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Friday September 18, 2009

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.

Mick,
I value your opinion on certain items, and although I disagree sometimes it’s nice to get another view. A few questions I have from the GT game and was wanting some feedback.

1. Have you ever seen a defense that defends the option with the end taking the dive man. I thought Daquan just missed his assignment on the first td, but if you watched the game, he constantly took the dive man. I always thought the ends job was to hammer the QB every time he came your way. Although I don’t agree with the way they did it, the D played pretty good as a whole.

2. Another defense question. It seems like we always have good hitters but not good finishers. By this I mean wrapping up and not giving up 5 more yards after initial contact. This seems to be a problem at Clemson the last few years.

3. We all know our O line is a weakness, and will be until they prove they can man up and get those tough yards, but since this has been a problem the last few years, when does the coach of that position start getting some criticism and maybe even a change. This is one area I wish we would’ve cleaned house.

4. Regarding question three, since we can’t get the tough yard, why every time we need that one yard do we bring everyone in the box and everyone knows what’s coming. Why not help the O line by spreading things out and running out of the spread. There’s a lot of ways to get a yard out of this formation, but only one way in the other and right now we can’t get it that way. Thanks for the feedback and I’ll see ya in the valley this Saturday.

PS. Your right, they moved the game, now people are moaning about no TV. Some Clemson people will never be satisfied. Play’em at 8 am and I’ll be there.
Ivatiger

Ivatiger,
Thanks for the e-mail.
1. In most defensive schemes I have seen, the defensive end is usually not responsible for the dive guy. I think the long touchdown run by Allen was a result of that. I am not sure who was responsible for the dive on most of the assignments but the defensive tackles did a great job against Dwyer and the dive.

2. I would agree for the most part. Getting the ball carrier to the ground is the main goal but I do like to see big hits because they send messages. I would also agree that Clemson has not been a great tackling football team in the past few seasons.

3. Danny Pearman is in his first year as the tackles and tight end coach. I think Brad Scott gets some criticism because he has been here longer. I do believe this offensive line will improve or Scott will face heavier criticism at the end of the season.

4. I agree that there are a couple of ways to convert in short yardage situations and would not be opposed to see more formations. Sometimes though, it just comes down to execution and not scheme.

Mickey,
Your Monday blog pointed out something on which I would like your comment, and that is the red zone and short yardage offense. You pointed out that 6 of the Tiger's 7 touchdowns this year were fron 33 or more yards out - I'll take the long plays, but red zone touchdowns are needed too. One touchdown against GT instead of a field goal could have made the difference.

In the GT game, there were several trips in the red zone without touchdowns and resulting in field goals. Several of the running plays were Spiller between the tackles. In short yardage situations that does not always work. Sure Spiller is a great back and great runner, but sometimes more "beef" is needed. Why not use Harper or Taylor more between the tackles on short yardage in the red zone?

Also, that brings into question the line. A great line can make a bad back look great, and a bad line can made a great back look bad. We should have both, great backs (which we do) and a great line. Is the line the problem?

Thanks,
JF

JF,
Clemson only had the ball once inside the red zone when they did not score a touchdown. They were in the red zone twice and scored one touchdown and one field goal I do think Harper might be a better option than Taylor. I think Taylor is more powerful but Harper has more explosion. I would look for Harper to play more in the red zone.

The staff says that four of the five offensive linemen played better at Tech. Lambert was the one that did not play well and he has been replaced as a starter.

Mickey,

I saw where Brandon Willis and Corey Miller both committed to Tennessee last weekend. Since Lattimore is not interested in Clemson, are the coaching staff at Byrnes is mad at Clemson, and are they directing their players away from Clemson?
David

David,
I don’t know of any issues between the staff at Byrnes and Clemson. I don’t think the staff at Byrnes is purposely sending kids away from Clemson. They recruited Willis and Lattimore hard but both are not interested. It happens that way sometime. It would also help if some of the former Byrnes players would have turned out to be better players. Who would have thought that Chad Diehl would have been the most productive player from Byrnes?

Mickey,
Please don't compare this year's team to that God Awful mess in 1992......one of the most pathetic Clemson teams I have EVER seen and I mean worse than that bunch in 1998....We shall see what happens Saturday against BC but what I saw after 24-0 down showed me something not only in the team but the staff.....who knew we were allowed to make coaching adjustments that WORK!?!?!?! But please refrain from comparing ANY future Clemson teams to ANY Ken Hatfield era team unless it is the 1990 team. But of course that wasn't Kenny's team, that was STILL Danny Ford's team! For goodness sakes Helen Keller could have done more with that team than Hatfield did so no more references to Hatfield era teams.

Steve

Steve,
I did not compare this team to the 1992 team. I said I have seen Clemson teams go in both directions after tough early losses. It will be interesting to see what this team does but no one knows for sure until it happens. I did not say this team was going to go either direction but said I have seen examples of both in the past and chose to use the 1977 team and the 1992 team as examples.

