COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's Jonathan Martin couldn't believe what he was seeing Saturday night. <br>
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``This ain't us,'' he said to any teammate around, ``This isn't us.'' <br>
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But the stat sheet and the scoreboard brought Martin, a senior safety, the sorry news - this was indeed the Gamecocks defense playing one of its poorest games in coach Lou Holtz's four seasons. <br>
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No. 22 South Carolina (1-0) gave up 419 yards, including 212 yards on the ground, in a closer-than-expected 34-24 opening victory over New Mexico State. <br>
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In 2000, the Gamecocks shutout the Aggies, 31-0, at Williams-Brice Stadium. The win showcased the defense as the team's rock-solid backbone for the next two years. <br>
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That surely wasn't the case Saturday night. Only Alabama (516 yards) and Florida (482) gained more yards last year against South Carolina than the 2002 Aggies. <br>
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``Now we know the truth,'' Martin said. ``We know we need to get a lot better than what we are.'' <br>
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Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong's group was anchored last year by several players who've gone on to the NFL. Linebacker Kalimba Edwards and cornerback Andre Goodman were the second- and third-round picks of Detroit. Goodman's partner, Sheldon Brown, went in the second round to Philadelphia. Defensive back Willie Offord was picked in the third round by Minnesota in last spring's draft. <br>
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Their replacements have looked shaky so far. <br>
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``Looking at it defensively, let me cover the positives,'' Holtz started. A brief pause followed. <br>
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``Now that I've done that, let me cover some of the negative things.'' <br>
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The Aggies had three drives of 80 yards or more. One scoring drive was highlighted by Eric Higgins' 75-yard run ``which we haven't given up very often,'' Holtz said. ``And that takes a team effort to do that.'' <br>
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Sophomore quarterback Buck Pierce stung the Gamecocks for several long runs. Twice New Mexico State converted fourth down. The Aggies were 9 of 16 on third downs. <br>
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``You give up the big run, you don't stop the run, you allow the quarterback to scramble and you get hurt on third down,'' Holtz rattled. ``You're not going to do very well.'' <br>
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The answer? Throw most defensive jobs up for grabs. <br>
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Only Martin, nose tackle Langston Moore and linebacker Lance Laury were secure, Holtz said. <br>
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``We've got a lot of problems,'' Holtz said. ``We've got to address them.'' <br>
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One thing that won't happen is scrapping South Carolina's 3-3-5 alignment. Even during the Gamecocks miserable 0-11 season in 1999, the scheme helped the overmatched team stay close in several contests. <br>
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Holtz says he'll look at moving some offensive backups, like runner Gonzie Gray to the secondary before Saturday night's trip to Virginia (0-2). The coach also might give more playing time to junior college transfers linebacker Darel Slay and defensive lineman Randy Jackson. <br>
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One player who won't be moving anywhere on the depth chart is quarterback Corey Jenkins. <br>
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The 26-year-old starter found his effectiveness as the game wore on. He finished with 113 yards rushing and 166 passing, including a nifty 44-yard TD pass to James Adkisson. Holtz says he keeps a depth chart in his office that he hadn't fooled with in some time and that had Jenkins, at 6-2, 220 pounds, as the Gamecocks starting middle linebacker. <br>
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Holtz said Jenkins was right at home where he is. ``The first half, he ran well,'' Holtz said. ``The second half, he played like a quarterback.'' <br>
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Now, if only the Gamecocks could find some people to play like defensive backs. <br>
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``We'll find that tempo,'' said Moore, the nose tackle. ``It will come this week.'' <br>
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Strong, the defensive coordinator, did not comment after the game. Martin said he told his players to keep their heads up. ``He knew we were feeling bad,'' Martin said. ``He told us not to come in with a chip on our shoulder and be ready to work. I believe we're ready to work.''
