We have an Achilles Heel. The playoff teams won't be top-tier in every aspect, but neither will they have an Achilles Heel. The offensive line is, and will be, our Achilles Heel against the good teams.
Looking ahead on the schedule: OU
- Thread starter 18IsTheMan
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You are being overly kind calling our OL an Achille's heel.
The OL was not impressive against either ODU or Akron.
I don't think the OL is some dominant, impressive strength on the the team. They aren't a liability either though. I think they'll be able to hold their own against Miss, Bama, OU. The difference here is what Sellers brings as a runner. To pair him with Sanders makes up for a decent OL. Their ability to pick up yardage and break big plays is a huge asset.
You are alone in viewing our OL as decent.
A big problem is the OL cannot allow us to consistently pick up yardage running the ball. We break off some big runs, but in between are a lot of 1-2 yard runs or runs for no gain.
The spirit of Pollyanna lives here.
Well, let’s weigh this proposition in the balance and see if it’s found lacking . . .
Since it’s been determined that the players aren’t the ones conjuring up this sentiment, we must conclude that it’s the fans who think their 3-1 team will or will not settle for six wins on the season.
So, if it’s the fans who are or are not satisfied with a mediocre record, what does that say about all you prima facia Gamecocks who put down a positive fan like sleepyhead? He/she sees the sunshine and enjoys it while you see a future cloud and declare the season a bust at 3-1.
I rather like sleepyhead’s positivity. It’s refreshing on a board with so many downcast Eeyores.
Complete blurring of the lines between what we HOPE happens and what we THINK will actually happen.
We can all sit around and talk about how a national title will look on our trophy case this year, or we can move on and talk about what's actually going to happen.
Both are suitable for passing time, but shouldn't be confused with each other.
Ask Sleepyhead to put up a significant wager on making the playoffs, and I bet he suddenly tempers his prognostications. It's not a bad thing, it's just acknowledging the difference between hopes and real life expectations.
Aaaah, an Eeyore who can predict the future. So reassuredly typical.
Since quoting Milne seems to be fitting, here’s an adjusted quote that is appropriate—
“Not much of a team, just right for not much of a fan."
No one said anything about predicting the future. If you actually read my post, you would have seen the words "what we THINK will actually happen."
I even capitalized think to highlight it and show it was opinion.
But after reading that, you just had to ignore it to get a jab in. So reassuredly typical.
The clear distinction between a ''good'' OL and a ''bad'' OL is the push of the line of scrimmage.
Is the OL pushing the DL back or is the DL pushing the OL into the backfield.
Clearly our OL is losing the battle of the line of scrimmage.
Is the OL pushing the DL back or is the DL pushing the OL into the backfield.
Clearly our OL is losing the battle of the line of scrimmage.
We are dead last in the nation in QB sack percentage. Let that sink in. 134 out of 134. And we're almost 2% worse than the team ahead of us. There is not that much of a gap between any other 2 consecutively ranked teams. Translation: We are comfortably in last. Yes, some sacks are on the QBs, but even if you took those out, how far do you think we would jump? We'd still be near the bottom.
I'll take that as you realizing you were wrong and just not being able to admit it.
The garnet and black Eeyores have spoken. Unfortunate for those who enjoy the Gamecocks and choose to be positive that there are a herd of them on here.
But, hey, it’s raining outside right now. Perfect weather for them. They love being down. Just don’t think you can pull me to your depths.
But, hey, it’s raining outside right now. Perfect weather for them. They love being down. Just don’t think you can pull me to your depths.
My, aren't you a bright ray of sunshine on a dark, rainy day!
Bless your little heart! 
You are so cute, I hope Santa brings you a National Championship this year!!! But you have to try your hardest to be good!!!
True colors.My, aren't you a bright ray of sunshine on a dark, rainy day!
Historically, new quarterbacks have played like Heisman candidates against us. Hopefully we break that streak with this defense.
Quite the leap you made on my post which was adding to a small list, from a previous post, of schools who are not worried about making 6 wins after a 3-1 start.
No mention of foretelling the future or declaring the season a success or a bust.
Keeping statements in context can be a valuable tool in discussions.
I've got a better song.
If you believe in Gamecocks, then clap your hands! 
If you believe in Gamecocks, then clap your hands! Cocky will, without NIL, win the whole darn Deal!!! If you believe in Gamecocks, just clap... your... hands!!
I've got a better song.
Thanks. That will now be stuck 8n my head for days.
Lol, it’s hard to really know how to respond to this, because in one sense I sort of actually agree, but then in another sense we did win the game 50-7. Anytime you beat someone 50-7 (none of the scores were defensive or special teams I’m pretty sure), it’s hard to say they did too poorly. On the other hand it certainly wasnt perfection. I had a few drinks during the game so my analysis doesn’t run a lot deeper than that
Our defense is very good. I was telling skeptics around me before the season started they looked on paper to be really good and should be, and everyone was saying yeah right, 4-8.
Here’s the real question in my mind. The OP says he’s trying to figure out where the 6th win could come from. You say you are still hoping for playoff (probably requires 10-2). You seem to have caught a lot of heat for even throwing that out as a hope. My question is which is more likely, 5 wins or 10 wins? I’m sure almost everyone on here would say well of course 5 wins, with us sitting at 3-1 with 8 to play. That’s probably correct but I believe the most likely outcome to this season is 7-8 wins putting us squarely in the middle of the potential range.
I think you could plausibly make a case 5 wins is about as unlikely as 10 wins. Toss out the 2 non-conference games, we destroyed one and struggled against the other winning both but those games don’t tell us much IMO. In the conference games we blew out a Kentucky team that most people expected to be good this year, and that lost by 1 point to the best team in the conference. Then we lost a game against LSU, considered one of the better teams in the conference, on a game that went down to a FG attempt on last play in which we lost our QB for second half and had multiple scores called back on penalties. The game could have easily been a blowout if the refs practiced the same discretion calling penalties on us that they showed for LSU.
so I have a hard time given what we’ve seen so far having anything other than an attitude that we have potential to be competitive in most if not all remaining games. What would it take to only win 5 games? we have Wofford and Vandy, a team that looks improved but still a team we’ve beaten 15 years in a row and absolutely dismantled last year. They’ve lost to Georgia State. Assuming no big upset in those 2 games we’d have to lose out in the other 6 games. Now most of these teams are good teams. But I think we’ve shown we are a good team. I’m not sure I buy that we’ve shown we have some fundamental weakness that teams like Oklahoma (beat Houston by 4), Mizzou (beat Vandy in OT), or Texas AM (just beat bowling Green by 6) haven’t also shown at times this year. I personally find it highly unlikely we would lose out in all those games and it’s mildly insulting as a Gamecock fan to see people suggesting this is likely (trying to find that 6th win) while dismissing the possibility of a run to a top 12 spot as preposterous. Do I think we will make the playoffs this year? Heck no, but it’s only a little less likely than us going 0-6 the rest of the way outside Wofford/Vandy. Just based on what we’ve seen so far that’s my opinion anyway
I also expect us to be competitive. I think the push back was against the suggestion of 10-2 and a playoff berth. And that we weren't real fans if we didn't also expect it. If that were to happen, believe me, everyone here would be over the moon.
Fair enough, and I didn’t go through and read every post in the thread admittedly, but my thing is if we are being fair to this team there’s no reason to expect them to lose all these games and yet predicting 5-7 or suggesting that’s very likely seems to get far less pushback than predicting a rosy outcome
We definitely got push back on here for 5-7. And called names.
You mean that the only white players on the team are tight ends, long snappers, kickers, and third string QB's? They're all still part of the team.
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