When South Carolina and East Carolina line up across from each other in Charlotte this weekend all eyes are going to be on the offense, but what about their defensive expectations? The Gamecocks defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is known around the SEC—and around the nation—for building nationally recognized defenses. In 2010, Johnson  was third in the SEC and 12th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 112.4 yards on the ground and holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards nine times.Johnson has coached in four SEC Championship games and has been a part of a national title. It is safe to say that Ellis Johnson is no stranger to pressure and knows how to get the job done. The Gamecocks were first in the SEC with 41 sacks, for a loss of 259 yards. One amazing fact is that those 41 sacks were spread out among 12 different players. The most notable among those 12 would have to be Melvin Ingram and Devin Taylor. Ingram had nine sacks for a loss of 65 yards. The defensive lineman ranked third in the SEC for sacks and came in second on the team with 11 tackles for a loss. The senior from Hamlet, NC is possibly the best all-around athlete on this defense and could play any position asked of him.Ingram is set to line up at defensive end opposite another impact player, Devin Taylor. Taylor was named first team All-SEC by the Associated Press, Rivals.com and Phill Steele. He led the defensive linemen with 46 tackles—13 for a loss—and 7.5 sacks. Taylor is expected to step up his game this season and build on his breakout year from 2010. Rushing defense is just one aspect of a defensive game. The Gamecocks struggled at times last year in the secondary. They are going to have to improve this season to have any hopes at making a run at the SEC Championship.The problem is not the talent of the starters, but the lack of depth in the secondary. The Gamecocks have Stephon Gilmore, D.J. Swearinger, Jimmy Legree and Akeem Auguste penciled in as their starters for the 2011 season. Stephon Gilmore was the interception leader with three for 97 yards. Gilmore is an All-SEC performer that has the big play ability and work ethic required of a leader in the secondary. He led the team with 79 tackles, with six for a loss.Akeem Auguste returned to practice on Friday after dealing with an injury and plans to practice all this week to prepare for East Carolina. Auguste has been moved back to cornerback, after spending last season at free safety. He racked up 58 tackles, with four for a loss. Auguste is thought by most to have excellent instincts and is a powerful hitter. It is going to be crucial for this secondary to step up and play well this season for the Gamecocks to have a breakout year. The East Carolina Pirates defense is led by Coach Brian Mitchell. Mitchell took on the task of rebuilding the Pirates defense in 2010, after losing nine starters. His task became even harder when he lost three players during the season due to injuries. The East Carolina Defense racked 1035 tackles, 15 sacks, 11 interceptions and recovered 10 fumbles. Defensive end Matt Milner took the lead with three sacks in 2010 for the Pirates. Milner also racked up 47 tackles, with seven for a loss. He brings a mix of speed and passion for the game that makes him a man that Coach Mitchell needs to be a leader on this East Carolina Defensive line.  Milner is joined by fellow defensive lineman Derrell Johnson, who rose to the starting position as a true freshman in 2010. Johnson recorded 40 tackles—4.5 for a loss—and one sack. Much like the Gamecocks, the Pirates secondary was a sore spot for the 2010 season. But some would not put all the blame on the secondary for their performance. It was widely recognized that they were getting no help from their front seven. It is still not known if they are going to be any better this year, but they are getting one more year out of defensive back Bradley Jacobs. He will be joined by fellow defensive back Emanuel Davis. Bradley Jacobs led the secondary with 80 tackles and four interceptions, totaling 54 yards. Jacobs is full of intensity and has great ball awareness. Emanuel Davis joins Jacobs and is considered by many to be one of the best corner backs in the nation. Davis had 54 sacks, two interceptions and nine breakups. Overall, the talent is there in the secondary. The true test is going to be on the defensive line to get the pass rush. Only time will tell if this secondary unit is going to receive any help. This defensive battle is going to come down to the styles of the offenses they are going to face. The East Carolina defense, although putting up some decent numbers last year, were still far from SEC caliber.South Carolina is going to come at them with a balanced offense. They are going spread the field with their talented receiver core and then run Marcus Lattimore up the middle. It is going to be crucial for the front seven of the Pirates defense to play well. If they can’t hold the line and apply some pressure it is a lost cause for the Pirates on Saturday. South Carolina is poised to dominate the East Carolina offensive line. This will put some pressure on quarterback Dominique Davis. Davis likes to do a three step drop and get rid of the ball quickly, so it is still going to be up to the secondary to contain and control the wide receivers.This would be an excellent chance for the Gamecock secondary to prove that there is no weak link in this defense. If Melvin Ingram, Stephon Gilmore and Devin Taylor can get to Davis enough to make him rush his throws, I predict the Gamecocks secondary could have a big day.