Kentucky will head to Columbia this weekend on the heels of three straight losses and look to rebound against the Gamecocks of South Carolina. The Wildcats have seen impressive defensive performances undermined by a struggling offensive unit for most of the 2011 season thus far, and UK will once again attempt to find some firepower again this week. South Carolina will be coming off of a loss to Auburn that knocked them out of the top ten nationally and is sure to want revenge after the Wildcats knocked them out of the top ten in Lexington last season. The early part of the week brought the announcement that Conner Shaw would supplant incumbent starting quarterback Stephen Garcia for the Gamecocks in an attempt to jump-start what has been an under performing offense in the first half of the year.
What You Really Need to Know About South Carolina:
This team has as much weaponry on offense as any team in the SEC and has the potential to put up points in bunches. Behind an impressive offensive line, South Carolina has been able to cut sophomore running back sensation Marcus Lattimore loose on his way to averaging 135.4 rushing yards per game and 10 total touchdowns on the year. Receiver Alshon Jeffery is one of the best in the country at his position as well and has torched defenses to the tune of 332 yards on only 19 catches this season. Only the spotty play of Garcia and his frequent turnovers has stalled the South Carolina offense and with him being replaced by sophomore Conner Shaw, there is still uncertainty around the position.
On defense, the Gamecocks feature one of the toughest defensive lines in the SEC headlined by Melvin Ingram and Devin Taylor, and with freshman superstar Jadeveon Clowney coming off the bench, the Wildcats’ offensive line is in for a tough contest. Stephon Gilmore is as tough of a corner as the Kentucky offense will have faced this year and will be sure to make life tough for Morgan Newton and his receivers. The defense the gamecocks employ is a hybrid between the 4-3 and 4-2-5, which gives them the ability to keep a great deal of speed on the field at all times. The defense has been tough against pass-heavy offenses and has held opposing offenses to 150.8 passing yards per game, but has been susceptible to the run and has allowed 159.4 rushing yards per game.
The Players You Need to Know for the Gamecocks:
#21 – Marcus Lattimore – He’s probably the most complete running back in the country, and is only a true sophomore. He blocks well, is a serious receiving threat out of the backfield OR lined up in the slot, and is a beast of a runner. He has the size and strength to run over a defender and the speed to break away. As a future first round draft pick, stopping Lattimore is priority number one for every opponent.
#1 – Alshon Jeffery – Probably the most talented receiver in the SEC, Jeffery has a unique blend of size, speed and body control. He’s abused some of the best corners in the conference over his first two seasons in the league and is a sure-fire future NFL player.
#6 – Melvin Ingram – as a do-it-all defensive standout for the Gamecocks, Ingram has accumulated 7.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions so far this season. Add to all that he’s 6’2 and tips the scales at 276 pounds, and he’s a load for any offense to scheme around.
#5 – Stephon Gilmore – He’s a proven playmaker in the defensive backfield and like Mathieu last week, he has a knack for causing turnovers. He will be back to return kicks and punts at times, and is a threat to take the ball to the endzone any time it’s in his hands.
Top 3 Matchups to Watch:
UK’s Randall Burden VS. USC’s Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery will be the biggest remaining challenge on the schedule for the Kentucky defensive backs. He’s as physically imposing as they come and can outrun players half his size. With Burden being the biggest and most accomplished cornerback on Kentucky’s roster, he’s likely to be matched up against Jeffery for most of the afternoon.
UK’s Danny Trevathan VS. USC’s Marcus Lattimore
Trevathan is a tackling machine and has been for three seasons at Kentucky. Lattimore is a force of nature and one of the best backs in the country. Trevathan will have to utilize his speed and keep tabs on Lattimore at all times to keep the sophomore in check. Lattimore has been a particularly lethal weapon out of the backfield, but with Trevathan’s and fellow linebacker Winston Guy’s coverage ability, he should have a tougher time getting open this week.
UK’s Chandler Burden VS. Devin Taylor
While Ingram will get most of the headlines, Taylor might be more of a challenge for the Cats. At 6’7 and 260 pounds, he’s a huge defender and will be gunning for Morgan Newton on every play. Kentucky’s offensive line has struggled so far this season, and game planning to stop some of the other defenders may open the door for Taylor.
Potential Breakout Players:
#7 – Bookie Cobbins – IF he plays (and that’s a big IF), Cobbins could be the spark plug the Wildcats have been missing offensively. He could line up at quarterback, receiver or in the wildcat formation and has the skill-set to hurt defenses in multiple ways.
#14 – Anthony Mosley – While the overall performance of Kentucky’s defensive backfield has been less than stellar so far this year, Mosley will be charged with defending agai
nst passes from a relatively untested sophomore quarterback. If he can get an interception, his background as a former receiver for the Cats could take over and put some points on the board.
#4 – Raymond Sanders – He’s struggled through some injury issues this year, but is still probably the most complete running back on the roster. With South Carlina’s aggressive defense and Newton’s probable need to get rid of the ball, Sanders ability to catch the ball out of the backfield could give the Kentucky offense another wrinkle to work with.
#48 – Ridge Wilson – While the South Carolina defense is focusing their gampeplan on stopping Trevathan and Guy, Wilson will have the opportunity to make an impact as a pass rusher against a mistake-prone defense. If he can get to Shaw, he can put the Gamecock’s offense behind the sticks and force the sophomore into mistakes.
Key for a Kentucky Win:
In any game, holding onto the ball and limiting the big play are key, but even more so this week. South Carolina has some ball-hawks on defense and the opportunistic group will be looking to pick off Morgan Newton and strip the ball away from Kentucky’s offensive players at all times. The Wildcats have allowed turnovers to plague them early in the 2011 season and will have to keep the ball and momentum to stay in this game. On defense, Kentucky has been able to play with some of the best teams in the conference early in the games, only to give up points in bunches late in the contest. Obviously the D can’t do much about Kentucky’s offense consistently putting them on a short field with turnovers and three-and-outs, but they can keep from giving up yards in bunches on big plays. Trevathan and crew will have to keep a constant eye on Lattimore and Jeffery to keep them from breaking long gains and putting the Kentucky defense up against a wall.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans