Thursday January 24, 2008

Potential Position Changes

Potential Position Changes
Spring football will be here before we know it, so I sat down the other day and took a long look at the depth chart. I thought it would be fun so I came up with a few potential position changes in the process. Most would not work, and keep in mind that these are just my opinion only one or two may take place. Here are a few that came to my mind:

Sadat Chambers to Safety
Pros:James Davis has decided to come back and have another year with C.J. Spiller to form the “Thunder and Lightning” duo. Andre Ellington has committed and appears to be firm to the Tigers so he should sign on February 6. If Clemson can sign Jamie Harper that day I think the Tigers would have four very capable tailbacks. In my opinion, Chambers to safety would make some sense because the Tigers are so thin at the position and he looked pretty good there as a freshman.
Cons:Chambers has only had one year at his new position and looked pretty good in his limited time. If the Tigers don’t sign Harper, the tailback position may be thin once again. Also, Davis and Spiller might both be gone after the 2008 season.

Rendrick Taylor to Tight End
Pros:This is one that you hear about often but I think it makes little sense. Taylor would give the Tigers a very good receiver at tight end if the move is made.
Cons:In my opinion you take a very difficult matchup for defensive backs when Taylor is a wide receiver. In addition, it makes it easier on a defense with him at tight end. Furthermore, the tight end position is more about blocking, while Taylor is an excellent blocker as a wide receiver but that might change as a tight end.

David Smith to Guard
Pros:Smith has impressed coaches in his red-shirt season. If Chris Hairston is set at one tackle and either Corey Lambert or Landon Walker can take over at the other, then Smith might be able to make the position change. Brad Scott will want to get his best five offensive linemen on the field at once and Smith just might be one of those five.
Cons: Smith is a red-shirt freshman and it will be a difficult transition as a young player but that transition might be even tougher as he tries to learn a new position.

Thomas Austin to Guard:
Pros: Austin started at both guard and center last season but ended the season at center. If red-shirt freshman Mason Cloy is as good as advertised he may get a long look at center. Again, the idea is to get the best five on the field at the same time and if Cloy fits the bill then Austin is smart enough and experienced enough to make the move back to guard.
Cons: It seems Austin looked comfortable at center as the season progressed. It has to be difficult to get continuity if you are always moving around from position to position.

Jamie Cumbie to Defensive End
Pros: Like Austin, Cumbie played one position for the first part of the season, but moved and looked better the last half of 2007. As a defensive end Cumbie played OK but he looked better when he was moved inside. A move back to defensive end would make some sense because Phillip Merling has entered the draft.
Cons: Playing behind Merling was one thing but if DaQuan Bowers is as good as we think then Cumbie would have a younger player ahead of him at defensive end. Cumbie gave the Tigers a very athletic pass rusher at defensive tackle and might need to get comfortable there.

Rennie Moore to Defensive Tackle
Pros: Like Cumbie, when you move a defensive end inside then most of the time you get more athletic at the position. Moore is about to outgrow his defensive end body and grow into a defensive tackle. He has impressed coaches and his future appears to be as defensive tackle.
Cons: The depth chart might be a little more crowded inside with Jackson, Scott, McKissic, Cumbie, Jenkins, Chavis and others inside. At defensive end it might be easier to get on the field behind Bowers and Kevin Alexander.

Jock McKissic to Offensive Tackle
Pros: McKissic has a body that might be able to compete on the offensive line where the Tigers lack depth. The depth chart is much more crowded at his current position.
Cons: It might be difficult for a senior who has never played on the offensive line to make a move to that side of the ball. McKissic has never red-shirted but it might take a while to learn all of the techniques necessary.

Kevin Alexander to Mike Linebacker
Pros: Alexander started out at linebacker but may have outgrown his old position. If the Tigers start smaller linebackers like Scotty Cooper or Stanley Hunter then a big middle linebacker like Alexander might help. He is athletic enough to make the move but some could question if he is too big to play in space.
Cons: Alexander appears to be more comfortable now at his new spot. Also, with Merling gone, Alexander is the new starter unless Bowers impresses enough in the spring to get the spot. Even if Bowers does then a second teamer would still get enough snaps to warrant Alexander staying put.

Haydrian Lewis to Safety
Pros: Clemson is very thin at safety and Lewis is a very good open field tackler. Some have questioned his cover skills and at times Lewis has looked more like a safety anyway.
Cons: Lewis is coming off of knee surgery which kept him out of the last half of the 2007 season. It might be a difficult transition to a new position if the injury is still a factor.

These are a few possibilities I have thought of but would love to hear your thoughts on these or any suggestions you may have.

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