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

This may finally be the year you can add the South Carolina Gamecocks to the SEC elite. They finished with a solid 9-5 record last season and enter this year ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll.They return 14 starters from a year ago—including the nucleus that scored 30 points per game. Expectations are high, and fans have SEC Championship and possibly the BCS Championship on their minds.Just a couple years ago, everybody was questioning head coach Steve Spurrier and wondering if he should just hang them up. But maybe he really hasn't lost a step and the old ball coach has still got it.We should find out more this season, but the Gamecocks are for real and are a candidate to win the SEC East.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Many believe the University of South Carolina football team could have a special 2011 college football season.  To make this a reality, the Gamecocks must make it through a tough schedule before the taste of yet another SEC East divisional crown can be savored Here are the five crucial games on USC's 2011 schedule:Begin Slideshow

Many believe the University of South Carolina football team could have a special 2011 college football season.  To make this a reality, the Gamecocks must make it through a tough schedule before the taste of yet another SEC East divisional crown can be savored. Here are the five crucial games on USC's 2011 schedule:Begin Slideshow

South Carolina, has a recent history of producing good NFL prospects at cornerback.  Players such as Dunta Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), Jonathan Joseph (Cincinnati Bengals) and Captain Munnerlyn (Carolina Panthers) have all proved their worth as players in the league. 
Some think that Stephon Gilmore may be the best the University has ever had.  Others had Chris Culliver rated as a potential day one draft pick.  Akeem Aguste is one of the hardest-hitting players in college football, and DeVonte Holloman was supposed to have a breakout year. 
It was basically the same personnel as last year, where South Carolina was one of the best passing defenses in the country. 
So, ummm, what happened?
I believe a couple of things happened here. 
For one, Darian Stewart's loss hurt the experience level of the secondary, as he was an underrated player for the team. 
However, I look no farther then the switch of Akeem Aguste and Chris Culliver. 
I understand the coaches' reasons behind why they did it.  I really do.  They wanted to take advantage of Akeem Auguste's ferociousness, and keep Chris Culliver from hurting his shoulder again (he ended up getting hurt anyway). 
However, you have two of the better players at their position, and you take them out of it to try something new.  Chris Culliver's speed and reaction time made him an excellent and rangy safety.  He played help defense extraordinarily well. 
Akeem Auguste's fierceness made him a dangerous cover corner.  He was physical, and capable of battling the strong SEC wide receivers. 
Just take a look at the numbers from the previous two seasons for these two players:
Chris Culliver, Safety, 2009: (11 games), 62 total tackles (six per game), six tackles for losses, two sacks, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble. 
Chris Culliver, Corner, 2010: (seven games), 34 total tackles (five per game), four for losses, one sack, two pass breakups. 
 
Akeem Auguste, Corner, 2009: 38 tackles, two for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles
Akeem Auguste, Safety, 2010: 58 tackles, four for losses, one sack, two pass breakups, one forced fumble. 
 
With these numbers, two things stick out.  One, Chris Culliver was a MUCH better safety than a corner.  If you look at the per-game averages, each one is higher.  The pass breakups are particularly startling, as he only had two in seven games in 2010.  He had nine in 11 games in 2009 as a safety. 
The second thing?  Akeem Auguste is nowhere near the safety Chris Culliver is.  He played poorly all season, and only had two pass breakups. 
They are pretty similar statistically as corners.  Akeem Auguste's power did lead to two forced fumbles.
