Call In Show: Muschamp talks QBs, Nunez, Dowdle, Brunson as opener looms
Forty-eight hours from kickoff, Will Muschamp was still engaged in a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse with the Vanderbilt defensive coaches.
The biggest question facing the Gamecocks heading into Thursday night’s season opener in Vanderbilt is who will start at quarterback, and whether multiple signal callers will see action.
Muschamp, though, isn’t budging as he again declined the opportunity Tuesday night to name the starter among Perry Orth, Brandon McIlwain and Jake Bentley.
“We have a pretty good plan going into this game," Muschamp said Tuesday night during his Vanderbilt preview call-in show. “We feel very comfortable about it. Kurt (Roper) does a great job with the quarterback position. We have a very good feel of where we are even though we are a bit unsettled. I feel comfortable about the position.”
The Gamecocks have a base package of play all three quarterbacks are expected to run and then each quarterback has a group of special plays designed to fit his particular talents.
“Kurt has certainly tailored things for each quarterback to what they feel comfortable,” Muschamp said. “We have some base things that fit all three guys and some different route concepts they feel good about.”
Every quarterback has the freedom to audible out of a bad play unless the Gamecocks are running up-tempo and they have to ‘call it and haul it,’ Muschamp said.
Sophomore Kyle Shurmur, who started five games as a true freshman in 2015, is expected to start at quarterback for Vanderbilt.
While the identity of the starting quarterback has not yet been revealed, redshirt freshman A.J. Turner will make his first career start at running back, while Deebo Samuel and freshman Bryan Edwards will start at outside receiver.
“None of our guys have ever been a featured back in the SEC and gone up against a defense like Vanderbilt’s,” Muschamp said.
Edwards was slowed by a nagging hamstring injury for a brief time in preseason camp, but should be ready to go on Thursday night, Muschamp said.
Freshman running back Rico Dowdle will remain sidelined with a serious groin injury for “at least” another three or four weeks, Muschamp said. That ailment likely delays his Gamecock debut until October, at the earliest.
“It was not a tear, but it was as close to a tear as it could be,” Muschamp said. “Sometimes, you never know how quickly an injury like that will heal. Some guys heal quicker than others. We just have to work through it with him right now.”
NOTES:
-- INJURY REPORT: Muschamp said RFr. RB Mon Denson had his knee scoped and TE Kyle Markway should be cleared to play at Mississippi State next weekend. Larenz Bryant is still sidelined.
-- Muschamp said RFr. DL Dexter Wideman is working behind Taylor Stallworth, Kier Thomas and Kobe Smith at defensive tackle.
-- How much action will Shameik Blackshear see on Thursday night? He is listed as a co-backup DE behind Marquavius Lewis. However, losing six to seven months of weight-lifting has put Blackshear a little behind, Muschamp said. “He needs a full year in the weight room, but he is going to help our football team this year,” Muschamp said. “He has a great work ethic and runs extremely well. He has natural pass rush ability.”
-- Muschamp said he wants to rotate at least 10 defensive linemen in order to keep everybody fresh for the fourth quarter.
-- Wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon required the USC receivers to learn all three WR positions, inside and outside.
-- Depth at cornerback, safety and linebacker concerns Muschamp. Freshmen linebackers T.J. Brunson and Sherrod Pittman will contribute primarily on special teams in the opener and could play some linebacker depending on how the game goes. “T.J. is going to be a fantastic player,” Muschamp said. “He has a ball-hawk mentality, he’s very intelligent and plays in a football position all the time. He can strike and play well in the short area. He has very good change of direction. He has instincts for the ball. He does natural things linebackers do.”
-- Muschamp said he is deeply involved with the Gamecock defense, special teams and recruiting, and leaves the offense to Kurt Roper and his staff.
-- Muschamp said Lorenzo Nunez is still learning how to play wide receiver, which is why he is not listed on the depth chart. “We all want it now, but he is learning the position,” Muschamp said. “This is the first time he has played anything other than quarterback. He is going to be a really good receiver before it’s all said and done. He’s still a little bit of a work in progress at the receiver position. But he has a wonderful attitude and really bought in to dedicating himself to being the best receiver he can be. He is a very good athlete. But it’s not add water, instant player.”
-- Muschamp said Gamecock defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson “probably relates to people regardless of their background as well as anybody I’ve ever been around.” Robinson first worked with Muschamp at Auburn in 2006-07 when the latter was the Tigers’ DC and Robinson was a graduate assistant. They reunited at Florida from 2011-14 and Auburn in 2015 before taking over the Carolina defense last December.
