Vandy feels like the season opener

[18IsTheMan]

With how uneven our performances have been in our first 2 games, it feels like this game with Vandy is really the start to the season. You normally go into that first game not really 100% sure of what your strengths and weaknesses in real games will be. We are fortunate to have had two weak opponents to expose what our weaknesses are before we go up against a serious opponent. Vandy, for their part, after their dismantling of VaTech, is coming in with all the confidence while we, after only scoring 17 points on offense against SC State, come in with mostly questions. Beamer acknowledged after Saturday's game that the offense hasn't been nearly good enough and that we can't count on defensive and ST scores to win games for us.

In some ways it feels like we get a chance for a reset with Vandy. Of course, it could just be that through 2 games, we are who we are. As we saw in 2024, we never really got appreciably better as the season progressed. Last year, we got much better.

All-in-all, I'd rather have our deficiencies exposed in wins against weaker teams.

 

[Lurker123]

As we saw in 2024, we never really got appreciably better as the season progressed. Last year, we got much better.

This is what I keep coming back to. It's a 50-50 which way we go, right?

I also feel the "reset" chance this weekend. We played poorly for two weeks. It also won't matter a lick if we come out and play well Saturday.

Just repeat after me. "They are still Vandy".

 

[18IsTheMan]

Just repeat after me. "They are still Vandy".

Very well could be.

This game is a major reality check for both teams.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I think this game will reveal a lot about the mentality of this team cement the caliber of season we're going to have.

 

[Jhstans86]

I’m curious about the OL moving forward and seeing if they can gain a little confidence. Sellers will start playing better but need that line to play better

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I think this game will reveal a lot about the mentality of this team cement the caliber of season we're going to have.

No doubt
The key to this game will be controlling Pavia with pressure and limiting his scrambling.
Can't give him time to wait for a receiver to open up

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

Pavia has run his mouth enough to provide plenty of motivation to shut him up. I'm not concerned with this game and think we beat them by 2-3 scores.

 

[Gr8spur]

Actually, I'm very concerned. I watched two complete games last year in which Pavia played. He is BALLER! And our OL still sucks. I think the ranking and talk of playoffs all comes to an end this Saturday. Sorry. I'm a lifelong Gamecock, going back further than most of you. I just don't have a good feeling about this game. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong! Lots of it. But I say we go down this Saturday, followed by calls for Shula and Teasley's heads.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Actually, I'm very concerned. I watched two complete games last year in which Pavia played. He is BALLER! And our OL still sucks. I think the ranking and talk of playoffs all comes to an end this Saturday. Sorry. I'm a lifelong Gamecock, going back further than most of you. I just don't have a good feeling about this game. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong! Lots of it. But I say we go down this Saturday, followed by calls for Shula and Teasley's heads.

Could need a total overhaul on the offensive side of the ball if things spiral this season. Of course, it could simply just be that we're not as good as people thought and Lanorris isn't as good as we hoped he'd be. There is time to see about all of that. So far, the returns are not good.

The players have to know all the doubts and questions circling the team at this point, so we'll learn a lot about them by how they respond this weekend.

 

[Uscg1984]

We are what we are. With that said, I'm kind of glad we didn't beat SC State any worse than we did. If our problems are fixable, I'd rather struggle with SC State and have it obvious to everyone around the program than to have beaten them by several more scores and have our problems perhaps go unnoticed until this coming week.