I believe that the switch truly did hurt the defense.  Is it the only reason?  Absolutely not.  Depth concerns and injuries depleted a struggling unit.
The reality is, Chris Culliver was a one-of-a-kind safety who was highly praised during the offseason by media outlets as one of the top safeties.  The team removed a great safety from his position, inserted an unproven safety commodity in Akeem Auguste, while keeping the corner position the same in terms of ability. 
That was a lose/lose in retrospect, and I wonder, would Coach Spurrier make the same choice again?Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

With the SEC Championship just days away fans of both Auburn and South Carolina are weighing the matchups. Cam Newton is Auburn's biggest threat. If he can be contained, though he hasn't to this point, the advantage goes to South Carolina.
One edge that can't be denied in favor of South Carolina is the head coach. Gene Chizik has come into his own, but many credit the Auburn success to Gus Malzahn. Malzahn's offense is running the show. Chizik is a defensive guy, and his defense is the team's biggest question mark.
Steve Spurrier has been credited as one of, if not the best, big-game coaches in college football. The head ball coach has been here before, but it's his first time being there at South Carolina. Spurrier has achieved a great deal at South Carolina already, and he doesn't want to stop now.
Steve Spurrier has achieved numerous firsts at South Carolina in 2010. He's defeated the No. 1 team in the country (Alabama), and won the SEC East. Not to mention sweeping the "Orange Crush" (Florida-Tennessee-Clemson) for the first time ever. He also defeated arch-rival Clemson in consecutive seasons for the first time in 40 years.
Auburn defeated South Carolina earlier in the season, but largely because South Carolina self-destructed in the fourth quarter. There were four turnovers by South Carolina, and South Carolina led by 13 points at one time. Outside of the turnovers, the South Carolina team on the field that night isn't the same team that will be on the field Saturday in Atlanta. Though in fairness, this is a different Auburn team as well.
After being humbled by Arkansas earlier in the season South Carolina changed absolutely everything. The way they practice, the way they play and the coaches have changed the way they coach. It's been more than beneficial. Three consecutive wins, and three consecutive routs.
The last three victories have come with a combined score of 134 to 45. The play on both sides of the ball has improved, most especially on the defensive side. Alshon Jeffery has continued to prove that he's one of the top wide receivers in the nation. Stephen Garcia has become more efficient and raised his passing touchdown total to 18.
Then there's Marcus Lattimore—one of the best freshman running backs in the nation. Lattimore is one touchdown away from tying the SEC freshman touchdown mark of 20.
Lattimore didn't have a great game against Clemson because Clemson committed to stopping him. In doing that they allowed Alshon Jeffery to have another 100-plus-yard game. Further making the case of how great the two playmakers complement one another.
Gene Chizik in his early week press conference stated the impact Lattimore and Jeffery have. Chizik and Malzahn will no doubt have their hands full this Saturday. The Auburn Tigers are favored to win, and rightfully so. However the Gamecocks are a better prepared team now, and embrace both being the underdog and playing on the big stage.
Cam Newton can expect to see Cliff Matthews, Devin Taylor, Ladi Ajiboye, Melvin Ingram and many more glaring at him. The Gamecocks have the advantage of having played him already, and having several more weeks of film to study. Not to mention they now know that he is the man to game-plan around, whereas in the first game, it was evident, but not as evident as it is now.
Aside from the on-field play and off-field practice there is something else that's changed within the Gamecock faithful. There was a segment of fans who were devoted to Spurrier. There was also a very adamant, very vocal segment who almost loathed him. While it isn't a unanimous love, there is a new-found, and rejuvenated belief in Coach Spurrier. Players included.
It has been mentioned, but in the SEC East-clinching victory over Florida the telling moment wasn't the Gatorade shower, nor was it Spurrier being carried to midfield. The moment was Stephen Garcia, the quarterback who Steve Spurrier has been hardest on, standing beside Spurrier, hugging him and thanking him; something many thought unlikely given that history.
Historical trends are changing at a rapid pace at South Carolina. Could having never won an SEC championship be the next thing to change?Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

With the 2010 SEC championship game being set in stone this past Saturday with Auburn winning at home, against Georgia, and South Carolina winning on the road in the Swamp against Florida, several questions are raised.
