Concern for Spurrier factor

His offense still doesn't resemble what it was back in the day. It is struggling to score points, having problems in the red zone, and not generating a whole bunch of big plays.

But there are signs, positive signs, beginning to emerge.

Spurrier signs.

The South Carolina offense is starting to look more like a Steve Spurrier offense.

It's not there yet, but it's getting closer.

Here's why: Spurrier has a quarterback (Stephen Garcia) he can finally trust, some talented young receivers who can make plays (Alshon Jeffery, Tori Gurley and Jason Barnes), and now Spurrier is back to calling the plays, just as he did when he was the head ball coach at Florida.

What it all means is the Gators are gearing up for a USC offense that has a lot of playmaking potential, especially in the passing game.

There is concern about the Spurrier factor.

"They're a very good pass offense," UF safeties coach Chuck Heater said. "They get a lot of yards. Coach Spurrier will have a plan for us. He knows how to attack you. He does a good job.

"I've always had great, great respect for this game, and for what they do offensively. The first couple of years, he gave us all we could handle. He beat us one year (2005) and almost beat us the second year (2006). We have a lot of respect for them. We need to be ready to go."

Spurrier's offense clearly isn't what it once was, when he was dominating the SEC at UF with his Fun 'n' Gun in the 1990s. But it's slowly starting to come around.

Garcia's development has played a big role. He was in over his head as a redshirt freshman last season, throwing for more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (six). With experience, he's become more efficient throwing the football and managing the offense. He's averaging 242.1 passing yards a game, and he has dramatically improved his touchdown to interception ratio (13 touchdowns and only six interceptions).

"Coach Spurrier has a system, and Garcia understands the system," UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said. "He's been in the system for two years now. He's making the throws and the adjustments he needs to make.

"They've got some big, physical receivers. They throw the ball up to them, and they're able to make the catches."

The last time the Gators faced Garcia, he wasn't even the starter. He alternated nearly every play with Chris Smelley in UF's 56-6 rout in The Swamp a year ago. Garcia had a rough day, completing six of 13 passes for only 28 yards, with an interception.

The Gators expect to see a much different Garcia on Saturday.

"He has improved," UF safety Major Wright said. "Watching film (of the USC offense), he's not locking in on receivers all the time like he did last season. He looks at you and goes the other way, and they've got some great receivers."

The Gamecocks have a pretty fair play-caller as well. Spurrier had turned that duty over to his son, wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., last season. But after some recent offensive struggles (and some conservative play-calling), Spurrier decided earlier this week to start calling some plays again.

Strong said it won't change anything the Gators do on defense.

"No, we will line up and play," Strong said. "We are actually personnel driven. Whatever personnel he puts on the field, that's how we have to adjust defensively."

The Gators won't be lining up against the old Fun 'n' Gun. But this is a South Carolina offense that's starting to look like a Steve Spurrier offense.