Friday December 11, 2009

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.

Mickey,
In looking over the depth chart for next year, I wonder why we haven't gone hard after a top flight JC linebacker. It looks like someone could come in and claim a starting spot pretty easy and I'd be surprised if there was not someone in the JC ranks better than a rookie. I know we typically don't take JC types, but we desperately need LB help next year or the defense will have the same issues we do today. Who do you see as starters next year?

John

John,
You should be concerned about the linebackers again next year. Clemson has had a difficult time recruiting linebackers in recent years. Part of the reason was the Tigers played a nickel package so much under Vic Koenning. They called Billie and McDaniel SAM linebackers but they were safeties or nickel backs. Other schools used this against Clemson in recruiting. Steele wants bigger linebackers but it was a bad year in the recruiting territories for the position. I don’t think JUCO is the way to go in most cases though. In many cases the JUCO players don’t pan out. Next year I see all three positions opened up for competition. I would think some combination of Tig Willard, Corrico Hawkins, Brandon Maye, Quandon Christian and Scotty Cooper would be the starters. Spencer Shuey should get a look and playing time at the MLB. I don’t think Rollins has much of a chance at this point. I would also look for someone to move to the position. Maybe they could move Kourtnei Brown there like they did with Alexander this season.

Mickey,
Let me start by saying I believe in free speech, but it doesn’t mean that TigerNet or any other site owes you a place to spout. I believe that TDP and Barker could do a better job overall. I believe that our coaches are sometimes wrong and players perform poorly at times. I also recognize that Tiger Net is a business enterprise trying to make a buck. No problem. However, if the people behind TigerNet – I assume you Mickey are simply a content provider – truly care about the Clemson Tigers (pick your sport or department), it sure would be nice to see “Tiger Board” turned off and taken off the site completely. TigerNet has become a Clemson site on its best days and a Clemson haters site – it seems – on other days. It needs to be cleaned up for Clemson’s sake. Is anyone at TigerNet up for this challenge? Do they care? Keep the left-hand side of the page, but cut out the cancerous growth over on the right.

Peace.
Bobby

Bobby,
I agree with most of your comments. I do think that most rational people understand that internet message boards are not a representation of the fan base for any team. This is not a Clemson issue though. This happens everywhere. I go to a lot of websites for content for my radio show and I can tell you this happens at almost every college and pro site. We know about it in our market but it happens everywhere. The only thing I would change is to take the anonymity out of it. I think some of the clowns out there would be a lot less brave or brash. If people had to put their real names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses then it might deter some of the garbage. I think everyone is entitled to their opinion and I enjoy reading some opinions but so often the clowns take away from good content with their childish remarks or attempts at humor.

Mickey,
Why didn’t Clemson go to one deep safety and put 8 men in the box and blitz the heck out of Ga Tech? What I saw was the Ends pinching in on the Dive back leaving one LB and one CB (who was frequently blocked) to handle the QB and TB wide. I thought that the end should hit the QB every play, leave the dive man to the DTs and Mike LB with SS support and blitz the heck out of them every play, making them throw it. With the SS up, Clemson could have outnumbered them at the point of attack.

George

George,
I think you make valid points. I think the way to stop any offense is to get off of blocks so technique was just as big of a problem as scheme. Also, I think you have to change your defenses often because if you become predictable then the offense can change its blocking scheme. I have talked to a few coaches who are not at Clemson but what they saw was what you explained but only on one side of the field. The other side they played a different scheme. I do think they should have walked another player up in the box and should have played more of an odd man front to take away some of the midline option. In the end, nothing Clemson did worked and I think they have to re-evaluate the plan for next season. Also, personnel has something to do with it and Clemson’s linebackers must improve in 2010.

Mickey

Sincerely
Rick

Rick,
Please feel free to rant anytime. I don’t blame you for feeling frustrated because a lot of us are as well. There is some accountability in officiating but more is needed. It seems like politics of sports becomes more of an issue when my team does not benefit. Amazing, huh? Lets you and I throw in our resumes for college football czar and fix this mess.

Mickey,
I check /read Tigernet several times a week. I am a third generation Clemson grad and have attended football games since 1976 when I was 7 yrs old. I remember Coach Pell, I went to the Orange Bowl in 1982, I suffered through the Hatfield/West years... tolerated the Tommy Bowden years and finally have the greatest hope for our football team in many years!
I was wondering if you could address in your blog the good points about this year. It is Dabo's first year as a coach with his coaching staff... getting us to the championship game was huge.. who would have guessed that a year ago? This team has a ton to build on and I think a lot of people are not focused on that yet. I heard Dabo on ESPN Sunday night after the bowl announcements.. he sounded so down and out... I know he is heartbroken, but he has to realize he did in 1 year what Tommy could not do in 10.

Philip

Philip,
Thanks for the e-mail. After the season is over I want to write a blog about this team and what it accomplished. To answer your questions:
1. I think they have politicked in the past some and it has worked. To be blatantly honest though I think the athletic department has lost something in the leadership and passion. A lot of us don’t see passionate leadership there anymore.
2. Clemson has not been invited to the SEC but the current administration could not do “business” like an SEC school. Sports are more important at SEC schools. Our people can say they are not because it makes them look bad but the actions speak for themselves. Look at the money the SEC makes and spends. They go out of their way to make it work at these schools but our people create adversarial relationships often. They support their coaches in most cases and that certainly does not happen here.
3. I think Clemson needs to look to improve in every aspect of its football program. Talent, recruiting, player development, coaching, conditioning, etc.

Mickey,

Billy

Billy,
I think you made some terrific points about the season and expectations. You are also right about watching a season and its ebbs and flows. Momentum and confidence are fascinating aspects of a season especially one as long as the college football season has become. Good e-mail.

Mickey,

Why does Clemson not reject the bowl bid and stay home this year? You would have to pay me money to go watch that game rather than for me to pay money to go watch it. This is a lose-lose situation for Clemson? The players will not be motivated to play in this game, and it will be another humiliating loss to an SEC team? Are we not allowed to turn down bowl bids?
David

David,
I think competitive people want to compete and never turn down an opportunity to compete. I also would not wait on any checks from anyone paying you to go to any football game anytime soon. I think the players will be motivated and look for a different outcome than you.

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, Kaitlyn L, 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, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family.