Gamecocks' defensive problems have been solved, really?

Building on 33 wins in three years,
big things were expected. But the
Gamecocks are already in a hole.
(USC Media Guide cover)

Changes are being made to the South Carolina defense.

TJ Gurley will start in the secondary over Chaz Elder, says SB Nation's Garnet and Black Attack. On SDS, they report that DC Loenzo Ward is starting  linebacker Skai Moore and cornerback Rico McWilliams. The coaches are saying the players will be physical now. 

But the question is: if you had eight months of an off-season, How can you look so bad versus Texas A&M, a team that had just as much time off? In addition to being idle, Texas A&M had to replace Johnny Manziel, a first-round QB pick, and Heisman Trophy winner.

Will shuffling personnel on South Carolina's defense solve the problems?

All Gamecock fans are, of course, hoping there has been some sort of epiphany for Lorenzo Ward and his defensive coaching staff.

And the Gamecocks' opponent this Saturday is unranked, and non-SEC, East Carolina. So regardless, the defense should look better. But will it really be better?

During the A&M game, South Carolina could have made adjustments at halftime. But the Aggies tore up the Gamecock D as much in the second half, as it did in the first.

Aside from that, the Gamecocks lost a prime opportunity to go 1-0 in the SEC and show off in front of the nation. Instead the Gamecocks are being buried, and are in a deep hole. All that has been worked for has been damaged.

Will South Carolina redeem itself? Hopefully so. But the fact that the team is faced with crawling out of a hole, because of the D again, is frustrating.

While a win over ECU will begin to heal some wounds, it will take weeks to get over the embarrassment of A&M. And the record of loss will be there forever.

Head Coach Steve Spurrier has turned the Gamecocks into a player on the national stage. Home win streaks, a streak in openers and defying odds have become a staple of Spurrier's at SC.

But the Defensive coaches did a lot to tear down that image by not having their players anywhere-near prepared in week one.

A new game and a win will help, but the defensive staff has a long way to go to prove it deserves the job it has.