South Carolina
I was tempted to go with Florida last week and the Gator D vs Mizzou off a huge SEC road win and rFr QB making first start. But I thought that Mizzou could probably keep it rolling one more week vs Florida's anemic offense. And keep it rolling they did, to the tune of 500 yards! For context, Florida has not allowed 500 yards since 2007! Yes, that is a span of 70 games! Gators held to 151 yards of offense, the lowest since 1999!
So is Missouri that good? Sure Missouri is good, but I think last week's game was clearly an anomaly. Tigers played one of the best defenses in the nation by most accounts and they ran up and down the field on them. And we know Florida has and has had in the past some poor offensive teams, but their lowest output in some 13 years vs Missouri? Missouri did it, they deserve credit, but at the same time it is as much of a fluke as anything.
Look back at the Georgia game and Mizzou only gained 375 yards, which in fact before the Vandy game was UGA's least yards allowed vs BCS teams. And before last week Missouri D was allowing 419 yards in their previous 6 games, then all of a sudden they hold Florida to 151.
It's more of a Florida problem. I don't know what Florida was doing last week, but they were not playing their brand of football. Missouri wanted and wanted it bad. Gators were either still mulling over the LSU loss or whatever, but they did not bring their A or B game, or even their C game and got rolled for it. Don't think it happens this week.
Defensive stat rankings
Carolina has something Florida does not, offense. They average 471 yards, including 224 on the ground. And again, before that sorry excuse for Florida showed up at the Zoo, Missouri had been allowing 419 yards. After last week that figure is down to 381 good enough for 51st. 264 pass yards per game allowed puts Mizzou at 102nd. They do have 19th ranked run D with 116 allowed per, but Toledo and Georgia each ran for 5.43 and 5.29 ypc. Gamecocks counter with 21st overall D and 19th pass yards allowed D. SC run D just 42nd and 143 yards per, but playing Gurshall can do that to you. Each teams scoring D is within a pt of eachother (22.1 vs 22.7).
The Georgia games
[TABLE="class: mod-data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: team-color-strip"]
[TH="align: left"]
[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]MIZZ[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]UGA[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]1st Downs[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]26[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]3rd down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]5-12[/TD]
[TD]4-11[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]4th down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]0-0[/TD]
[TD]1-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Total Yards[/TD]
[TD]375[/TD]
[TD]454[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Passing[/TD]
[TD]233[/TD]
[TD]290[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Comp-Att[/TD]
[TD]22-31[/TD]
[TD]25-45[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per pass[/TD]
[TD]7.5[/TD]
[TD]6.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Rushing[/TD]
[TD]142[/TD]
[TD]164[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Rushing Attempts[/TD]
[TD]37[/TD]
[TD]31[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per rush[/TD]
[TD]3.8[/TD]
[TD]5.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Penalties[/TD]
[TD]10-57[/TD]
[TD]5-40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Turnovers[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Fumbles lost[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Interceptions thrown[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Possession[/TD]
[TD]30:37[/TD]
[TD]29:23[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: mod-data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: team-color-strip"]
[TH="align: left"]
[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]SCAR[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]UGA[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]1st Downs[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]25[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]3rd down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]5-11[/TD]
[TD]6-14[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]4th down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]1-3[/TD]
[TD]2-3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Total Yards[/TD]
[TD]454[/TD]
[TD]536[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Passing[/TD]
[TD]228[/TD]
[TD]309[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Comp-Att[/TD]
[TD]16-25[/TD]
[TD]17-23[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per pass[/TD]
[TD]9.1[/TD]
[TD]13.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Rushing[/TD]
[TD]226[/TD]
[TD]227[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Rushing Attempts[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]53[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per rush[/TD]
[TD]6.3[/TD]
[TD]4.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Penalties[/TD]
[TD]5-40[/TD]
[TD]5-16[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Turnovers[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Fumbles lost[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Interceptions thrown[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Possession[/TD]
[TD]24:40[/TD]
[TD]35:20[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
As we know, SC played a near full strength Georgia team. Only Mitchell was out at that point. Missouri had the benefit of playing vs Georgia's #3 and #4 RBs (one of which is white) and allowed 5.3 ypc overall (6.15 vs 2 leading rushers) while SC had to play both Gurley and Marshall who they allowed 6.35 ypc (4.3 overall due to sacks and tfl). Wonder what Gurley and Marshall would have done to Mizzou if the white kid could get 5.0 on them?
With 3 of UGA's top 4 WRs playing and complimented by excellent RBs vs SC Murray went 17 of 23 309y 4-0 ratio. With only 1 of the top 4 WRs and reserve RBs now in lead roles vs Mizzou Murray went 25-45 290y 3-2 ratio.
Vs Mizzou UGA RB fumbled at the 6, Murray threw INT at the 18 preventing scores while Tigers got a sack fum D TD and another UGA INT set Tigers up for 33y TD 'drive'. Tiger WR also threw an illadvised double pass into the EZ 40y, but was bailed out by a fantastic catch for TD. 70 more yards, 3 more FDs, 1.5 better ypc, yet lost by 15 because they could not overcome a 4-0 TO deficit.
We can see with Georgia firing on all cylinders and not making mistakes the kind off offense they can produce like when they played SC.
It should be noted that Mike Davis ran for 16-149 (9.3) aided by 75y run vs Georgia. And vs teams that have balance on O, Mizzou has given up some large ypc figures.
