ON THE BEAT: South Carolina
Friday, December 19, 2008
COLUMBIA ? Now without its best tackler, South Carolina will revert to a more familiar defensive approach for the Outback Bowl.
The loss of NFL-bound safety Emanuel Cook to academics has forced coordinator Ellis Johnson to shift the scheme back to the standard 4-3, with three linebackers, from the 4-2-5 he installed in the summer months.
"Really, it's what we were doing in the spring," Johnson said. "So we have to revive that and get the guys back on target."
Would it be something he'd try to install if he only had a week? Probably not. But, with the better part of a month to make the switch, it makes sense.
The Gamecocks will practice every day through Monday. And then they'll pick back up Dec. 27 in Tampa, Fla., for bowl week.
"In this situation, it's not that big of a problem," Johnson said.
Eric Norwood and Jasper Brinkley were the pair of linebackers before. Now, Norwood and Brinkley will be joined by senior Marvin Sapp, who enjoyed a pleasantly surprising final season. Sapp finished with 61 tackles, third on the team behind Cook and Norwood.
The summer switch to the 4-2-5 was predicated on getting Cook, Chris Culliver and Darian Stewart on the field at the same time. Namely Culliver, since he hadn't previously been a starter.
Without Cook, the best defensive player not on the field was Sapp. That's even more evident since freshman safety Akeem Auguste hasn't been practicing because of continued problems with a hamstring pull. Auguste is questionable for the bowl game.
"Just where we are, it's what we've got to do right now," safeties coach Ron Cooper said.
In the 4-2-5, Sapp was used when Norwood would play defensive end or tackle, or when Brinkley would come off the field in third-and-long situations.
The 4-3 makes more sense, Johnson said, for a run-oriented team such as Iowa. Running back Shonn Greene rushed for 1,729 yards and 17 touchdowns this year.
"The big thing about Iowa is they just pound you," Johnson said.
Coop on Cook
Cooper was close to Cook, so this has been a pretty tricky and trying week for the veteran coach. But he defended the exiled standout from South Florida.
"He's done a lot of good things since he's been here," said Cooper, who was in charge of the whole secondary in Cook's first two years at USC. "I'm not going to let this incident right here harm my feelings about him.
"I still have strong positive, positive feelings about the man and type of person he is. I know he's going to be successful. He's got to chalk this up to something he learns from. A lot of us make mistakes. Not all of them get printed up on national headlines."
Cooper said he's talked to Cook a couple of times this week.
"He was down," he said. "He's a strong young man. This is something he's going to have to fight off. He's going to have to turn it into something for his good. People might not think now that he's a strong, smart kid. But he's never had a problem passing his classes. ... He's not one we worried about."
Army brat
Johnson said Thursday he's happy at South Carolina, but he reiterated his interest in the head coach job at Army.
"I've got a lot of family background," he said. "I've got two brothers that played there and attended the academy."
And Johnson himself spent his first year at West Point before transferring to The Citadel.
"But I haven't had any contact with Army," Johnson said. "I was responding (earlier in the week) to the job. It's a very prestigious job."
He said he wasn't sure if he would hear from Army officials.
"I have no idea," he said. "I know I haven't done anything about it."
Extra points
Lane Kiffin and Tennessee are courting South Carolina strength coach Mark Smith, sources confirmed Thursday afternoon. A lucrative offer has been extended, the sources said. ... Reserve offensive lineman Kyle Nunn will not be eligible for the bowl game, a source said. ... Receiver Kenny McKinley will play in the Senior Bowl (Jan. 24, Mobile, Ala.), Spurrier confirmed Thursday. Linebacker Brinkley and offensive lineman Jamon Meredith will play in the East-West Shrine Game (Jan. 17, Houston). ... Spurrier said it was "probably a good idea" for redshirt freshman corner Jamire Williams to transfer so he could get more playing time elsewhere. Spurrier said he thought Williams, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, was destined for Florida A&M or Alabama State.