With the earlier game between the two teams ending with an eight-point Auburn win, one has to wonder if the same thing will happen? With South Carolina having been given the opportunity to see more of Auburn on film, can they stop the Auburn offense.
On of the bigger questions though, is that with the growth and development of Marcus Lattimore, and Steve Spurrier's abandoning of the run in Auburn earlier this year, will Auburn's defense be able to stop Marcus Lattimore? Will they be able to stop Stephen Garcia's passing?
Lattimore plays like anything but a freshman. He is the Gamecocks most valuable player without question. He makes the jobs of Stephen Garcia, Alshon Jeffery, Tori Gurley and D.L. Moore easier as well. It has been said that if Marcus Lattimore didn't have ankles he would never be tackled.
Marcus Lattimore has had three games of over 180 yards now, all those games are wins. He made everyone outside of South Carolina take notice when he rushed for 212 yards, and added an additional 31 receiving against Florida. Lattimore totaled 243 yards in a game where Florida totaled 226.
If Spurrier decides to start the game by attacking them with Garcia going to the usual suspects in Jeffery and Gurley, it could open up the running game for Lattimore. Auburn stopped Lattimore early in the previous 2010 matchup, which as previously mentioned caused Spurrier to abandon the run.
I don't see Spurrier abandoning the run again if Lattimore is healthy. The Gamecocks have matured and Spurrier is beginning to believe in his team. Spurrier still sets the tone for his team, and if he goes into Atlanta upbeat and pumped, his team will too.
The Gamecocks have an advantage in being able to play Auburn a second time in one season, but Auburn has the same advantage, but do they equal out? You could say that they do, but it's very possible this tilts in the Gamecocks favor.
The Gamecocks can use the extra time and extra film to study Cam Newton and the Tiger offense, but the offense can find ways to attack Auburn's heavily criticized defense. The Gamecocks need to go in much like they have against Alabama and Florida. Be ready to run, but know that you can attack deep if needed.
The playmakers and weapons for the Gamecocks if healthy are just as dangerous as the marquee players on any other team in the country. When they execute the game plan and play with emotion they win games by rather large margins.
When they become complacent and drag their feet they lose and lose ugly. The losses are behind them already, but two games remain before Auburn in Atlanta. Gamecocks final home game is this weekend against Troy, and the atmosphere will be unlike anything Troy is used to seeing.
This is a long suffering fan base who now are guaranteed a championship game. They will be excited, and they will be loud. The Gamecocks will likely follow suit. Expect a large part of that crowd to make their presence felt in Atlanta since this is South Carolina's first trip to Atlanta to fight for the SEC Crown, and the well-traveling Gamecock faithful will be going with them.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

With the biggest game in the history of the University South Carolina football coming Saturday, one has to ask, "what does Steve Spurrier have in store for Urban Meyer's Gators," and how will he approach this game?
Steve Spurrier held a different type of practice Monday. It was a short practice inside Williams Brice Stadium, and it was followed by an extended film session. Spurrier also appeared to be loose and upbeat. Something he was not before the Arkansas game.
Spurrier goes home to the Swamp, where he won SEC Championships and a National Championship with the Gators. This time he's going in as a potential spoiler, and to put himself in the position for an SEC Championship for the Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks will be in the familiar position of underdogs. They've spent most of the season in the unfamiliar position of favorites. The Gators seem to have hit their stride at the same time the Gamecocks appear to be slipping.
Urban Meyer has come out and stated he wants "the Swamp" to be loud, and decked out in blue just like his Gators will be. Meyer doesn't do that often. Is it possible that Spurrier can use this to his advantage?
Can he point out that his Gamecocks may have the Gators nervous? Will Spurrier take the old approach of "Fun & Gun" or in the newer terminology, "Cock & Fire?" Considering Marcus Lattimore may not be 100 percent, it seems likely he will. Will Spurrier pull things out of his expansive playbook he hasn't shown on film this season?
Last season when the Gamecocks were in the midst of another late season stumble #15 Clemson came to Columbia and were upset by 17 points Spurrier pulled a few tricks out. He ran the Wild Cocky offense with Stephon Gilmore at quarterback.
