The Pinkie Previews: Kentucky at #25 South Carolina

Before I get into the preview, let’s be honest, after four games everyone expected Kentucky to be 2-2.

Many were disappointed after the lackluster showing against Florida. Then last week, the ‘Cats played the Tide statistically, toe-to-toe, but couldn’t overcome four turnovers.

Now Rich Brooks and company enter the road portion of this brutal four-game stretch with a jaunt to Columbia, SC to take on the Gamecocks and then to Auburn to face the undefeated Tigers.

This two-game road portion is where we will find out a lot about this Kentucky squad. I think these two games are where we find out if the program is legitimately going to take that next step.

The 25th-ranked Gamecocks (4-1, 1-1) enter the game on Saturday on a three-game winning streak and are looking to sweep their four-game homestand. They have won nine strait against the ‘Cats, an all too familiar stat, and head coach Steve Spurrier is undefeated against Kentucky, with a 16-0 record.

Despite their nine-game losing streak against South Carolina, Kentucky has played them close. Of their last nine losses, six of them were decided by a touchdown or less.

The last time they met in Columbia was in 2007 and both teams were ranked in the Top 11. The 11th-ranked Gamecocks defeated the 8th-ranked Wildcats, 38-23, as LB Eric Norwood absolutely dominated the game defensively.

The strength of this Gamecock team is their defense and Norwood, now a senior, is still there wrecking havoc. After facing Florida and Alabama, this South Carolina team could, in fact, have the fastest pass-rush of all three team. A scary thought.

They are second in the SEC with 15 sacks and Norwood, an outside LB, leads the attack with six sacks on the young season.

Norwood has 28 career sacks and is South Carolina’s all-time leading sacker. He is tied for eighth in school history. The USC coaching staff does a tremendous job of moving him around the field, making it tough to set up a gameplan to counter him.

Right now, look for either Norwood, Alabama’s Rolando McClain or Tennessee’s Eric Berry to be named SEC defensive player of the year.

Joining Norwood in South Carolina’s one-two punch is DE Cliff Matthews. Matthews has four sacks on the season, which is second in the SEC. He has great burst off of the line and has the ability to catch people from behind.

Between the two of them, they have totaled 50 tackles on the year, including 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.

These are the two guys that Kentucky coaches will be focusing on blocking.

The South Carolina secondary has been one of the best in the country over the last two seasons. A year ago, they were second in the nation, allowing just shy of 160 yards per game through the air. This season, through five games, they are allowing only 150 yards per game.

FS Chris Culliver and SS Darian Stewart lead the attack in the secondary. Both are returning starters and UK fans will especially remember Culliver, who had two interceptions against the Wildcats last season. He is a speedster, who also returns kicks for the Gamecocks.

At corner they will be without Akeem Auguste, who is currently serving a suspension. C.C. Whitlock got his first career start last week against South Carolina State, in Auguste’s absense, he finished with three tackles.

True freshman Stephon Gilmore will get the start at the other corner. He has started every game of his career and had a team-high eight tackles, along with an interception and a fumble recovery in USC’s win over Florida Atlantic.

For Kentucky to have success against the tough South Carolina defense they are going to have to find a way to run the ball effectively. They have found a way to do this rather effectively this season and last week they ran it as well as anyone has against Alabama.

If they are able to run the ball, they can control the clock and maybe wear down this defense. They need to stay out of obvious passing downs, allowing USC to bring the thunder and forcing Hartline to throw into traffic. Kentucky also needs to use the play-action effectively to slow the dynamic Gamecock rush.

Kentucky will continue to implement the Wildcat offense to mix things up a bit, but I think they need to continue to do what they did last week against Alabama. Use Derrick Locke and Alphonso Smith’s speed to get them outside of the tackle box.

They had success with this last week and if they do so again, maybe you will see South Carolina bring their two safeties up a bit and give Hartline and the wideouts a chance to hit one over the top.

On offense the Gamecocks are led by quarterback Stephen Garcia and a slew of running backs. Kentucky fans remember Garcia from a year ago as he entered the game late and in Joe Montana fashion led the ‘Cocks to a come-from-behind victory.

Besides the Kentucky game, last year was a real struggle for Garcia. This year it seems as if he has really settled in.

After struggling in the opener against N.C. State, everything looked as if it finally clicked for him in their tough loss at Georgia. In that game he finished 31-for-53 with 313 yards and two touchdowns.

He ranks fifth in the SEC with 207 passing yards a game and has thrown six touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has also rushed for 53 yards, 42 of them came in the Georgia game, with two touchdowns.

Simply put, he has been the key to their successes on offense. His success can be attributed to the fact that he finally was able to go through spring practice. The junior missed the previous two with off-field problems.

Garcia has always been known for his strong arm but when he struggled he had a tendency to to abandon the pocket with happy feet. He also struggled with his accuracy and decision-making.

This season he is managing the offense and isn’t committing as many turnovers.

At tailback, Spurrier uses a whole slew of guys. Expect redshirt freshman Kenny Miles to get the start but true freshman Jarvis Giles and junior Brian Maddox will get the rock as well.

Senior Moe Brown is their most explosive wide receiver and deep threat. Last week against S.C. State he had his second 100-yard receiving game of the season.

Redshirt freshman Tori Gurley is also a threat for South Carolina and at 6’5″ is tough to defend. An interesting fact on Gurley is that he has already had four touchdowns called back this season due to penalty.

Junior TE Weslye Saunders is out with an ankle injury so it will be interesting to see how USC uses the middle of the field.

This offense becomes a lot more difficult to stop with the absence of Trevard Lindley and Paul Worford. Lindley is an All-American corner who you simply cannot replace. Randall Burden has been pretty impressive and the staff has been impressed with Martavius Neloms. But, neither of those guys are Trevard Lindley. Not many are.

There is no one better at exploiting weaknesses than Steve Spurrier, so look for him to go right at Kentucky’s decimated secondary.

One way to make up for their inexperience at corner is by finally getting some pressure on the quarterback. South Carolina has shown a tendency to give up sacks, so if Kentucky’s line can make a push and pressure Garcia, maybe you’ll see him make the mistakes he made last season.

If their line can’t get pressure, I would be thrilled to see them blitz more to try and rattle Garcia. He has had a couple strong games in a row, but who’s to say that he isn’t a pick away from being the same guy that was pulled at halftime in the Outback Bowl last year.

Once again turnovers could be the key. South Carolina has been good at protecting the football so far this season. Kentucky hasn’t. In their win over Louisville, turnovers in the 3rd quarter nearly cost them. In their loss to Alabama, they were too much to overcome.

To have a chance in this one they can’t fumble away easy points. Hartline cannot continue to throw interceptions over the middle. And they have to find a way to pressure Garcia into making mistakes.

With Lindley available, I like Kentucky’s chances. Without him, I am not sure. This is going to be a tough one on the road.

I think the trend continues on Saturday and the Gamecocks continue to find a way to squeak out wins against the Wildcats.

South Carolina 24, Kentucky 17