Gamecocks' Matthews will dress vs. Gators, but might not play

By Travis Haney - The (Charleston) Post and Courier

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina defensive end Cliff Matthews will dress for Saturday's game against No. 1 Florida, but there's no guarantee that he'll play.

Defensive head coach Ellis Johnson said Matthews, who dislocated his shoulder two weeks ago at Tennessee, would be a game-time decision.

“He's physically been given the OK by the doctors,” Johnson said. “It's one of these things where the shoulder isn't 100 percent, but it's not going to endanger it if he plays.”

Even if he does play, Johnson said there will be small, specialized packages for him. In other words, don't expect a fully healthy, ready-to-go Matthews.

“We're just not sure how effective he would be, not having practiced,” Johnson said. “He's going to see how it feels in warm-ups.”

The 6-4, 250-pound junior left Williams-Brice Stadium on Thursday night with a giant ice pack over his left shoulder.

Whenever he plays next, he'll wear a protective brace under his shoulder pads. Safety Chris Culliver has worn a similar harness.

Redshirt freshman Devin Taylor would normally start in Matthews' place, as he did last week at Arkansas, but he has a bruised sternum and is out against the Gators.

So, defensive tackle Melvin Ingram will slide outside to start at end.

“I'm not sure if he's had a great week of practice, but he's done well,” Johnson said. “It's more mental with him than physical.”

Look for the Gamecocks to play a lot of three-man fronts and get linebacker Eric Norwood close to the line against Tim Tebow and Florida's running attack.

OTHER CHANGES — Spurrier said junior running back Brian Maddox will start Saturday. Freshmen Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles are still expected to get carries.

Kyle Nunn will start over Jarriel King at left tackle, Spurrier said.

On defense, Darian Stewart struggled last week at spur. He'll move back to strong safety, and Antonio Allen will start at spur.

CULLIVER'S COMEBACK — Johnson said Culliver's shoulder is OK and he's responded well after being suspended for the Arkansas game.

“It's a good situation for us to get a body back,” Johnson said. “I hope he'll come back and play at a level that he's capable of. When he tweaked that shoulder (at Tennessee), he didn't play well enough that night that we missed him.”

TAKEAWAY DROUGHT — The Gamecocks have gone three games without forcing a turnover. It's a streak that Johnson can't explain.

“Those things are kind of like free throws. You kind of get in runs when you can't make one. The more you practice it, you get worse.”

But Johnson said there are things the Gamecocks can do to have a better shot at creating turnovers.

“I believe in being physical at the point of attack,” he said. “And if you're physical on quarterbacks, you can get more turnovers. I don't think we have been lately.”