He also called an option play that worked for a touchdown. In that game more than any other they utilized the tight end. There is a real possibility that with Troy coming to Columbia the week after the Florida game that Spurrier tries the trickery that he was once known for.
With playmakers scattered over the field on offense there are seemingly limitless possibilities. The question mark continues to be on the defense. If the Gamecocks continue to play defense the way they have, they could be playing from behind early. South Carolina simply has to change it. To blitz, confuse and man cover would change the Gators game plan mid-game.
No offense playing the Gamecocks would expect to see that. Instead they expect to see four or five man rushes and a soft zone ninety percent of quarterbacks can dink and dunk and pick apart. The reason they expect it is because that's what Ellis Johnson has shown repeatedly.
If the Gamecocks play the way they've played in seven of their nine games this season they likely won't defeat the Gators in Florida. If they play the way they played against Alabama then obviously they can come out with the win. The way they defeated Southern Miss in the first week would work as well.
The question is what will Spurrier have in store for the Gators, but the underlying question is which Steve Spurrier will be on the sidelines this weekend. The Steve Spurrier who is loose and allows his players to play, or will it be the Steve Spurrier who tenses up, shuts down and negatively affect his team.
Steve Spurrier, like most coaches sets the mood of his team. Steve Spurrier though has a mood range more broad than most coaches. He's always stern, but when he's loose and free his team plays that way and wins. When he's in shut down mode his team plays that way as well.
Look no further than last years Florida game. Spurrier's Gamecocks were hanging with the number one ranked Gators. Then there was a tipped ball that bounced the wrong way and Florida got an interception. Spurrier visibly shut down on the sideline, and following that play the Gamecocks were unable to do anything else.
This seasons Kentucky game as well. The Gamecocks were dominant in the first half, after Spurrier preaching and pounding to avoid the letdown. When Marcus Lattimore sprained his ankle, Spurrier's mood changed and he abandoned the run, and with the shoddy secondary play by the Gamecocks, Kentucky came back and won the game.
Spurrier has to stay calm, stay loose and not show his team that he's overly frustrated. You can be frustrated and use it as a coaching mechanism, but Spurrier has, in the past become frustrated and instead of coaching he goes into ordering mode.
The Spurrier that shows up on the sidelines at 7:15pm EST will decide whether his team plays in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. It may be visibly evident before kickoff, or it may be decided later in the game. This, maybe more than any other game may define Spurrier's legacy at South Carolina.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Another November is upon us, and another less than lackluster performance by the Gamecocks has been turned in. The Gamecocks came into their game against SEC opponent Arkansas, and they absolutely phoned it in.
Every aspect of the game seemed half-hearted. The fact that the game didn't matter in the SEC East division race was apparently very clear to the Gamecocks and their coaching staff. Spurrier disputed that in his Sunday press conference, but I don't think there's too much to dispute as evidenced by the box score.
I actually shouldn't say the entire coaching staff, because Ellis Johnson's defensive game plan has been turned in as if each game hasn't mattered. The Gamecocks are a healthy 6-3 and bowl eligible, but the defense has looked horrendous all season long.
The statistics given last week before the Arkansas game are out the window now. Another 300 yard passing game given up, though it was only 303 this week. The average of a little over 19 points is gone with a 41 point defensive letdown as well. Ellis Johnson has been given raises and extensions, and anyone who has watched his defense can only wonder why.
Johnson also made sure the blame didn't fall on his strategy and scheme saying, "I expect to see the players playing better." It is safe to say that everybody expects them to play better, but when they're not lined up on a man, a quarterback like Ryan Mallett can pick them apart, and he did.
A defensive game plan like that will do wonders for Florida's sometimes shaky offense. In terms of defense, the Razorbacks question mark coming into the South Carolina game was their run defense. They made a commitment through the week to stop the run and did so. They made adjustments, something South Carolina's defense hasn't done all season.
