Marcus Lattimore Down: South Carolina 14, Mississippi State 12
by cocknfire on Oct 15, 2011 4:18 PM EDT
in SEC Football
Email
PrintIt was bad enough for South Carolina fans to watch their team slog its way to a 14-12 win, though they've probably gotten used to this team's style of winning by now. What was new and frightening for fans was to watch Marcus Lattimore injured while blocking, then exit the field thusly:
This is, of course, the same Lattimore that single-handedly won the Navy game and helped repeatedly bail out the Gamecocks during the Stephen Garcia-inspired offensive swoon after the Georgia game. (Connor Shaw threw two picks today but also tossed the winning touchdown pass and had a far better completion rate at 20-of-28 than most of Garcia's efforts this year.)
How much does the Lattimore injury hurt South Carolina? Well, some of it depends on how long the running back is out, but the crutches and extensive bracing of the left leg doesn't look promising for a quick return. Early reports indicated a sprained left knee.
Even so, the truth is that Lattimore was in the middle of a season that, while it can't be called a sophomore slump by any rational person, also wasn't exactly matching up to the Heisman hype of the preseason. Lattimore had 779 yards and was averaging 5.3 a pop, but he had broken the 100-yard mark once in the last four games counting Mississippi State, and was nowhere close to that when he was knocked out of the game in Starkville. That one game -- against Kentucky, no less -- was also the only one in those last four where he averaged more than four yards a carry. First three games? Seven touchdowns. Last four? Three.
None of which is to say that South Carolina doesn't need Lattimore to get well as soon as possible. In fact, Lattimore's struggles have been one of the reasons that South Carolina's already shaky offense looked to be on the verge of collapse after the Navy game.
It is to say that all hope is not lost -- especially if the bye week allows Lattimore to come back sometime during a critical three-game stretch that goes at Tennessee, at Arkansas and against Florida.
If not, then South Carolina might have to continue trying to slog their way through low-fi wins. Just like they did before Lattimore's injury -- only now, even that will probably be a lot harder.
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That was an ugly game.
And how long before some stupid people come up with some Connor Shaw betting conspiracies?
Oh look my tumblr, where you can find all my photoshops and other crap
Lay off my crappy english, this means you Chloe.
You are the only person to mention that.
It was clearly a called play for the safety on the final snap, and Shaw put a TD in Jeffrey’s hands on the first possession that the WR uncharacteristically dropped.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Oct 15, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I think RJ was indulging in a little dark humor
about all the baseless rumors swirling around Stephen Garcia,
I hope no one had big money riding on the Cocks. Your normal bettor – the only guy I would feel sorry for – should know by now that the only safe bet is that USC won’t cover the spread.
That being said, there had to be serious heart murmurs in Vegas when Shaw ran out the back of the end zone.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
Reading your posts about Carolina
Consistently makes me want to slit my wrists. We are 6-1. I dread your mood if we lose Lattimore for any long period of time.
I think we need Eric Baker and Kenny Miles to get healthy.
Stat.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanShots on Team Speed Kills
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
