Friday October 13, 2006

Temple Review and Kick Off Solutions

Temple Review
On Monday, I will publish the Temple Game Worksheet but I wanted to give my late night thoughts on the game while they were fresh in my head since returning from Charlotte.

On Wednesday, I wrote about ten things I’d like to see against Temple. Lets see how things turned out:

1. With a short turn around I am concerned about the Tigers being sharp. I know Clemson is better than Temple but I am concerned about a sloppy effort on a short work week.
Outcome: The team had few penalties and limited the turnovers. They came out offensively and hit the Owls early and often. It was a nice effort that was anything but flat.

2. I would like to see Will Proctor build off of his fourth quarter performance from Saturday. The senior quarterback struggled in the first three quarters before looking fantastic in the final frame. In the second half I would like to see a crisp Cullen Harper and Tribble Reese.
Outcome: Proctor looked very sharp. He was 8 of 9 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He threw the ball on time and ran the offense to near perfection. This was exactly what I was looking for from Proctor.

3. I know the Clemson starting offensive linemen will dominate Temple physically. I would like to see the second and third team guys get a long look again. In the Florida Atlantic, North Carolina and Louisiana Tech contests we saw the back ups get as many snaps as the starters in some cases. One thing I will look for Thursday is the effort of Thomas Austin, Chris McDuffie, Brandon Pilgrim, Tim DeBeer, Chris Capote, Barry Humphries, Corey Lambert and Jamarcus Grant.
Outcome: The staff played all of the second and third teamers and played them early. Roman Fry received some time at center also. Grant played his most snaps of the season and looked like he played very physical. I am not worried about the inexperience along the offensive line next season.

4. With Chansi Stuckey and Rendrick Taylor out, I will focus on Aaron Kelly, Tyler Grisham. Jacoby Ford, Andrew Diamonde, LaDonte Harris and Nelson Faerber. I want to see those guys go out and step up and make plays. I think Kelly and Grisham could have their best games if the Tigers opt to work on their passing game Thursday night.
Outcome: The Tigers did not have to throw the ball often but Ford once again showed his jets. Faerber made a nice play on the touchdown. Diamonde made a nice catch and run but must hold onto the football.

5. We know what James Davis brings to the table. I would like to see C.J. Spiller get even more comfortable running behind the zone scheme. Also, I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Demerick Chancellor develop in the Florida Atlantic, North Carolina and Louisiana Tech contests. His power and speed give the Tigers a very bright future at tailback. Also, it will be nice to see Reggie Merriweather back in action.
Outcome: Merriweather’s ankle still is holding him back. Chancellor had another 100-yard effort. He showed exactly what I was looking for as he continues to run hard.

6. Defensively, one of the highlights so far this season has been watching the young defenders. When Clemson jumps out to an early lead, I will be interested in seeing more of Rickey Sapp, Jamie Cumbie, Kevin Alexander, Antwon Murchison, Jeremy Campbell, Crezdon Butler, Chris Chancellor and Sadat Chambers.
Outcome: Rickey Sapp played perhaps his best game. He continues to get more time. Cumbie may have played the most snaps of his career also. Butler and Chancellor played as much or more than the starting corners.

7. I think it is time for Jacoby Ford or C.J. Spiller to break another long one in the return game.
Outcome: Both Ford and Spiller showcased their speed and skills once again. Ford had his longest catch and run for a touchdown. Spiller enjoyed another great night including several highlight reel runs.

8. Speaking of special teams, I would like to an extra point or field goal that gets half way up the uprights. It drives me crazy to see a ball barely clear the cross bar on an extra point.
Outcome: Only one of the nine extra points looked weak. The rest had the height that they are supposed to have. The Tigers did have one bad snap on an extra point.

9. I don’t want to see another squib kick unless it is right before the half. I need to see the kicker kick the ball into the end zone and the coverage team make plays.
Outcome: This was the major negative. The staff tried several things including the line drive to the corner kick, the pooch kick, the middle kick and the regular kick between the numbers and the sideline. Few things worked but I have the answers below.

10. Most importantly, I want to see a focused group of players and coaches. I want the killer instinct we saw in the Florida Atlantic, North Carolina and Louisiana Tech contests. I want to see the Tigers play fast and furious. I want to see athletes flying all over the field making plays. I want to see energy and enthusiasm.
Outcome: Obviously, the Tigers came out with a sense of purpose. They played well with the exception of some missed assignments on defense. Clemson played fast and played with a sense of urgency.

The Kick Off Coverage
After watching the kick off coverage team struggle for the first half of the season I now have the answers. First, after watching some of the experiments the last two weeks let me eliminate some of the things they have tried that will not work.
1. Kicking the ball down the middle of the field is the wrong idea. It gives the returner too many options and too much space. Clemson does not have wedge busters so this does not work if the oppositions decide on a wedge return up the middle.
2. The line drive kicks do not work. The coverage team does not have enough time to get down the field. Clemson tried it a few times with Chason last night. They work if you can get it into the corner of the end zone but it is too risky.
3. The squib kick is not the answer. You eliminate the long return but consistently give the opponent the ball between the 35 and 40-yard line.
4. Kicking it out of bounds is not the answer. Teams can decline the penalty and make you re-kick the ball from the thirty. Also the 35 is too much ground to concede if they take the ball there.

The Solutions
1. From a kicking standpoint Clemson should use one of two options in my opinion. They should kick the ball with height as deep as Dean can between the numbers and the sideline. I know it may be only to the 10-yard line but they can try to hem the returner up into a smaller area. They must have the ability to kick it to ether side to kick it away from a great returner. There is one major change that has to be made here—PUT BIGGER PERSONNEL ON THE FIELD. Clemson currently has a bunch of defensive backs on the field. These smaller defenders get knocked off of their lanes too easy. The kick off coverage team needs to be: Jad Dean, Jeremy Campbell, Kevin Alexander, Antonio Clay, Nick Watkins, Josh Miller, Maurice Nelson, Roy Walker and Chris Russell. The safeties need to be Jacoby Ford and C. J. Spiller. Clemson misses guys like Steven Jackson and David Dunham on the coverage team. Bigger bodies are harder to knock off of their lanes. Right now Chris Chancellor is a good corner but should not be on the kick off coverage team. Crezdon Butler is physical enough so maybe he can still handle it but more big bodies are a must.

2. The other option we saw for the first time last night is the pooch. If Cole Chason can consistently pooch it to the 25-yard line then the opponent usually can’t get it too far past the 30. Sometimes they may have to fair catch it and sometimes you get up backs that may have a hard time fielding the ball.

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