 "Photo: Kara Roache/The Daily Gamecock")
The weather isn’t the only thing changing in the Columbia area. Due to injuries, sub-par play and the emergence of other players, the Gamecocks’ offensive staff has been forced to continually shuffle the offensive line on an almost game-to-game basis. The South Carolina offensive line has been on a rollercoaster of highs and lows this season.
At times the line has dominated, when USC amassed a staggering 287 rushing yards with four touchdowns against Florida Atlantic. But the rushing game proved abysmal against Tennessee last week, with only 65 rushing yards gained.
Carolina’s offensive line will be looking to establish dominance against the Razorbacks. Standing in the way will be the Razorbacks’ front line that includes returning tackle for loss leader Malcolm Sheppard and emerging defensive end Tenarius Wright.
“I came out this season worried about how it would go with moving to defensive end,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “I feel like I’m getting better and that’s what I have to do. Just get better every day.”
Arkansas’ defensive line will be seeing a few new faces when they dig their cleats in on Saturday.
The Gamecocks have been bitten by the injury bug again and continue to look for different players to step up their play. The coaching staff has the utmost confidence that its team will be able to respond to these end-of-the-year problems.
“I think they have responded very well to adversity,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said. “We’ve had some bad things happen, but they’ve been able to bounce back and win those games. Obviously, we couldn’t overcome the quick 21 that happened last week, but the guys hung in there and fought through the second half.”
As the Gamecocks’ offensive line continue to shake off nagging injuries and sub-par performances, others are seizing the opportunity to get a chance to show their mettle.
Junior transfer Garrett Chisolm has played an important role with the Gamecocks and saw his first significant playing time during the second half of the game against Tennessee.
Chisolm, who brings a blue-collar work ethic to the field, is turning heads and beginning to make his mark on Carolina football.
“He’s got a wonderful attitude that hopefully will rub off on all these other players,” Spurrier said.
Without fellow lineman Jarriel King, USC will need a blue-collar effort in order to bounce back from the blowout loss to Tennessee. The Gamecocks will need to take better care of the football, as several first-half fumbles doomed the Gamecocks last week.
The football gods were not as gracious in giving the Gamecocks the usual lucky bounces that they had been receiving in weeks past.
“We’ve won a lot of games this year when the other team messed up. The other team had touchdowns called back, and that’s sort of what happened to us last game and hopefully we will not repeat that,” Spurrier said. “We’re looking forward to this game with Arkansas.”
South Carolina enters Saturday’s game at 6-3, making them bowl eligible, but the Gamecocks are taking the proverbial one-game-at-a-time approach.
“We’re looking forward to this game,” Spurrier said. “They are a good team, they’re at home and had a big win last week, but we feel like we can play a lot better than we have recently, so we’re going to try to do it.”
