The best offense is a good defense?  I know that doesn't sound right but what if South Carolina doesn't need a superstar at QB?  By all accounts the defense has been up to par in training camp.  We have a solid offensive line filled with veteran players; our wide receivers are capable of doing big things if they get the ball, so why would we need someone that is loaded with talent at QB?  If our defense can keep us in games this season, something they could not manage to do last year, then all we need is a quarterback that makes good choices and takes what the opposing team’s defense gives him.
I thought that Blake Mitchell was a talented player.  He had all the tools except he just wasn't a smart player and he wasn't a leader.  He made bad decisions at bad times and cost us wins.  I have witnessed the most talented athletes I have ever seen go from heroes to zeros because they think they can beat people on pure talent alone.  You can have all the ability in the world but if you make poor decisions and put yourself before your teammates you will never be a winner.
 All Beecher needs to do is make good decisions and not turn the ball over.  Managing the game is key to his and the Gamecocks success this season.  Spurrier will give him everything he needs to be a successful quarterback.  Beecher just needs to recognize his reads on the field and execute the game plan.  Spurrier doesn’t need the best athlete in order to win.  Look at the guys he had as quarterbacks in Florida and show me where they are now.  Don’t bother checking NFL rosters.  Spurrier needs a guy that listens and understands the things Coach is trying to do on the field and implement them.  Maybe we don’t have a quarterback on the roster that can throw the ball 90 yards down the field.  Maybe we don’t have a speed guy that can act as a duel threat to keep defenses off balance.  Let’s not look at what we don’t have Cock fans.  We just might have a guy in Beecher that has a head on his shoulders and can inspire those around him to do great things.  That’s a quality that Mitchell surely lacked.
The Quarterback position will be the first question mark to be checked off this season.  The possible options are that it will be a carousel of people trying to get the job done, we put Cocky the mascot on the field under center, or Beecher comes out of no man’s land to lead the Gamecocks to a successful 2008 campaign.  I am pulling for option three.