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SEC EASTERN DIVISION SHOWDOWN NEARS
Gamecocks Travel to Georgia Saturday
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The
sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks worked out at the Bluff Road
practice fields on Thursday afternoon. The Gamecocks (1-0, 0-0 SEC) are
wrapping up their preparations for Saturday’s SEC Eastern Division
showdown with the No. 11/12 Georgia Bulldogs (0-1, 0-0 SEC). Game time
is set for 4:30 p.m. ET from Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. with ESPN
televising the game nationally.
“The kids have been focused and
we’ve gotten good practices in,” said defensive coordinator Lorenzo
Ward. “I totally expect us to play well. We’ve got to stop the run.
Last season was last season,” continued Ward. “We’ve got a different
team. We’ve got to go out and prove ourselves again. You can’t build
off what happened last year because you have different guys. They
understand they have a tough task ahead.”
Not only do the
Gamecocks need to stop one of the nation’s top running backs in Todd
Gurley, who is bigger, stronger and faster than a year ago according to
Ward, but also contain quarterback Aaron Murray to have success on
Saturday. “We always want to affect the quarterback. As a defensive
coordinator, you have to find out who’s running the engine of the train
and of course Aaron Murray is. He makes this team go.”
Ward is
confident in sophomore T.J. Gurley, who makes the start at safety in
place of the injured Kadetrix Marcus. “We thought T.J. would win the
job if he was 100 percent healthy (coming into fall camp) anyway, so we
know he’s a good football player. I think he’ll fare well.”
Coach
Ward indicated that Victor Hampton is getting healthier, but would not
start on Saturday. Ahmad Christian is slated to make his first career
start at cornerback. Hampton will also be relieved of his punt return
duties. “He took a lot of hits and he understands. Even if he was
healthy now he probably would have given up the role. Bruce (Ellington)
will be the punt returner.”
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