The Vandy games
[TABLE="class: mod-data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: team-color-strip"]
[TH="align: left"]
[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]MIZZ[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]VAN[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]1st Downs[/TD]
[TD]29[/TD]
[TD]27[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]3rd down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]4-11[/TD]
[TD]5-14[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]4th down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]2-3[/TD]
[TD]2-4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Total Yards[/TD]
[TD]523[/TD]
[TD]468[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Passing[/TD]
[TD]278[/TD]
[TD]338[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Comp-Att[/TD]
[TD]19-28[/TD]
[TD]29-41[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per pass[/TD]
[TD]9.9[/TD]
[TD]8.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Rushing[/TD]
[TD]245[/TD]
[TD]130[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Rushing Attempts[/TD]
[TD]43[/TD]
[TD]38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per rush[/TD]
[TD]5.7[/TD]
[TD]3.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Penalties[/TD]
[TD]6-52[/TD]
[TD]7-64[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Turnovers[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Fumbles lost[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Interceptions thrown[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Possession[/TD]
[TD]29:58[/TD]
[TD]30:02[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: mod-data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: team-color-strip"]
[TH="align: left"]
[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]VAN[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]SCAR[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]1st Downs[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]31[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]3rd down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]2-12[/TD]
[TD]11-17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]4th down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]3-3[/TD]
[TD]2-3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Total Yards[/TD]
[TD]268[/TD]
[TD]579[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Passing[/TD]
[TD]147[/TD]
[TD]359[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Comp-Att[/TD]
[TD]12-22[/TD]
[TD]28-38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per pass[/TD]
[TD]6.7[/TD]
[TD]9.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Rushing[/TD]
[TD]121[/TD]
[TD]220[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Rushing Attempts
[/TD]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per rush[/TD]
[TD]3.7[/TD]
[TD]4.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Penalties[/TD]
[TD]0-0[/TD]
[TD]5-30[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Turnovers[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Fumbles lost[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Interceptions thrown[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Possession[/TD]
[TD]22:50[/TD]
[TD]37:10[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Both SC and MU jumped out to sizable leads and big yardage edges in the process. The difference is that vs SC the Vandy O never got on track while vs MU they did eventually get on track.
SC was up 28-0 and on their way to a blowout score when Vandy ret'd an INT to the 1 and had a TD 1 play later. VU was able to add a 54y FG before half yet were being outgained nearly 400y to 100y were only down by 18. SC fumbled a KO in the 4th qrt and VU added a TD, so for the game VU had two TD 'drives' total 20 yards.
Carta-Samuels vs SC 12-22-147-1-1 vs MU 29-41-338-2-1
2012 SC 31-10 (-10')
MIZZ SC
[TABLE="class: mod-data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: team-color-strip"]
[TH="align: left"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]1st Downs
[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]3rd down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]2-12[/TD]
[TD]6-12[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]4th down efficiency[/TD]
[TD]1-2[/TD]
[TD]1-2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Total Yards[/TD]
[TD]255[/TD]
[TD]396[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Passing[/TD]
[TD]146[/TD]
[TD]252[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Comp-Att[/TD]
[TD]18-26[/TD]
[TD]21-23[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per pass[/TD]
[TD]5.6[/TD]
[TD]11.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Rushing[/TD]
[TD]109[/TD]
[TD]144[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Rushing Attempts[/TD]
[TD]32[/TD]
[TD]39[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Yards per rush[/TD]
[TD]3.4[/TD]
[TD]3.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Penalties[/TD]
[TD]2-20[/TD]
[TD]4-24[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Turnovers[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Fumbles lost[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="align: left"]Interceptions thrown[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: bi, align: left"]Possession[/TD]
[TD]27:27[/TD]
[TD]32:33[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Box score does not begin to reveal the dominance this game was, straight up beat down by SC. Shaw completed 20 straight passes. SC fumbled at the MU 16 and 15 and was SOD at the MU 1. A full half of MU's yards and FDs were compiled on their final 3 possessions and their lone TD came with just 20 seconds left.
Shaw out, Thompson in
Shaw is tough and I like him alot. Thompson is a downgrade, but is still a good back up. He started at Clemson last year and threw for 23-41-310. Stepping in for an injured Shaw at UCF, Thompson wasn't great (15-32-261-0-1), but I have confidence in him here.
The Tennessee game
This might sound strange, but had SC won that game and the O played well rather than poorly I might not like SC as much. I generally don't like going on teams that are hot or playing well. I rather like to take teams on rebounds, that have just been humbled, ones that need sharp practices to improve themselves. That is exactly where SC finds themself this week.
The offense unexpectedly came off the track last week in Knoxville, held 100y below their avg yardage. Dropped passes, receivers not getting open, play calling, penalties. The only thing positive thing on O last week was, again, Mike Davis and his 137y (6.5). Davis now has 879y (6.6) and 10 TDs, I expect him to be a focal point of the gameplan this week. Shaw's injury may force Spurrier into this if nothing else. The running game has been the fuel that propelled SC not just this year, but in previous years. Taking the game out of the QBs hands and relying more on the ground game and I think in turn can make the offense better overall rather than just letting Shaw make all the plays because he won't be making any plays this week. I think we see a more power run type offense this week rather than spread, atleast I hope we do.
The SC D played a strong game vs Vols last week (UT held to 2nd lowest ypp on the year) and forced 8 three-and-outs. Tenn got just two FGs in the second half.
Conclusion
Missouri vastly exceeded expectations last week. Can they do it again? Mizzou has done well in two high profile games, taking on a depleted Georgia O and facing a pedestrian Florida O may have mislead us into thinking their D is quite as good as it is. I think SC has the better D and while I don't think by comparison it is as good as Florida's D, I fully expect them to play better than Florida did. Hell if Florida played Mizzou a 100x I don't think they could play that bad again. While this game is immensely important for both teams, SC is in desperation mode. Some wind has been blown back in their sails since after losing to UT they learn that UGA lost giving them a shot at the East still.