SPRING OBJECTIVES
Start on offense, where Steve Spurrier has his fingers crossed that, with four starters returning, the offensive line will finally click.

Spurrier is also searching for the trigger man in what looks to be a two-man duel between Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher. The Gamecocks don't lose much from the 2007 depth chart and the holes that are there -- RB Cory Boyd, LB Casper Brinkley -- easily can be patched by Spurrier's recent strong recruiting classes. Getting the old and new on the same page is a priority, but that process will stretch through the summer and into the fall. That's when they'll know for sure if Jasper Brinkley, the heart of the defense at middle linebacker, will be 100 percent.

BUILDING BLOCKS
DT Nathan Pepper and LB Jasper Brinkley are keys to the defense. Neither is full strength right now but, if they are healthy by mid-August, South Carolina's "D" will be a bear.

WR Kenny McKinley is recovering from offseason toe surgery. If he's full strength, he should make things easier for the starting quarterback that replaces Blake Mitchell. McKinley had four straight games with at least seven catches and 70 yards to end the season, including 8-125-2 in the finale against Clemson.

QB Chris Smelley had offseason shoulder surgery but refused to rest in spring drills. With Stephen Garcia serving a suspension, Smelley is the safe pick to start under center. There's always a chance Spurrier will rotate two or more quarterbacks as he sees fit.

SCHEDULE SITUATION
Seven wins seems doable. The season begins in August (Aug. 28) vs. North Carolina State, a team with young talent, and then a game at Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks host Georgia before welcoming Wofford and UAB. A 4-1 start, possibly 5-0, would position SC for a tough closing stretch -- at Ole Miss and Kentucky, home to LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas and at Florida. With a break from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22, the Gamecocks finish the season at Clemson on Nov. 29.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm not worried about him. We've got Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley, and we know they're going to always be here." -- Steve Spurrier on the suspension of sophomore QB Stephen Garcia.

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