Preseason Q & A
We’re taking a page out of last year’s playbook and answering a whole bunch of questions about the upcoming season. You might notice that the questions haven’t changed very much, but why mess with a good thing?
1. At this point, if you were coaching who do you start as your top three receivers? Who would you start as quarterback? Linebackers?
Clem: As with last years prediction, get Kelly, Grisham and Ford out there. Unlike last year, Harper is the go to man. Linebackers is the one question mark I have.
Bowman: Well, the QB answer is dull and boring only as it is not a question. Pretty safe bet Mr. Korn is the # 2 guy.
LBs are a different story all together. Can I take a DE and move them to OLB? It would make my job easier. Kavell Conner comes off the Peach, hmmm, Chick-Fil-A Bowl with 15 tackles. Look for him to start on the weak side. Sounds like Frosh Brandon Maye will step up in the middle. He may get platooned early with senior Josh Miller until he get more used to the speed of the game and more familiarity with the schemes. Scotty Cooper who also had a fair amount of snaps in ’07 including 10 in the bowl game will start the season at the strong side. A few others are listed as potential contributors in the media guide but I couldn’t have told you half the projected starters so I’m not going to pretend to know their names. My biggest concern on D, and possibly the team, is this group. I have full faith in Koenning and company for scheming and getting them ready but the lack of experience overall bothers me. A little dink and dunk to soften the group then the power push up the middle by any team with a strong O-line could really be devastating. I hate being wrong but this would be one time I don’t mind.
WR, Kelly for the deep ball, Grisham for possession and a toss up between Dye and Ford depending on situation. I’m big on Dye and think he is/will be the more consistent performer.
Walker: Seriously, who would I start? If I put anyone on the field other than Harper at QB, Jacoby, Tyler, and Aaron at WR slots I’d get fired. As far as LB goes, Antonio Clay I miss thee. Thank you DeAndre McDaniel for not harming that girl…in the eyes of the law. I guess start DeAndre.
Broken: I’ll take Kelly, Grisham, and Ford as the top 3 receivers. I am, however, completely clueless about the linebacking corps.
2. 2) Game-by-game season outlook, already published, links below.
2a) What’s our one dumb loss of the year?
Clem: Boston College……why oh why can’t we beat these guys!
Walker: I’m going to have to be positive on this one, I don’t think we will have a dumb loss this year, we shake the media curse. If I had to pick a loss though it will be against FSU or Wake. I don’t really consider those dumb.
Broken: In keeping with my pessimistic preseason predictions, I have to say that there will be several dumb losses. But in picking just one, I’ll take NC State.
2b) What’s the one game where we step up as the underdog?
Clem: Interesting question considering that Clemson should never be an underdog this season. If there is one game where they MIGHT be an underdog, it would be FSU later in the season.
Bowman: With all the hype, unless we get upset early, we won’t be a legit underdog most if not all season. With that in mind, here we go with some scenarios:
Win early and often then stumble and lose to MD but it won’t be a true upset. The upset ends up being GT and the Paul Johnson offense that put up 30 a game with a bunch of slow, white boys at Navy.
Lose early and I still think GT could be the upset. However, we lose the lofty expectations. However, no team on the schedule is really held in that much higher esteem. If anyone, it would be Wake and I have a good feeling about the trip to Winston this year.
Walker: BCS Bowl Game! We won’t be an underdog this year during the regular season.
Broken: That will be the Florida State game. No one will expect us to win crap by that point.
3. Who’s your breakout player of the year? Who is a flop for you?
Clem: Breakout would have to be Jamie Harper, I know Bowers will perform, but I think that Bowden has finally found his goal line jumbo back that will get those TD’s in the red zone. Add in the fact that both he and Ellington will be groomed this season for what is to come and he should get enough touches early to show he should get the ball in the big games as well.
Bowman: It wasn’t Korn last year it was Harper. Barring injury, Korn stays canned (I betcha liked that one) so we have to look somewhere else. On the offensive side, look for Xavier Dye to become the second receiver. On D, I hope to see one of the LBs step up and become a primo threat. My money would be on Brandon Maye for that.
Busts…I hate to think of this but it does happen. I look for a little stumble in the secondary. Maybe it’s the sophomore jinx with McDaniel or an injury issue. Either way, I see something popping up back there that isn’t exactly an Achilles heel but definitely not quite the strength the coaches and media are hanging their hat on. Flop on offense? Most likely not, but if it happens, look for it at QB. Why? Because the O-line isn’t quite there/ready and when you are running for your life and forced to throw because the RBs don’t have daylight, all combined with the expectations, you are in a bit of trouble. There is that whole sophomore jinx too. Yeah, Cullen is a senior but it’s his second year starting or taking significant game day snaps. Just keep it in mind.
