lacks the OL to make it happen based on last night's performance by the OL. Shaw would not have made the second INT but would have dumped it to the open receiver for the 1st down. So decision making may be another issue.

We don't have the same type blocking scheme we had under HBC. I'm not expert on OL play, but this is inferior. It doesn't stop with the OL either. WRs still don't hold blocks.

 

[Goody]

With our OL play, I'm not sure you can evaluate any QB.

Exactly!!!

 

[Tupacaintdead]

With our OL play, I'm not sure you can evaluate any QB.

This!

 

[Tupacaintdead]

Spencer played very well. We lose that game last year. His one int was bad play…he said it and knows it. The first int was on Brown. Had a few throws slightly behind the receiver but overall for first game he looked like a person that gives us hope. This guy came out of the shoot running for his life…the OLine will be the reason if we fail. They need to man up and stop this whiffing blocks and two people double teaming one defender while another one runs right by them.

Poor Lloyd dealt with the same crap run blocking he got every play last year. He’s now healthy enough to say screw it and break outside.

This week and next will set a tone

I watched 54 and 63 get absolutely manhandled all night long. It’s one thing to get beat by Georgia line or big time teams line, but dang, this is ga st. Again, I ask where was the clown that wanted to talk smack to me this year about our o line. I tried to tell him believe in the o line when they can hold a block for more than a sec or two and not get manhandled by a sunbelt team

 

[18IsTheMan]

Yeah, it really boils down to the OL. If they can't create any running room and give Spencer a little time to throw, it destroys your whole offense.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

We don't have the same type blocking scheme we had under HBC.

When Shawn Elliott was here, it was mostly zone blocking with zone read type plays. But we still has OTs who whiffed blocking smaller/faster guys.

 

[Tngamecock]

I watched 54 and 63 get absolutely manhandled all night long. It’s one thing to get beat by Georgia line or big time teams line, but dang, this is ga st. Again, I ask where was the clown that wanted to talk smack to me this year about our o line. I tried to tell him believe in the o line when they can hold a block for more than a sec or two and not get manhandled by a sunbelt team

Your last sentence worries me the most. I don’t see the burning “want to” out of this line. I hoped they would be pissed off and take things personally this year. Last night was just an extension of last year. I would hate to think the team depends on me and I let it down 70% of the time.

Hope it gets bettercause it ain’t going to get easier

 

[18IsTheMan]

Reflecting on the game, I'm a tad more forgiving of Spencer's second TD. It was still a bad pick and as experienced as he is, it shouldn't have happened. However, as stagnant as the offense had been and how porous the OL had been, I can understand in the heat of the moment him getting antsy to try forcing something big to happen. Doesn't excuse it and with his experience that's a throw that can't happen, but I can see why he did it.