TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Mickey Plyler's Blog

Sections

InterActive

Features

« Previous day (Jul 10, 2008) | Main | Next day (Jul 11, 2008) »

Friday July 11, 2008

Friday E-Mail Bag

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Hey Mickey,

I want you to know how inspirational your "Ryan Updates" are to those of us who follow Clemson and life for that matter closely. Every time I see a new post I can't wait to read it to see how he is doing. Today the comments about the pointing, thumbs up and ice on the lips literally brought me to tears....again. I can't imagine what you and your family are going through and to see the small but positive daily steps is a constant source of motivation and inspiration. You guys are constantly in our thoughts and prayers and I felt the need to let you know. Please take care and I can't wait to read that blog entry about Ryan walking and feeling "back to normal". I know its a long road but I also know it is going to happen and we are all pulling and praying for that.

Thanks for all that you do for Clemson. God Bless!

<a href='http://coy.tigernet.com/adclick.php?n=a2a58df3' target='_blank'><img src='http://coy.tigernet.com/adview.php?what=zone:11&n=a2a58df3' border='0' alt=''></a>

Blake

Blake,
Thanks. Ryan is having a great day today. He is starting to say a few words. Today his mom asked him if he had a dog and he said, " Yes." She asked his dog's name and Ryan said, "Daisy." She asked if he had a favorite baseball team and Ryan said, "Yankees."

A great listener of the radio station named Dominick had a banner made that said WCCP-FM the Drive and New York Yankee fans say, Get Well Soon Ryan! Dominick called the Yankees for permission to hang it in the stadium during a game this week and they said OK. The Yankees played great and won the game as Dominick took the banner all around the stadium for picture. The New York Yankees sent Ryan a care package with all of their promotional day items like bobble head, stadium replicas, hats, calendars, baseball cards and a get well soon card. I am giving it to Ryan today.

We just found out yesterday that Ryan is projected to be discharged on July 31. We will get him to his home in either Charlotte or Clemson on that day and start to get him acclimated to his home. He will start school on time this year also because the staff wants him to get into a routine each day and not get behind.

We are blessed and God Bless you too!

Hi Mickey,

Thank you for the report on the TEs. Do you think that Rob Spence will try to use the tight ends as receivers more this year? It seems to me that we have not used TEs very much for a long time, in part, due to a lack of receiving talent. I would appreciate your thoughts. I would love for our TEs to be one more thing for opposing defensive coordinators to think about when they face the Tigers in 2008.

I am very glad to hear that Ryan is making regular progress. We will keep Ryan and your family in our thoughts.

Kirk

Kirk,
Thanks for the kind words about Ryan. I think they will always find ways to exploit a defenses weakness and take what a defense gives them. Palmer and Linthicum might have more of a chance but in the long term thinking, I believe Dwayne Allen will really be a weapon. Still remember there is only one football and every time you throw it to a TE is a time where Davis, Spiller, Ford, Kelly, Grisham, Taylor, Dye, Clear, Jones, Harper or Ellington don't get a chance to touch it.

Mickey:

Glad to hear about Ryan's progress......prayers for a full recovery and a way he can use this life story to impact others in their challenges during life...

Football questions, how will Clemson attack the Alabama 3-4 defense in your opinion? Is this 3-4 like Virginia ran a few years ago that was not overly aggressive but kept everything in front of them and made you execute-- or is this an attacking high risk scheme?

When is the last time Clemson beat a ranked physical football team? (BC, VT, Auburn, etc-- not teams that play with speed like FSU, Miami)

When is the last time Clemson made a half time adjustment and scheme adjustment against a ranked opponent that really altered the game? (2005 USC with our blocking fronts -- I could not think of many more)

Let me know what you think Clemson does to keep Alabama's offense and defense off balance?

Thanks

Warm Regards,
Bob

Bob,
Good questions. I think Clemson will have to be balanced to beat Alabama. I don't think they will put too much pressure on the offensive line and Bama will blitz so I think we could see some pressure relief type plays.

I think FSU and Wake Forest were ranked last year when Clemson played them. The previous year Clemson beat FSU and Georgia Tech who were ranked. In 2005 South Carolina, FSU and Texas A&M were the ranked teams Clemson beat. Beating ranked teams is great but they are ranked for a reason so this is tough.

I am a big believer in players are more important than schemes. It is not what you do but how you do it and who is doing it. Clemson will try to get the ball into Davis, Spiller, Kelly and Ford's hands. I don't think you will see a lot of new stuff from the offense. On defense, I think Clemson will be a little more aggressive because of the experience in the secondary.

Hey Mickey,

I'm very glad you post a Ryan update on the blog so everyone can keep up with his progress.

I know before the 2007 season, everyone was trying to figure out if Harper was going to step up or how long it would be before Korn started. There was a huge question mark at QB. Then Harper emerged.

With pretty much our only 2 question marks this year being at OL and LB, who do you think (for both positions), at the end of the year, will have separated and entrenched themselves at their respective starting position?

Thanks Mickey,

-Wes

Wes,
Thanks. By season's end I think Stanley Hunter will emerge. Brandon Maye will be more experienced also. I think Conner will be steady all year. On the offensive line I think David Smith and Mason Cloy will be very good football players. Maybe McClain will have a chance in his true freshman season also.

Mickey,
I first want to say we are pulling for Ryan and appreciate you posting updates on his progress. I listen to your show every day and have done so the whole time you have been at WCCP over the years. One Clemson Football question (from the "Where are they now?" category): I was in school at Clemson from '89 to '93. We had a quarterback named Michael Carr. It seems like he only took a few snaps during the end of the '89 season, maybe in the bowl game. What happened to him? Did something happen that led to his dismissal? Or did he just leave school?

Thanks again for your updates on Ryan.

Robby

Robby,

Thanks. Michael Carr was the hot shot quarterback that was signed before the 1988 season. He was injured and missed some time. He got into a little trouble and eventually transferred to a smaller school closer to home back in Louisiana. I have not heard where he is now but will try to ask some former staff members if they have heard.

Mickey,
We rejoice in the Lord for the slow, but continued progress of your son. Could you outline what kinds of work/training the freshman recruits do on campus during early enrollment(other than getting a few course credits), and? And other than Willard and Rollins, who will become a LB in this class?

Thanks
Nate

Nate,
Thanks. The freshmen are involved in the summer workout program like the rest of the team. They lift weights and run with the team. They also go through the voluntary drills each afternoon. Stanley Hunter is the third true freshman linebacker this season.

864-834-6060

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Posted by Mickey Plyler @ 11:16 AM EDT [ Comments [2] ]