 "Photo: Juan Blas")
As usual, the game against No. 13 Georgia will be the barometer for the Gamecocks' 2007 season.
A loss to the Bulldogs could pave the way to a mediocre season, but a win would put USC one step closer to competing for the SEC title.
The 2007 match-up in Athens, Ga., may be more favorable for USC than in recent years, as Carolina returns nearly all of its starters from the 2006 season. For Georgia, it's a different story.
One of the few bright spots on Georgia's roster is its quality of running backs. Seniors Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin, who combined for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns in 2006, will likely get the bulk of the carries. Freshmen Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King could see some action, as well, but that all depends on how well the offensive line handles USC's formidable defense.
The Bulldogs' offensive line lacks experience with redshirt freshman Chris Davis at left guard and true freshman Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle. The unit won't be "SEC ready" by the time they face South Carolina, especially after a challenging season opener against Oklahoma State.
In turn, USC's defense also should have a field day putting pressure on sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford, as the second-year signal caller will not receive adequate protection.
Stafford, who completed only 52.7 percent of his passes for 1,749 yards last season, will need to improve his accuracy, as he threw nearly twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Three of those interceptions occurred in last season's 18-0 win over the Gamecocks.
Stafford's primary targets will include senior Sean Bailey and junior Mohamed Massaquoi. Massaquoi is the top returning receiving, as he caught 30 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns last season.
While the offense seems to be nearly on par with last year's squad aside from the offensive line woes, the defensive unit took the biggest blows following the 2006 season.
Defensive ends Charles Johnson and Quentin Moses will be sorely missed, as both were selected in the 2007 NFL draft. Johnson and Moses combined for 77 tackles, 14 sacks, and 27 quarterback hurries. USC's offensive line should have a much easier time handling projected starters Roderick Battle and Marcus Howard.
Georgia's linebacker corps is depleted following the departure of Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler, all three of whom were among Georgia's top 10 tacklers last season.
The absence of Taylor's presence will hurt the most, as he led the team in tackles and interceptions to complement his three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. Senior Brandon Miller, who recorded 23 tackles in 13 games last season, is the most experienced returning linebacker.
The secondary, led by top returning tackler and senior safety Kelin Johnson, returns a lot of familiar faces and should be a good challenge for the Gamecocks' young wide receivers.
If the game comes down to field goals, it'll be quite exciting to watch All-SEC kickers Brandon Coutu and Ryan Succop go head-to-head. Coutu, who the media voted as the SEC's second-best place kicker after Succop, connected on 10 of 11 field goals last season with his only miss coming outside of 50 yards.
In a series that dates back to 1894, Georgia leads 44-13-2. USC head coach Steve Spurrier, who is 11-3 when coaching against the Bulldogs, has not beaten Georgia in his previous two seasons at South Carolina. USC should be able to handle Georgia, as the Bulldogs will be vulnerable early in the season due to the loss of so many valuable players. The Gamecocks get the win "between the hedges," 24-10.
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