Media blaming players, protecting coaches, for Gamecock defense woes?

Spurrier, media at odds
about responsibility of
defensive problems.  

In his SEC Tele-Conference Sunday, SC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier said he believes the Gamecock's have the players to do the job, but the D is not getting it done.

Spurrier said:

"We had a lot of good plays on defense, but we've got players not playing their assignment very well. We've got the same defensive coaches that were considered pretty good coaches last year. Now all of a sudden we can't get the team off the field very well. We don't force very many punts. We've got to improve on that. We think we have the players to do it, but at some point we've got to be a lot more disciplined in playing our assignments and so forth. But again it was good effort, I think, by our defensive teams. We did get a couple picks, but we've got a long ways to go."

Sounds like Spurrier may be directing his words about the coaches toward the media, who are defending and making apologies for the defensive coaching staff. Spurrier has been specific in his thoughts about a poor D-line system. But Josh Kendall, of The State newspaper. said DC Lorenzo Ward is a great and valuable coach. Ron Morris, The State's anti-Spurrier columnist, said the defensive coaching staff will correct their problems and be fine.