Zell Column: Halloween horrors come early for Gamecocks

Halloween came early for South Carolina’s football program - and Gamecock fans.

Watching South Carolina sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore limp out of Starkville, Miss. on crutches with an air cast around his leg was frightening.

The ultimate news was even scarier.

“Our worst fears were realized. Marcus has a torn ligament and a little bit of cartilage damage in there,” said head coach Steve Spurrier in his weekly teleconference. “It’s very unfortunate, flukish-type injury that occurred yesterday.”

Lattimore is USC’s third running back to have a season-ending injury. Lake City native Shon Carson had surgery after injuring his knee during the lone carry he received in the win over Georgia.

It leaves true freshman running back Brandon Wilds to carry the load because the normal back-up, Kenny Miles, is nursing a wrist injury.

So, how about repeating as SEC East Champs?

What about having a 10-win season for the first time in school history?

How about stopping Clemson’s win streak in its tracks at the end of the season?

The last two weeks is too much to overcome.

Throw Connor Shaw’s gaudy numbers against Kentucky out the window. Let’s be honest, Kentucky isn’t an SEC-caliber defense. In a game with Lattimore in the line-up most of the time, Shaw could only manage 14 points against a mediocre Mississippi State defense. Kudos to Shaw for throwing a fourth quarter game-winning touchdown to Alshon Jeffery, but how will he do at Tennessee and Arkansas – much more hostile environments — without a run game?

I think the blueprint should be somewhat similar to the game plan Steve Spurrier deployed last week — smoke and mirrors.

Stephen Garcia’s dismissal from the team was set to be the biggest story of the week in the Palmetto State — six strikes and you’re out! But Spurrier ran a misdirection play, calling out a Columbia columnist in a rant that was too juicy to not run on the local news. It succeeded in deflecting attention from the real issue and the players focused on the impending road game ahead.

Smoke and mirrors without Lattimore means mixing it up with Bruce Ellington on offense. Ellington, a former high school quarterback, can throw a good ball and has tailback-esque speed. A run-pass option with Ellington and Shaw on the field at the same time may be enough to throw an SEC defense off a couple of plays in order to move the ball.

At the very least, the Gamecocks still have a first round talent in Jeffery that is worth a little bit of yardage each Saturday.

But if South Carolina wants to salvage the season, the defense must continue to play at a high level.

Melvin Ingram and Antonio Allen are playing at All-American levels. Defensive end Jadaveon Clowney fits perfectly in the SEC. The defense has allowed just 53 points in the last five games.

Good teams find a way to overcome adversity.

And during the next three weeks, we’ll find out how good South Carolina really is.