Wednesday October 08, 2008

Harper-Korn-Parker

Harper-Korn-Parker
A few things this morning came to mind with today’s blog including a Wake Forest preview. I have almost finished that piece but still am working on the final touches and want to find out more about Sam Swank’s injury.

I will put up the Wake Forest preview tomorrow because I was moved to write about a subject that came up on my radio show again this morning. A caller asked about Willy Korn and the possibility of seeing him take meaningful snaps this season. Obviously this is an interesting topic that I have mostly avoided so far. However, I wanted to take a chance to touch on it today.

First the caller made a great point when he said coaching football has to be harder than we think because we amateurs always think we have all of the answers. I think we should always keep that into consideration.

So here are my thoughts on the quarterback situation at Clemson:
*Cullen Harper is the starter and should be in my opinion. However, I don’t see why Korn does not get a chance at a series or two each game. Each game the offense has the ball 10-15 series. If you substitute at other positions then why are so many against giving a series or two to a backup quarterback. I am not in favor of that opportunity if there is a wide margin between the starter and the number two guy but if the level of play is in the same ball park then why not give the other guy a look sometimes. That is especially the case if the other guy gives you some athletically that the starter does not.

*In my opinion, one of the reasons why Harper won the job in the spring and summer of his junior season is the fact that he had to hear about the “Great Willy Korn” all of the time. I believe Harper developed a chip on his shoulder and had an edge to him. I saw Harper wanting to prove his worth despite the publicity and attention Korn garnered and Harper had a record setting year in the process.

*I think it would have been easy for Harper to lose the chip when he was the pre-season ACC player of the year. I think he still worked hard but this summer he was the guy on the cover of the magazines and Korn was in the background.

*In the past eight games under Harper, Clemson is 4-4. He has pretty good numbers in terms of completion percentage but he is not as effective throwing the ball downfield. During that stretch Harper has thrown for four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

*Harper has had to play against the tough defenses like Alabama, Virginia Tech and Boston College and Korn has only faced four lesser opponents but Korn’s numbers are impressive.

*I will listen to the argument that Korn’s playing time has been against Louisiana-Monroe, Furman, The Citadel and South Carolina State if you admit that Harper’s stats were also padded against lesser opponents also.

*I will listen to the concept that Korn is performing against worn down defenses in the fourth quarter if you admit that he has to play behind a lesser talented offensive line and is throwing second and third team skill players. Korn has completed 22 passes in his Clemson career and has never played a single down with James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Tyler Grisham or Aaron Kelly. His pass completions have gone to Xavier Dye (5), Marquan Jones (3), Nelson Faerber (2), Durrell Barry (1), Chad Diehl (1), Paul Macko (1), Jamie Harper (1), LaDonte Harris (1), Terrence Ashe (1), Sadat Chambers (1), Michael Palmer (1) and Jeff Ogren (1).

*In his Clemson career Korn is 22 of 29 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

*Korn has played twelve drives in his four appearance but four of those drives were the final drive of the game in which the Tigers ran out the clock and did not try to score. Of the eight drives he has played where the game did not end on the drive, Korn has led the Tigers to five touchdowns and a field goal. In the two drives where the Tigers did not score, Korn was sacked on one drive that ended the drive and had a penalty and a sack that ended the other (again playing with all reserves on the offensive line). Those two non-scoring drives came last season. In the four drives Korn has had this season he has led the Tigers to three touchdowns and a field goal.

*I am also very aware that Willy Korn is one of the finest leaders I have ever been around and I think this team could use an injection of his leadership.

In summary, I like Cullen Harper and think he has done a good job over the last two seasons but I also think Korn has earned playing time. As a fan I just want to see one drive a game where he could see significant action. I think the team would benefit this season because Korn brings a different skill set to the table. I think the program would be better next year because of Korn’s valuable experience. I think Korn will be better because of the experience and I even think Harper would be better because he would have competition.

As fans, we always love the second team quarterback. And as fans, we know only a small percentage of the game that our coaches know. However, I am a firm believer in competition.

Competition makes everyone better. It might have made Will Proctor better but the staff decided that he was not threatened by Cullen Harper. It made Harper better last season. I think it has made both punters, Jimmy Maners and Dawson Zimmerman, better this season.

In fact, I also think next season Korn might be a better if he knew Kyle Parker is able to push him and maybe Parker would deserve a series or two per game.

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