AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDoes Spurrier have problems on the O-line?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s getting close.
With only 10 days left before the opener between LSU and Mississippi State, here are five things we think we know from the first two weeks of practice:
1. Steve Spurrier is really concerned about his offensive line. Spurrier’s entire offensive system is based on giving his quarterback enough time to make the reads and for his receivers to run very precise routes. If Spurrier has to keep an extra body or two in the backfield to protect his quarterback, then the offense is not nearly as effective. If the problem is not solved by Sept. 8, when South Carolina goes to Georgia, then Spurrier will pull in the reins and try to win a very low scoring, defensive game.
2. Nick Saban downplays everything with the media. That’s okay because what coaches do. But it is significant if place kicker Jamie Christensen of Norcross does not answer the bell on Sept. 1 against Western Carolina. Christensen, who missed several games with a groin injury last season, suffered a strained quadriceps muscle last week. He has proven to be a clutch kicker and with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State in consecutive weeks in September, it’s fair to say that Alabama will be in some close games. Maybe Leigh Tiffin can make those kicks. We’ll see.
3. This would be a very good time to own a bar in Baton Rouge and season tickets to LSU football.
How good is this home schedule: Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas? And the Tigers will probably be favored to win every one of them.
Here’s another question: You think they might be able to sell a few tickets to a Southern Cal-LSU national championship game in New Orleans? How big would that be?
4. Florida State needs to be tougher on the offensive line. While everyone is looking at the quarterbacks-Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee-the reality is that the Seminoles may not be good enough on the offensive line to do what new OC Jimbo Fisher wants to do. Florida State was No. 103 nationally in rushing last season (96.54 ypg). LSU, where Fisher worked in 2006, averaged 165.77 yards per game rushing even though it had a quarterback and two wide receivers that were picked in the first round of the NFL draft. Fisher’s offense won’t work if there is no running threat.
5. Eric Berry is the real deal. The freshman cornerback from Fairburn (Creekside) has impressed coaches with his athleticism and football knowledge. He is competing with sophomore Marsalous Johnson for a starting cornerback’s job. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t start a freshman on the road against a California offense the scored 32.85 points per game last season. But Berry might be one of those guys who goes against conventional wisdom
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Comments
By Gator Hater
August 20, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
I don’t know about his O-line, but Spurrier has problems allright !
By mahalodawg fti's
August 20, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
please post more Hawai’i notes as they are the only team worth covering in the entire univese.
By Eric
August 20, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
Is Auburn still in the league?
By D. Ellis
August 20, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Spurrier has problems because he does not get recruits at USC like he did at UF…but time will help him.
Number1 who cares about Nick Saban..he probably won’t unpack his bag before he leaves for Meeeechigan…and number 2 who cares about Alabama.
Lsu is Great…but they will lose one of those home games.
FSU needs to get tougher in alot more areas than the running game…like get tougher at home where Wake wacked them 30-0
And UT should be lucky Eric Berry’s dad went there…he is a frek of nature type athlete.
Just my thoughts.
By joe
August 20, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
SC might have some trouble on their offensive line, but not nearly as much as UGA will have on theirs…0-2…woof.
By D. Ellis
August 20, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
Joe-Is this the year for the gamecocks? WOOF WOOF
By BellToller
August 20, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
bring lsu to the islands, them’s bells well get tolled.
By Know I. Tall
August 20, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Spurrier baits the hook, casts his line into the sea of mind-numbed reporters and —-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ FISH ON!!!
The O-line @ South Carolina is better today than is was during the second half of the 2006 season, but he wants more - any reporter who does not understand Spurrier’s motivational methods will run with this - Hook, line and sinker!
By GatorFan
August 20, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Nick Saban leaving for Michigan is pretty interesting. No doubt he would do it. As the former Michigan State coach, He would then be hated in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and 1//2 of Michigan!
By D. Ellis
August 20, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Gator Fan-Question…how come Strong..if that is his name…Gators DC, never gets any head coaching pub? Just wondering. Was he even considered before they hired Meyer at UF?
And I would lay my dinky paycheck in a bet that says if Meeeechigan came calling that guy would bolt like a dude after a negative paternity test on Maury Povich.
By Yuma
August 20, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Uptight, holier-than-everyone else Eric smells like Grady Jackson flatulence.
By Mark
August 20, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this
I guess uga fans should feel lucky that Hershal Walker was born in Georgia. Oh that’s right, Eric Berry was too and he left.
By Mark
August 20, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
I guess uga fans should feel lucky that Hershal Walker was born in Georgia. Oh that’s right, Eric Berry was too and he left.
By kfk
August 20, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this
Berry’s father played at UT….no surprise that he went to UT. Last time UT won the SEC?
By utk
August 20, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this
when was the last time UGA gave up 51 points in a game????
By Tenn
August 20, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Hey Jessica, he may have gone to a bad “collage”, but you certainly didn’t go anywhere special either. I think you might want to do a spell checker before posting.
By Jim Warren
August 21, 2007 7:33 AM | Link to this
Last post ever here…why do I come back to these blogs, where it is always at the junior high level, with name calling, bad slams…if anyone reading is actually interested in intelligent talk between adult college football fans,with REAL information, I suggest you join secfanatics.com
This is just pitiable…selah!
ZZZZzzz…
By FL Dawg
August 21, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
south carolina should be on it’s way to Division 2 In addition, it is an Academic Wasteland!!
By Jim
August 21, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
D.Ellis-
Funny, no one cares about Nick Saban however you’ve made 2 post about him. Grow up you sound like a paranoid auburn fan verses georgia fan.
By SOS
August 22, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
FL Dawg: If SC is an “Academic Wasteland,” what does that make Alabama and Tennessee which have much more generous admission rates? And I can’t believe this is coming from someone who supports the state of Florida’s THIRD BEST major university when it comes to academics…GEEZ!!!!
By toby young
August 26, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
The old ball coach has already beaten TenERsee in players aressted.South Carolina should only apear on Americas Most Wanted.With the thugs the old ball coach has brought to Columbia i,d feel safer living in Bagdad