Mickey,

Just wanted to say thanks for allowing a prayer list on tigernet. I serve as student pastor in Clinton, SC and our church is really pushing the biblical teaching of intercessory prayer. I believe it works! I am thankful for your openness to it and if it’s ok, I commit to praying for you and your family. May God bless you and keep you. Thanks again and GOOO TIGERS!!!!

Justin

Justin,
Thanks for the very kind e-mail. I appreciate your prayers and support. Go Tigers!

Mickey,
We saw all spring and in fall camp and emphasis on giving the ball to Rendrick Taylor in goal line and short yardage situations. Why do you think we have not seen any of that in the first two games?
Craig

Craig,
They gave it to Taylor in the Middle Tennessee game and it worked. Clemson had two trips inside the red zone against Tech and scored one touchdown and kicked one field goal. I think Taylor is a good option there but he still needs a little blocking.

Mickey,

Obviously I was highly disappointed in the game to come back from that deficit take the lead late and then lose was a heartbreaker. Here are some things I noticed during the game and I was hoping you would just comment on them.

1. Kyle Parker has a cannon there’s no denying that, but his accuracy seems to be seriously lacking. On the touchdown to Allen it was low and behind him, on the touchdown to Ford it was short and to his left, on the interception again short and left, I believe it was Ashe who made a great catch on a ball low and behind him. I can only think of a couple balls where he actually hit the receiver in the route or in stride, do you think we will see that improve over the course of the year? Do you think this could be contributing to the receivers dropping balls?

2. At times the O-line was getting killed particularly Lambert trying to block the D-end, and at other times they seemed to get a decent push and I even saw them throw a few guys to the ground and make some great blocks. I think as the line went the game went last night we made a run because the line manned up. Do you think we are going to see that up and down inconsistency throughout games from the line all year?

3. Special teams was bad last night, yes Jackson made a couple field goals that’s the high point but the pooch punt was the worst execution imaginable. Coverage wasn't that good at times and our punting the rest of the night I thought was very poor Zimmerman only averaged like 31 yards per punt, you don't win field position battles that way. We talk about it every offseason and things don't seem to change so why can't we get it together on special teams?
4. I really thought the game was over at 21-0 and in years past I feel certain it would have been. But the way the team fought back last night was the most promising thing I have seen from Clemson football in years. I think that Dabo's fire, passion, and motivational ability were evident in that comeback, just wish we played that way the whole game.

Richard

Richard,
Thanks for the e-mail.
1. I agree that Parker has a strong arm. In baseball terms, he has a plus-plus arm. I have had little problem from an accuracy standpoint so far. I do think he will continue to improve each week.

2. I am an optimist but I think the offensive line will play better each week as well. I can see the line struggling at times but an overall improvement is anticipated.

3. Special teams was very good in week one but had issues in week two. I was disappointed in the punting. I thought Zimmerman had a great game against MTSU but did not look the same against GT.

4. Dabo is a positive guy and motivation won’t be an issue. Clemson may lose games but they will play hard every week under this staff.

Mickey,

Coaches are held accountable if they lose, and they will eventually find themselves unemployed if they lose too much. Two years in a row Clemson has had a terrible holding call go against them at a very crucial time of the game that helped cost them the win. Two questions:

1. Are officials held accountable for bad calls that cost teams games?

2. Was the official that made the call last night against Clemson the same guy that did it last year when Clemson lost to Georgia Tech?

Finally a comment. Yes, I know that we can point to hundred other things that Clemson could have done, should have done, etc. that cost them the game. But why does a referee call holding unless there is an obvious hold. On both this year's play and last year's play, neither were holding.

David

David,
Thanks for the e-mail. Yes to both of your questions. Officials are reviewed each week and are held accountable but their evaluation is not made public. The umpire was a named Worrell and he was the same umpire last year.

The only good point I have on this subject is this:
If the football cliché that you can call holding on every play is correct, then on the times you do call holding then you better be sure it was holding.

Mickey:

What can you tell us about Kyle Bunn's departure? What can be done (or should have been done) to prevent this? Is it a simple matter of money, or are there other underlying reasons?

Old Green Tom

Old Tom Green,
Bunn left to take over as the first assistant at Alabama so that was a promotion. He also received a raise of at least $40,000 a year so that is a promotion. With that said, Leggett has fought for more support but he has not gotten it. We continue to not show our coaches full support. Our university is not “All In” in support of our athletic department. Our athletic director is not “All In” in support of his coaches. This is a major reason why our athletic department is in bad shape. We don’t win championships. We don’t have a leader who inspires the department. We don’t have passionate leadership in the department. They don’t like that being talked about but the results and the morale are all you need to know. Look at our results in our sports over the past few years. Look at the results of our fall sports teams so far this season. Look at our results against our arch-rival so far this fall. Almost every coach at Clemson knows it. Almost every athletic department employee knows it. They see a lack of passion in the leadership.

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, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), 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, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock.

Posted by Mickey Plyler @ 11:50 AM EDT [ Comments [7] ]