So what’s this year’s wrinkle from Spurrier?

You know there’s gonna be one.  The man enjoys zinging Grantham.

Me, I’m going with a four-wide, single-back set up.  Georgia’s busy preparing for a big dose of the zone read, with some I-formation thrown in.  What better way to hit Grantham with what he’s least expecting than to spread the Dawg defense out and pick away at it?  Carolina’s passing game may not be as prolific as Georgia’s, but there are enough receivers to choose from.  Plus, you’ve still got Lattimore in the backfield who can either run against a defense that won’t be able to stack up, or catch the ball against single coverage from a linebacker.  There should also be some open space for Shaw to take advantage of if he needs to tuck the ball and run.

What do you guys think?

44 Comments

Filed under The Evil Genius

44 responses to “So what’s this year’s wrinkle from Spurrier?

  1. Mayor of Dawgtown

    Personally I hope the Dicks…er…Cocks throw on every down and Lattimore never touches the ball. UGA will win by 3 TDs if that happens.

    Like

    • Lattimore is SC’s leading receiver. So throwing on every down doesn’t mean Lattimore wouldn’t touch the ball.

      Besides, SC isn’t precluded from running out of a one-back set.

      Like

      • Rick

        Also, Shaw is 31 for 35 in his last two games. Although the yards per completion is pretty mediocre, I’m seeing shades of Boise 2011 and getting the heebie-jeebies. I’m guessing the inspiration for your prediction is along those lines.

        Like

        • Darrron Rovelll

          Bingo … I think we are going to see a heavy dose of screens and short slants to spread us out and try to control the ball.

          Like

          • Macallanlover

            It is what I would do if I were game planning against the UGA defense. And it is what I would have done forever against a UGA defense. We have always given the 5-10 yard pass in hopes we will stand up around our own 30 when the field shrinks. What amazes me is we give the short passes so much cushion to prevent getting beat deep, but we still get beat deep. Two passes over 60 yards against us this year, and Patterson dropped another last Saturday when he was wide open behind us.

            Like

      • Mayor of Dawgtown

        Well, do you prefer them to give it to Lattimore every down? That’s what they did in ’10. How’d that work out?

        Like

      • Keese

        Spurriers playcalling will be dictated by the SC defense controlling the GA offense. He’ll pound Lattimore if they’re successful

        Like

  2. heyberto

    Makes sense to me. Go for the pass to open up the run.

    Like

  3. Jim

    You know he will have something worth at least a TD while we adjust. We are going to have to play a near perfect game. Any self inflicted wounds whatsoever could be killers. If nothing else this game will be a measuring stick of how far we have come. Yeah, we should win. But we have said that a lot the last few years. Talent hasnt been the issue. Fingers crossed…

    Like

  4. ChicagoDawg

    I would not be surprised at all to see them start out throwing the short, underneath and sideline to sideline stuff so as to spread everyone out — with an obvious reverse or double pass play thrown in for good measure. Then, they they will start trying to gash the inside with a fresh Lattimore in the 3rd & 4th quarter (70% of his 25 carries will probably be in the 2nd half). Seems like a pretty logical and predictable formula.

    Like

    • paul

      Seems like precisely the formula he used so effectively against us for many years in Jacksonville.

      Like

      • Brandon

        He almost always had two weeks to prepare vs. one week for us back then also.

        Like

        • CitadelDawg

          70% seems about right. I think a spread attack is likely. Our CB’s will have to play tight coverage, and our line will have to get pressure, and Ogletree will have to cover Lattimore as a receiver. I’m worried about them putting a TE in with 3 WR, leaving Herrera to cover him. Our rushers have to get to the QB fast in that situation, without breaking contain and letting him scramble. Scary.

          Like

  5. Lrgk9

    Wheel routes, slip screens to Ace Ace Baby, and QB play action option roll outs with the TE from the far side crossing over into the flats (with a toss reverse optionat least twice – once with the WR option to pass) .

    Like

  6. Jrod1229

    I also think we’ll be doing the same thing… great way to take the pressure off that pass rush.. same thing Mizzou wanted to do to us.. 4 and 5 wide sets.. draw plays, underneath passes, etc.. lets see if their aggressiveness eats them up.

    Plus I’m still not sold on Clowney’s ability to keep it up for a whole game.. he seems to get gassed in the 4th.

    Like

    • jryuuu

      i can’t speak to this myself since i didn’t watch the game, but i think i read that USC’s DL dominated that 2nd half against UK. was this the case? 4th quarter in last yr’s game is when he got to murray and “forced” that fumble as well.

      bottom line, he scares me..

      Like

    • Dboy

      Knock on Wood, dude

      Like

  7. Brandon

    Considering this game is the 6th game of the year instead of the 2nd I expect there to be less effective trickeration. I am not saying there won’t be any but its a lot easier to pull those stunts when you have just had one cupcake game than it is when you have already played for a half a season or more.

    Like

  8. paul

    I think I’m glad I got the seat backs for the bleachers in the worry room. Scorpio, fresh hell and myself will be there early.

    Like

  9. Matt b

    Anyone wondering where Chris Conley has been this year? I’m seeing a lot of Wooten this year, but he hasn’t been able to consistently catch the ball. Conley had some huge grabs last year.

    Like

  10. Hobnail_Boot

    You don’t wanna know what I think this week.

    It’s gonna be ugly.