Friday, December 19, 2008
COLUMBIA ? Now without its best tackler, South Carolina will revert to a more familiar defensive approach for the Outback Bowl.
The loss of NFL-bound safety Emanuel Cook to academics has forced coordinator Ellis Johnson to shift the scheme back to the standard 4-3, with three linebackers, from the 4-2-5 he installed in the summer months.
"Really, it's what we were doing in the spring," Johnson said. "So we have to revive that and get the guys back on target."
Would it be something he'd try to install if he only had a week? Probably not. But, with the better part of a month to make the switch, it makes sense.
The Gamecocks will practice every day through Monday. And then they'll pick back up Dec. 27 in Tampa, Fla., for bowl week.
"In this situation, it's not that big of a problem," Johnson said.
Eric Norwood and Jasper Brinkley were the pair of linebackers before. Now, Norwood and Brinkley will be joined by senior Marvin Sapp, who enjoyed a pleasantly surprising final season. Sapp finished with 61 tackles, third on the team behind Cook and Norwood.
The summer switch to the 4-2-5 was predicated on getting Cook, Chris Culliver and Darian Stewart on the field at the same time. Namely Culliver, since he hadn't previously been a starter.
Without Cook, the best defensive player not on the field was Sapp. That's even more evident since freshman safety Akeem Auguste hasn't been practicing because of continued problems with a hamstring pull. Auguste is questionable for the bowl game.
"Just where we are, it's what we've got to do right now," safeties coach Ron Cooper said.
In the 4-2-5, Sapp was used when Norwood would play defensive end or tackle, or when Brinkley would come off the field in third-and-long situations.
The 4-3 makes more sense, Johnson said, for a run-oriented team such as Iowa. Running back Shonn Greene rushed for 1,729 yards and 17 touchdowns this year.
"The big thing about Iowa is they just pound you," Johnson said.
Coop on Cook
Cooper was close to Cook, so this has been a pretty tricky and trying week for the veteran coach. But he defended the exiled standout from South Florida.
"He's done a lot of good things since he's been here," said Cooper, who was in charge of the whole secondary in Cook's first two years at USC. "I'm not going to let this incident right here harm my feelings about him.
"I still have strong positive, positive feelings about the man and type of person he is. I know he's going to be successful. He's got to chalk this up to something he learns from. A lot of us make mistakes. Not all of them get printed up on national headlines."
Cooper said he's talked to Cook a couple of times this week.
"He was down," he said. "He's a strong young man. This is something he's going to have to fight off. He's going to have to turn it into something for his good. People might not think now that he's a strong, smart kid. But he's never had a problem passing his classes. ... He's not one we worried about."
Army brat
Johnson said Thursday he's happy at South Carolina, but he reiterated his interest in the head coach job at Army.
"I've got a lot of family background," he said. "I've got two brothers that played there and attended the academy."
And Johnson himself spent his first year at West Point before transferring to The Citadel.
"But I haven't had any contact with Army," Johnson said. "I was responding (earlier in the week) to the job. It's a very prestigious job."
He said he wasn't sure if he would hear from Army officials.
"I have no idea," he said. "I know I haven't done anything about it."
Extra points
Lane Kiffin and Tennessee are courting South Carolina strength coach Mark Smith, sources confirmed Thursday afternoon. A lucrative offer has been extended, the sources said. ... Reserve offensive lineman Kyle Nunn will not be eligible for the bowl game, a source said. ... Receiver Kenny McKinley will play in the Senior Bowl (Jan. 24, Mobile, Ala.), Spurrier confirmed Thursday. Linebacker Brinkley and offensive lineman Jamon Meredith will play in the East-West Shrine Game (Jan. 17, Houston). ... Spurrier said it was "probably a good idea" for redshirt freshman corner Jamire Williams to transfer so he could get more playing time elsewhere. Spurrier said he thought Williams, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, was destined for Florida A&M or Alabama State.
