South Carolina Report Card

Offense

Grade: F

You can throw out those painfully bad final numbers. Like 173 total yards, 53 rushing yards, six points. But what really makes this grade what it is? Chris Smelley's pair of interceptions. Especially that first one. If he hadn't floated a third-down pass from his own end zone into the arms of Brandon Spikes, who returned it for a TD, maybe this one wouldn't have gotten out of hand. At least not so early. The line had no answers for Florida's rush. The running game was out the window after the early mistakes. Receivers had a forgettable game. The play-to-play quarterback rotation was widely ineffective and should be abandoned.

Defense

Grade: F

Again, Florida had short fields to work with on several occasions. But you don't torch a team for more than 500 yards on short fields alone. The Gators did pretty much whatever they wanted to do, especially after getting out to that early lead. A lot of teams have trouble defending Percy Harvin. But it's because of his versatility. He didn't need to be versatile against the Gamecocks. Harvin, who had one catch for 6 yards, finished with a career-high 167 rushing yards (20.9 yards a carry). His 80-yarder to start the second half was the low point for USC's defense. There were missed assignments and bad tackling angles all over the field. South Carolina's defense was exposed in this one.

Special teams

Grade: D

Got to start with the game-ending play, which just happened to come in the first quarter. On what Spurrier labeled as "ill-advised," Dion LeCorn tried to lateral across the field to Chris Hail. But he airmailed him, Florida recovered, scored three plays later and finished off the Gamecocks. It was a desperation move. It backfired, big time. Special teams avoids another 'F' because Spencer Lanning punted 10 times (40-yard average) without getting one blocked. And the Gamecocks didn't let Brandon James score on a return, even though he got close. Also, Ryan Succop hit two 40-plus-yard field goals. Otherwise, it would've been 56-0. Ouch.

Coaching

Grade: F

Spurrier should've put the kibosh on that throwback on the kickoff return. Down 14-0, it wasn't the time for a panic move. And that's what that call smells like. It's saying, we can't score 14-plus points in the next three quarters. Then you see the ball flying over Hail's hands and Florida in the end zone again. Again, the quarterback rotation is a disaster. It doesn't seem to suit Smelley or Stephen Garcia. Playing both is acceptable. Just not swapping them on every freakin' play. Line play was abysmal. On top of the obvious talent difference, Florida outcoached the Gamecocks. Special nod to former USC defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, whose defense is still underrated.

Overall

Grade: F

Detecting an overall theme? 'F' is for failure, sure. But it's also 'F' for Florida. The Gators are just that dang good. Good luck finding a soul who watched that game on TV on in person that doesn't think the Gators will win it all for the second time in three years. Best news all day: The Gamecocks could not be farther away on the calendar from another meeting with the Gators. That, and Clemson ain't nowhere near that good.

-- Travis Haney

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