    Like

  11. Uglydawg

    That sounds like a plan, but possibly Spurrier will line up the I formation and see if Georgia can stop Lattimore (having seen the way TN moved it inside on UGA) early …using the no huddle….and then, when everyone is trying to catch their breath, scramble the fleet footed Shaw on a deep pass/run option. When Shaw scrambles, it’s scary. He is quick, smart and tough. They have a very good offense with a lot of options.
    But so does Georgia. I think it’s very possible that Georgia’s offense presents SC’s defense with some huge headaches…even more so than the other way around.
    How many points will it take to win? I say 35 or so. Cut down the turnovers and that should be doable for the Dawgs.

    Like

  12. Uglydawg

    And the running backs on both sides should get a lot of yards because the D backs are going to have to be SO careful not to get sucked in on the play action.

    Like

  13. Spike

    My hands are starting to sweat..

    Like

  14. DawgPhan

    I think both teams are probably going to bring their best game of the season.

    Like

  15. I think that might be playing into Georgia’s strength. USCe doesn’t win if it becomes a shoot-out, and I think UGA has somewhat of an advantage with the secondary vs. their WR’s. If they limit possessions, ride Lattimore to 40 carries and 180 yards, and hit just enough on play-action and third downs, then they will require UGA to be perfect on each possession.

    It sounds exactly like something Spurrier would do. But, Connor Shaw’s strengths do not lie in slinging the ball around the yard. Seeing USCe in four-wide sets would actually be a relief.

    Like

    • I’m not saying they’ll start bombing the ball deep (although Spurrier still loves him some post pattern). You can have an effective short and intermediate passing game out of a four-wide set as easily as you can out of the I.

      Like

  16. MattR

    Spurrier will try the inside runs first. I don’t think that will work too well. Then he is going to go to the perimeter on runs and a perimeter passing game. Expect to see a lot of 5-7 yard outs and a lots of 10-12 yard outs. He is going to go away from the teeth of our defense. Could be wrong, but I don’t think Shaw has arm to consistently throw over middle on posts. I think our safeties are too athletic, but… if he gets the safeties having to be mindful of the running game,( and he’s got the back to do just that)… the Senator is right, the deep post pattern between the corner and safety is where Spurrier has made his bread and butter. If we see a lot of that, well, let’s just say, we saw a lot of that in the 90’s, and we all know how that turned out.

    My question is this though… What does Sakerlina do if we start scoring quickly and prolifically? Can they keep up like Tennewee? Shaw is a threat but he ain’t Tyler Bray, IMO.

    Like

    • BosnianDawg

      Tennessee wasn’t exactly keeping up with our early scoring until we started shooting ourselves in the foot with the turnovers and special teams gaffes.

      Like

  17. NC Dawg

    I agree that he may well try the run first. I HOPE that won’t work too well. Then come the slant routes. I PRAY that won’t work too well. We better score some points.

    Like

  18. Red Dawg

    Anybody else think that South Carolina is going to play tight given the circumstances? Game Day, ESPN, 5th ranked Georgia in town?

    By that logic Georgia could be the one that plays tight, just seems to me that the Cocks have more on them.

    Like

  19. Hogbody Spradlin

    I expect Spurrier’s biggest trick will be holding, and lots of it.

    Like

  20. Uglydawg

    Red, you may be right. Both teams will be tight, but I’ll guarentee you that SOS will be so tight that you won’t be able to pull a greasy string out of his A with a bulldozer. He would want to win any game of this magnitude, but his hatred of all things Georgia hypes it up ten thousand percent for his competitive little mind.

    Like

    • Macallanlover

      I can tell you from several first hand encounters in golf, dinners as couples, and a few beers alone, you are right: beating UGA is one of his top passions. Doesn’t matter if it is game 2 in the season, game 6, or a scrimmage.

      Ug, you asked yesterday what to mix with rum. I have never been much with rum, a few daiquiris in my youth, and few with Diet Cokes, but earlier this summer I was introduced to an excellent rum, one so good I drink it on the rocks. It is Zaya, a 12 year reserve from Trinidad. Rather pricey for a run but a great vanilla flavor that is very smooth after about 2 minutes in ice. I have enjoyed several bottles since June and recommend it highly. If you put anything with it, you won’t need much as you will take away the reason for having bought it in the first palce.

      Like

      • Both teams want to run the ball & set up play action passes.
        The short or intermediate passing routes will be key after the runs are tried.(by both teams).
        Our TE’s will have to help block their DE’s but we need them in the short passing game also.
        If we can’t be successful running the ball (our OL against their DL) it may turn out to be a long day..

        Like

      • mg4life0331

        Im not much of a rum man myself either. I love a good single malt though.

        Like

  21. What fresh hell is this?

    This years wrinkle?

    Gadgets and tricks.
    Gadgets and tricks.
    Gadgets and tricks.

    I would be willing to bet we’ll see a flea flicker, you know he’s going to do something crazy…..fumblerooski, statue of liberty, on-side kick. Spurrier loves to get you with the stupid stuff because it hurts even more, and there’s no one he likes doing it against more than UGA.

    Like

  22. Russ

    The Dawgs need to know any prior HS QBS on the Dicks roster. I want to see Spurrier cry. Go DAWGS!

    Like

  23. Rik Smits

    Rory Anderson and Justice Cunningham on the TE seam routes up the middle after a heavy dose of Lattimore/Shaw/short passing to pull the safeties in.

    Like