New scheme improving huddle by huddle

Posted 5:50PM on Friday 15th August 2003 ( 21 years ago )

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Huddle-by-huddle, new defensive coordinator Chris Cosh sees South Carolina's new defensive scheme taking hold. Since Cosh was promoted to head the group last winter, the Gamecocks have changed from a three-man front to a 4-3 alignment. Things have not always gone smoothly. Only last week, head coach Lou Holtz wasn't sure if his players were confused or just not very good with the switch. That's changing in a hurry, Cosh said Friday. It has been when ``you call something in the huddle, and they'd sit there and go, 'OK, the call. Where do I line? What am I doing?' `` Cosh said. ``Now those decisions are happening fast.'' Cosh said the players have grown in fall camp, learning how to square their shoulders, fit themselves in the right position and move ahead with their attack. They trust what they see from an offense and react the way they should. Holtz and Cosh say the switch from a 3-3-5, South Carolina's base the past few years, was made for several reasons. More down linemen, Cosh says, mean more people up front moving forward to jam the corners and prevent outside gains. More people also means more pressure on the opposing quarterback. While Holtz was concerned last week that his players were struggling with the most basic parts of the scheme, Cosh says those have become more instinctual. ``As a coaching staff, and coach Holtz has emphasized this to us, we've got to tie in fundamentals,'' Cosh said. ``You usually achieve what you emphasize, and we've achieved some progress with that.'' More defenders are near the ball at the end of plays and there are more tipped passes with people in the right positions, Cosh says. ``Are we where we want to be yet? No. But we're not where we were with that,'' he said. The scheme change came partly from fading performance, partly from the coach's personality and partly from improved personnel. South Carolina had been one of the Southeastern Conference's better defenses its first three years with coordinator Charlie Strong. Things fell apart last season, though, and the Gamecocks ranked near the bottom in every important defensive category. Strong left for a similar position at Florida and Cosh, comfortable with the 4-3 through stints at Illinois and Maryland, took over. To top things off, the Gamecocks also think they've got the powerful, fast ends to do damage along the defensive line in Moe Thompson and George Gause. Those defenders may be the happiest guys in camp. Thompson remembered how restrictive and punishing it was with only two others alongside to fight past the offensive line. ``When you got five people plus a running back blocking three people, it's kind of hard to get through six people,'' Thompson said. Also, South Carolina's linemen would have to come up with complex loops, spins and routes to find a way to the quarterback. It wasn't surprising, then, that the Gamecocks ranked next-to-last in the SEC with 15 sacks last year. Thompson expects that to change. The 6-foot-3 sophomore, listed at 280 pounds, excelled in the 4-3 so much at Stratford High he was named the state's Mr. Football two years ago. And he can't wait to turn it loose most snaps. ``Just giving it your all and just blowing up the backfield is great,'' Thompson said. ``Or taking out a pulling guard, you just love that.''

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/8/174309