Walker: Jamie Harper, oh the sweet reality of Clemson football post James Davis. This kid is going to step up! My flop has already come true. Rendrick Taylor is the man! I’m just not going to see him play this season.
Broken: I’ll punt the breakout player question. I will however field the flop; Harper is the flop. Working off of pure speculation, I believe that a combination of bad luck and an unfocused mental state will cause Harper to let everyone down.
4. What will be the most overused ineffective play this season?
Clem: Can I say the bubble screen just for shits and giggles? No seriously, our offense should not have an ineffective play with the arsenal that they have. But… with Jacoby back, I can see the reverse getting utilized and I don’t recall that being that effective, so I will go with that.
Bowman: It’s still the bubble screen. Between Spiller and Ford, I expect to see it more than needed though it wasn’t used as much as it could have been last year. Little thing to do with the QBs arm strength compared to Proctor ’06. Play we need in its place. Leaking out the TE on a drag route. We got ‘em. Spence likes to use ‘em. Why not?
Walker: Weak O-Line=Bubblescreen all damn day long! Shoot me.
Broken: Either the punt or the field goal. I’ll take the punt.
5. Who’s your pick to win the ACC Atlantic division?
Clem: Clemson, if not this year… well we would have to wait a couple more years for the Korn Kingdom to develop.
Walker: Wake
Broken: Maryland. Ugh.
6. Who walks away with that big ugly trophy?
Clem: Clemson. Over VT (I am a believer that UNC is the dark horse in that division but Beamer Ball will prevail)
Bowman: See the game to game but FSU and ?
FSU gets us on the tie break and go on to take the Trophy and BCS bid in somewhat of a home game in Tampa. Coin flip between VT and GT with Beamer Ball special teams most likely with the edge though they are replacing a lot on both sides of the ball. Don’t ask why or how, just know the other side is the bigger reason for the “Mediocre” tag the conference is getting.
Walker: Friggin Wake walks away with it.
Broken: It occurs to me that no one has said anything about Miami. Until I just looked at the division alignments, I had forgotten that they existed. So I’ll take the ‘Canes.
7. Who would you like to see us blowout this year (GT 2003, USC 2003, GT 2006, etc)? Don’t initially vote USC, unless you REALLY want to blow them out.
Clem: Boston College, just because.
Bowman: Wake, I’m tired of those games being close and the associated heartburn to a school with 3500 students
Walker: If there is no other team in all the land that deserves a good old fashion smack down more so than BC I sure would like to know who its is! Anyone?
Broken: Virginia. Definitely Virginia. I would love to see the looks on the faces of all those kids.
Their tears are so yummy and sweet!
8. What’s our toughest game this year?
Clem: FSU. That late in the season will allow the ‘Noles to get their act together and become a contender in the division. Throw in that the Tigers play up at BC the week before and they might not have much left in the tank.
Bowman: Toughest to take – MD – heart breaking close one at home being the first loss of the season.
Toughest by score – FSU – I think this one may hurt this year.
Walker: The toughest game all year will be a mental game. I have to give this mental pitfall to the Thursday night Wake game. If the guys keep their head on strait it will be a blow out just like last year.
Broken: Georgia Tech as the most knock-down-drag-out game of the year.
9. What’s our easiest game?
Clem: Honestly, I am taking out the cream puffs and going with actual 1A games. The easiest would be Duke… again. Cutcliffe has a decent recruiting team going but he will need more time to get respect and attention at Duke.
Bowman: Citadel – I-AA So Con non-playoff team. Shouldn’t be on the schedule.
Walker: SC State, I feel sorry for those guys already.
Broken: SC State.
10. Will this be Tommy’s last season? Why or why not?
Clem: No, I continue to stand behind my belief that a coach has to be a coach both on and off the field. With Bowden’s success at recruiting quality players who aren’t arrested every 5 days and maintaining a respectable graduation rate, I think that he will stay. Even with a 9-3 record the naysayer would be loading the cash wagon to buy him out but TDP will keep him around. Also, take a look at this article and see the bias that is placed on the team every year. Bowden succeeds over what is initially expected of him much more often than not.
Bowman: If we keep from losing more than two games before November then no, especially if we are still looking at a ACCCG berth. Lose to ‘Bama, and a combination of any two others prior to USCe and the fire could be burning white hot, especially if Captain Visor is coming into town with 7 or more wins and favored for the “upset.”
Walker: No, even if we have a losing season. Contract buy outs are too high. In two years maybe…
Broken: If my season prediction holds, and the Tigers are nowhere near the top of the division, and they end the regular season with only 7 wins, then Tommy is toast.
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