This isn't an assault on South Carolina's defense; this is honesty. A soft zone defense isn't going to work against a team with any semblance of a passing attack. The worst part of the Arkansas game is that the defense wasn't the only problem. For the first time this season, the Gamecocks offense looked bad for four quarters.
Execution was less than ideal. The game plan was abandoned again just as soon as Marcus Lattimore came to the sideline with a slight knee injury. The running game all but vanished when the play-calling combination of G.A. Mangus and Steve Spurrier returned to their pass happy roots.
The offensive line didn't play a great game. Stephen Garcia didn't play a great game. Garcia was replaced with Connor Shaw, who was injured by a big hit from an Arkansas defender. The play was penalized as a late hit, though Shaw's feet weren't completely out of bounds. The "intent" of him going out of bounds may have had something to do with it.
When Shaw went out of the game, Seth Strickland got his first real playing time for the Gamecocks. In typical Steve Spurrier fashion, the starting quarterback found himself a place on the bench while the second and third string quarterbacks finished out the game with the same amount of success.
This week in practice will determine what the Gamecocks do for the rest of the season, especially their trip to "The Swamp" to take on the Gators this Saturday night for a trip to the SEC Championship game. Can Spurrier rally the troops following a bad performance at home? Or will the late season fade, as has become customary, rear its ugly head?
 Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

After South Carolina's defeat of Alabama, the Gamecocks have had three consecutive trap games. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and the most unlikely of all, Tennessee. They have split the two they've played thus far, with Tennessee making the trip to the Cockpit this Saturday.Tennessee has dominated the series, but the 2010 Volunteers aren't the Volunteers of years past. The last time Tennessee came to Columbia the Gamecocks prevailed 27-6. An outcome that must be repeated, and hopefully improved upon. As has been stated previously the Gamecocks aren't used to being targets. For the third straight week the Gamecocks face a head coach new to their respective university. Also, for the third straight week, the Gamecocks are in the unfamiliar position of being a statement win for a team, coach or program. For the Gamecocks, staying focused is the biggest deciding factor in their success against Tennessee. If the Gamecocks were to look ahead to Arkansas or Florida or even the score of the Georgia/Florida game, it would spell disaster. Not only for the game against Tennessee, but for the SEC title hopes that are still very realistic. On paper, the Gamecocks are the better team in 2010. They are 19-point favorites, according to some. The Gamecocks need not let that thought enter their minds. Being confident is a must, but being arrogant is a detriment. The usual suspects, in Garcia, Lattimore, Jeffery and Gurley need to play sound, mistake free football. They must also play with urgency, but not desperation. Forgetting the pressure of the SEC Championship game, and only focusing on Tennessee will go a long way in locking up another SEC win against an opponent with a roster in flux. With Marcus Lattimore returning and he is saying with confidence that he feels 100%. Lattimore obviously adds a great deal to the Gamecock offense. For a half against Vanderbilt the Gamecocks looked a bit flat, but rattled off 21 unanswered in the final minutes of the second quarter and final half of that game. Brian Maddox did emerge as an incredibly solid number two back for Lattimore. Kenny Miles did himself no favors. With a clear cut and healthy starting lineup back in place the Gamecocks match up equally or favorably against the rest of their opponents. Ace Sanders and Patrick DiMarco remain the wildcards that could make a difference if the stars are shut down or contained. The defense also has a favorable match up against Tennessee. Tennessee has made it clear they'll use a quarterback rotation, and Matt Simms has made it clear that he isn't happy about it. The Gamecocks defense needs to pressure both Volunteer quarterbacks early and often. Getting to those quarterbacks like the Gamecocks got to Greg McElroy would be a huge factor in the outcome. The Gamecocks defense has been sufficient. At times it hasn't looked good. Especially statistically. The two losses came from getting gashed by the likely Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. The second loss was part emotional letdown coming off the high of the Alabama win, part no help from the offense in shutdown mode after losing Lattimore, and one blown coverage on the final defensive play against Kentucky. This weekend will depend heavily on coaching, focus and execution. Its the same for every game, but in a position a team isn't used to, those three things are far more important than your typical game. The Gamecocks are confident coming off reported good practices and deliberate preparation during "Tennessee Week."Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com