Burden for Rebels, Gamecocks on inexperienced QBs

COLUMBIA, S.C. - It will be a new world for both quarterbacks when Mississippi comes to No. 25 South Carolina on Saturday.<br> <br> Syvelle Newton will get his first-ever start in a Southeastern Conference game for South Carolina, replacing Dondrial Pinkins, who has a deep bruise on his right shoulder.<br> <br> So the heavy expectations of a 4-1 start and a No. 25 national ranking will fall on the shoulders of the sophomore, who came to the Gamecocks as one of the state&#39;s most highly recruited quarterbacks but spent last season playing wide receiver.<br> <br> ``I wish Dondrial wasn&#39;t hurt, but that&#39;s how things are sometimes. I know he&#39;s trying to get better and get back in the lineup, because we will need him,&#39;&#39; Newton said.<br> <br> For the Rebels, having an inexperienced quarterback is no surprise after Eli Manning headed for the NFL. And coach David Cutcliffe has already switched starters once this year, handing the ball to Ethan Flatt after Ole Miss lost to Alabama 28-7.<br> <br> Cutcliffe has stayed with Flatt, even though the sophomore threw four interceptions and was just 19-of-44 in a loss to Wyoming a few weeks ago.<br> <br> ``Last weekend gave me a good opportunity to get some of the things from the Wyoming game behind me, and rebuild my confidence and the confidence of my teammates,&#39;&#39; said Flatt, who was 18-of-24 and threw two touchdowns and just one interception in the Rebels&#39; 28-21 win over Arkansas State.<br> <br> For Flatt and Mississippi (2-3, 1-1 SEC), this is a chance to get the season back on track. But it also is the start of the toughest stretch of the season. After the Gamecocks, the Rebels are home with No. 17 Tennessee and No. 6 Auburn.<br> <br> And Ole Miss hasn&#39;t seen a defense like this yet. South Carolina ranks first in the SEC in rushing defense (102.4 yards a game), second in scoring defense (7.8 points per game) and third in pass defense (153.8 yards a game).<br> <br> ``I think this defense, No. 1, is very well-coached, very well-prepared,&#39;&#39; said South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, who credits the improvement on a staff shake-up that brought in his former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter for the same job here and added Ron Cooper to coach the secondary.<br> <br> With the tougher defense and both teams preference to run, this year&#39;s game shouldn&#39;t be anything like last year&#39;s 43-40 Ole Miss win. The Rebels led 43-14 before Pinkins led his team to four touchdowns in the final 15 minutes.<br> <br> Holtz said that&#39;s why the Gamecocks will miss Pinkins under center.<br> <br> ``You hate to lose all that experience and that leadership,&#39;&#39; Holtz said. ``The players trust him.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Holtz also worries about how his team handles success. After two 5-7 seasons, the coach worries South Carolina isn&#39;t accustomed to all the adulation and expectations that come with a 4-1 start and wins in two of its first three SEC games.<br> <br> ``This is big,&#39;&#39; Holtz said. ``It&#39;s gonna be how we react when Ole Miss hits us right in the mouth, which they&#39;re gonna do.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> South Carolina will look to smash some mouths, too. Holtz plans to let Newton keep the ball himself even though he has twice suffered minor shoulder injuries running so far this year.<br> <br> Part of that may come from watching the success Vanderbilt had running the option against Ole Miss. Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler ran for 60 yards a few weeks ago against the Rebels.<br> <br> ``We had some trouble with the option ... so I believe we&#39;re going to see a little bit of that,&#39;&#39; defensive end Jayme Mitchell said.<br> <br> But Mississippi&#39;s pressure defense could force some turnovers. Holtz is especially concerned after South Carolina fumbled twice in the fourth quarter last week inside the Alabama 20 in the Gamecocks&#39; 20-3 win over the Crimson Tide to give the team 10 turnovers in five games.<br> <br> When the Rebels do get the ball, Cutcliffe would like to see them take advantage of opportunities.<br> <br> ``Right now, we will make a good play and then give up a big play. It&#39;s a lot like a year ago,&#39;&#39; Cutcliffe said. ``We are in position to make plays and sometimes just don&#39;t. That&#39;s a mystery and something that we will continue to work on.&#39;&#39;