How about that offense eh? Facing the league’s worst defense in Arkansas, USC scored once on a big play, once on a short-field after a questionable fake punt call and generally did little else the whole game but bumble about.

The result is that now the Gamecocks are 98^th in the nation in scoring offense, managing 21.3 points a contest through 10 games. In SEC play, through seven games the Gamecocks are averaging 18.5 points per contest. It’s even worse in the past month. With only one of the previous four opponents having a winning record overall or in conference (Alabama), USC’s total has plummeted to just 12.3 points a game.

And while much is made about the Gamecocks being No. 2 in the SEC in passing offense, in terms of passing touchdowns, USC ranks seventh in the league. And remember how, back at the beginning of the year, much ado also was made about USC’s new commitment to the run? If you believed that, then you’re a sucker, because the Gamecocks are 91^st in the country rushing the ball — and dead last, again, in the SEC at 3.8 yards per carry and 121.6 yards per game.

Among the other areas USC is at the bottom of the conference: turnovers gained (No. 11 out of 12); kickoff returns (No. 11); passes intercepted (tied for last with Georgia); scoring offense (No. 11); turnover margin (No. 9); and sacks allowed (No. 100 in the country, No. 11 in the SEC). 

With the exception of passing offense and passing defense (both No. 2total defense) and total defense (No. 4), for the rest of the conference categories, USC is solidly in the bottom half of the SEC, taking the No. 8 spot in total offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, net punting, punt returns and passing efficiency.

But you and I don’t need an excel spreadsheet to see that the product on the field is predictably regressing as it does every year. With three people essentially having input over play-calling (Spurrier Jr. first and foremost, with Spurrier and offensive line coach Eric Woolford chiming in), the team has no identity other than get down early most games and throw the hell out of the ball trying to get back in the game.

That might work with a better quarterback than Stephen Garcia. But it doesn’t with the offense as it is comprised now, because while cutting down in his turnovers, Garcia has shown a wildly inaccurate arm. For two or three throws he looks superb, then he’ll just as quickly take three steps backward and do something stupid (interception, fumble, missed snap, taking a sack, etc.).

Facing off against the nation’s No. 1 team on Saturday and facing a team two weeks later in Clemson that might just win the ACC, now is not the time to bungle on offense, but once again, that’s exactly what Spurrier and Spurrier Jr. are accomplishing. If that’s good enough for you this far into the season and his tenure, then so be it. For me — and a lot more people who try to watch this team every week — it isn’t, and if USC fails to win another game, hard questions need to be put to the man who likes to call himself the HBC.