Thursday March 05, 2009

Widmann Moves On; DT Depth Concerns

Widmann Moves On
It could have been a storybook end to a fabulous career but unfortunately Hollywood doesn’t write scripts for the real world sometimes.

Stan Widmann decided earlier this week to give up his final season of college baseball in order to take a job and move on with his life. I am sure all Tiger fans wish him well and thank Stan for his efforts.

I can still remember the day I heard about his vertebrae and I could tell it was serious by the tone of the person I was talking to. The sources said not to tell anyone until later but Widmann had a serious issue and they were concerned about his life and not baseball.

He underwent a long surgical procedure and but the serious news was good. Widmann had to rehab from the surgery but he would not have to fear for his life and instead could concentrate on baseball. Not that that was easy but it was not a life threatening situation. Spinal surgeries were serious but tumors were even more serious. Thank goodness the results were not the worst case.

I don’t know Widmann and am not sure what he learned from having to go through it but I can imagine baseball is not as important as it once was. It certainly was not the most important thing in his life.

Thus began a very difficult comeback attempt. The entire year last season was hard to watch. Widmann was a star in the making and a major league draft prospect before the surgery but not nearly the same player after. Widmann could not work his body as hard and lost most of the “pop” in his bat. He went from being a tough out and a centerpiece of the offensive gameplan to not much of an offensive factor and it affected his attitude.

Clemson’s staff had to make plans for the program after Widmann and as it turned out they signed two shortstops in Brad Miller and Jason Stolz. Miller was taken in the 39th round by the Rangers and Stolz went in the 31st to Atlanta but both opted to come to school instead.

Hollywood could have written a script where Widmann returned stronger than ever but that was not the case. He had another shoulder surgery a few weeks ago and never really regained his form. It did not help his cause when both Miller and Stolz were very impressive in the fall and pre-season workouts.

So Widmann’s days as the Tiger shortstop are over but he leaves behind good memories. He started 191 games at shortstop including 133 as a freshman and sophomore. He hit .307 as a sophomore on a team that won the ACC and went to the College World Series. Widmann had three hits and scored two runs in the ACC Championship game that season and he could have become the only player in Clemson baseball history to letter five seasons.

Too bad Hollywood was not in brought in to consult on this one.

Depth Concerns
We had an interesting conversation on my radio show today about depth concerns at defensive tackle for the Tigers entering the spring. In my opinion defensive tackle is now the thinnest spot on the depth chart.

This is an example of how tough it is to build consistent winners and to keep stability in your program. The Tigers were extremely deep at the position this past season. In fact I would say that entering the 2008 season Clemson was as deep as anyone in the country at the position.

However, Rashaad Jackson missed most of his senior season. Jamie Cumbie suffered a season ending injury soon after and this unit went from being loaded to being solid.

Entering 2009 the Tigers must account for the loss of Jackson, Dorell Scott and Jock McKissic to graduation. There is now talk of moving Jamie Cumbie back to defensive end as well and Antwon Murchison left the program. The Tigers went from being eight deep to now having just three tackles in Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Thompson and Miguel Chavis. I would think Rennie Moore would move inside to help but you still need to head into the fall with more than four defensive tackles.

Clemson might have to move others but there are limited options. Da’Quan Bowers is powerful enough to handle some snaps inside but will they make that move? Kevin Alexander, Kourtnei Brown, Andre Branch, Drew Traylor and Brandon Clear are not big enough to move inside from their defensive end positions. Ricky Sapp looks more like a linebacker than a defensive tackle. I am not sure anyone on the offensive line is athletic enough to make the move. Could a 3-4 look benefit this defense?

This is the reason why you have to sign big bodies every year and the last two seasons Clemson has not recruited enough defensive tackles.

I have depth concerns at wide receiver as well but Clemson has signed four wide outs in the last two years and only one defensive tackle. Plus Marquan Jones, Xavier Dye, Jaron Brown and Bryce McNeal will fine in well for the departed Tigers.

I would also be concerned about depth at offensive tackle because the staff needs to find a third tackle. Chris Hairston and Landon Walker will continue to start but I don’t think Corey Lambert or Jamal Medlin are capable backups. I do think J,K, Jay will develop in to an excellent tackle very soon.

The Tigers are having to replace two safeties and may move Marcus Gilchrist and DeAndre McDaniel there full time plus Clemson has signed five safeties the last two years.

In looking forward, it is imperative that the staff sign at least two cornerbacks this season because they have signed just one in the past two years.

These are concerns in every program in America. The roster turns over so frequently and there is attrition in every program in the country. It just happens that Clemson’s seem to be at defensive tackle next season so cross your fingers and hope for no injuries to Jenkins and Thompson.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Sandy Wright, Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, Ronnie Queen, Edward Putman, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Anna Rawl, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm.