November 10, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw (14) rushes for a touchdown as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Otha Peters (5) pursues in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
The South Carolina Gamecocks were blessed this year with two things; Solid play from the first and second string quarterbacks, and the lack of a quarterback controversy.
This off season, the solid play should continue, but those in the media, at least, will be stirring things up controversy-wise.
Connor Shaw started most of the games for South Carolina this season and was benched just once (at Florida).
He threw for a career high 1732 yards on on a career high 202 attempts with a career high 67.3 completion percentage to go along with a career high 15 touchdowns (and seven interceptions) and career high 156.9 passer rating (see what I’m getting at here with the career highs?). He also did a ton of damage on the ground rushing for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
Next year he’ll be a senior, and few teams ready to compete for the titles SC will compete for next year [(SEC, National. Yes National. have you seen their schedule?)] will have a senior quarterback calling the shots.
For the sake of the Gamecocks, though, and for his own sake, he has to improve and post more career highs next season.
Dylan Thompson will pushing Shaw all off season, though, which is good for everyone involved.
He threw for 910 yards on 117 attempts. He also threw eight touchdowns and just two interceptions (not to mention his impressive stats during the obliteration of Clemson’s defense).
The only way either guy will get better is if the two push each other.
Shaw needs to get better at decision making; He leaves the pocket too early on most of his scrambles, and he runs out of bounds for a loss when he should throw the ball away too much.
Thompson needs to get better at using his eyes to confuse defenses. Right now he likes to lock on to his receivers. It only resulted in two interceptions, but his completion percentage was just 50 percent, too.
As long as neither regresses, though, SC will be in good hands at quarterback next season.