From a SC newspaper:
This time, honestly, Holtz is really worried
By Gary McCann The Herald
(Published October 7? 2003)
COLUMBIA -- To hear coach Lou Holtz tell it, South Carolina's defense is teetering on the brink of disaster as the Gamecocks prepare for Thursday night's nationally-televised home game against Kentucky.
"I'm greatly concerned," Holtz said during his weekly news conference on Monday. He called Sunday's practice "very disappointing" defensively. He criticized his defensive coaches for teaching "assignments" too much and failing to emphasize "technique" and "not teaching fundamentals."
He's greatly concerned about not creating enough turnovers and sacks or getting enough pressure on the quarterback.
Wonder how he'd feel if his defense wasn't ranked No. 8 in the country?
Here are the categories, numbers and rank for a defense that, at least in terms of numbers, looks pretty good:
? Points allowed: 15.6 per game, fourth in the SEC, No. 17 in the nation.
? Total defense: allowing 262.6 yards per game, fourth in the SEC and No. 8 nationally.
? Pass defense: allowing 144.2 yards per game, fewest in the SEC and No. 6 in the nation.
? Rush defense: allowing 118.4 yards per game, sixth in the SEC, No. 32 nationally.
Opponent first downs: 61 in five games, fewest in the SEC.
Opponent third-down conversions: 28.4 percent, third in the SEC.
Turnover margin: plus-3, fourth best in the SEC.
But the numbers, apparently, don't mean much to Holtz.
"I don't know where we are in the conference or in the country on defense," Holtz said. "I know this. We've got to get a lot better than what we are in a lot of different areas."
A couple of things do stick out about the defense.
They have only seven sacks in five games, and the opposition has scored 10 of 11 times, 90.9 percent, when getting into the red zone.
The Gamecocks (3-2, 0-2 SEC) haven't played since losing in overtime at Tennessee Sept. 27. Holtz had hoped the time off would get his team healthy and better prepared defensively. Neither has happened, he said.
"We've gone against our offense an awful lot," Holtz said, "and the offense has just moved the ball, which should never happen. We could not stop the scout squad running Kentucky's offense."
Holtz cites injuries as a major factor in the defensive play, and he announced another Monday.
Defensive end George Gause, who had combined with Moe Thompson to give the Gamecocks quite a 1-2 punch on the outside, will not play in Thursday's games. Gause suffered a knee injury against Tennessee. It was originally thought not to be that severe and that the week off would be enough to get him ready.
Holtz is not sure when Gause will be back and wishes he'd known about the situation sooner.
"Had I known or suspected or been more aware of his injury last week," Holtz said, "we would have made a permanent switch there. As soon as this game's over, that's going to receive our first priority, finding a rush end.
"We've got to find a permanent solution there."
Defensive lineman Eric Stroman, Holtz said, is expected to play some Thursday night, and that could help. Stroman suffered a broken foot in spring practice and has not played. If he progresses quickly, he could move into the line with Jason Capers, who is playing well, could slide into Gause's spot.
The line has already lost Preston Thorne for the season.
Injuries to linebackers Jeremiah Garrison (foot), Ricardo Hurley (ankle) and Launce Laury (knee) have also "discombobulated" the defense, Holtz said. Hurley and Laury were expected to start, but neither has played with any consistency. They're now listed on the depth chart at the same position, with Laury starting. Garrison has been steady, but missed some time, too.
And safety Rodriques Wilson started early in the year, but lost his slot to Andre Gause after a chest injury.
It leaves Holtz thinking about what might have been, which may be the reason he's not pleased with his defense.
"I'd like to see how good it could be," he said. "I thought that for a while we were coming on defense.. But we always get a setback.
"We've got a long way to go on defense, but having said that, we've also done some good things, and there are times when we are pretty good fundamentally."
