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The Good Ball or the Bad Ball?
If you tell me which Reggie Ball shows up Saturday night, I can tell you the outcome of the game. If the good Reggie Ball plays then the game will be extremely tight. If the bad Reggie Ball plays then I like Clemson by double digits. No one has been more inconsistent at quarterback in recent memory at Georgia Tech.

I know numbers do not tell the whole story but Ball’s numbers do not live up to some of his accolades as a passer. Ball is much more dangerous outside of the pocket as a runner. Consider that in his four years as a starter he has never passed for over a 52% completion rate. Ball has not topped the 2,200-yard passing mark in a season. He has 47 career touchdown passes but 46 career interceptions. He is 26-17 as a starter at Tech.

Consider that Ball has only one 300-yard passing game to his credit in his career and only one game this year over 200 yards (205 vs. Virginia). Against Clemson he had the one great game in which he threw four touchdowns but three were great Calvin Johnson catches. The other two games he has played Clemson came at home and he combined to complete 33 of 66 passes for 374 with no touchdowns and two intercpetions.

The Yellow Jacket passing game can hurt Clemson Saturday night but it will be the heroics of Johnson not the accuracy of Ball that makes the passing game go.

Pass Pro
I believe a key to Saturday will be Clemson’s running backs and their protection of Will Proctor. Because Tech zone blitzes on practically every play, Clemson might look to max protect more than usual. The Clemson running backs will have to be very aware of the oncoming blitzers and pick up the defender in the backfield. James Davis is a very good pass protector as is Reggie Merriweather. C.J. Spiller is young and inexperienced when it comes to picking up this complicated scheme.

Future Star?
With adversity comes opportunity. Chansi Stuckey’s foot injury has accelerated the development of Jacoby Ford who in my opinion is a future superstar. We knew Ford had terrific speed but we did not know he was this fast and had this much wiggle. I believe Ford is much more advanced than former Clemson speedster Airese Currie. His contributions include 8 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown and a kick off return for a score. He has made several key stops on the kick off return team also. I believe as he gets bigger and stronger, Ford could develop into one of the best speed threats in Clemson history. There are very few true freshmen in Tiger history that have shown more potential at wide receiver.

Great Clemson Sports Weekend
I know many of you are excited about Game Day coming but don’t forget about the other very important things going on campus starting today. Jack Leggett and his club end fall practice this week with the Orange and White scrimmages. Games are set for Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Admission is free. The Clemson men’s basketball team is having a scrimmage on Saturday as well. The game starts at 3:30 and players will be available for autographs and pictures on the Lawn at Littlejohn at 5:45.

Tigeramma will feature two of the great Clemson personalities. The emcees this year are both Clemson graduates, Jane Robelot former CBS Early Show co-anchor and Brian O'Rourke the Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at Clemson University. This marks the 50th anniversary of the event. And finally, I know your kids will enjoy the homecoming displays on Bowman Field. I can’t think of any place I would rather be this weekend and the weather is set to be fabulous.

Billie To Be Senior Leader For Great Tiger Defense
The news this week about linebacker Tremaine Billie deciding to red-shirt means this Clemson defense could be even better next season. The Tigers are fourth in the country in total defense, sixth in rushing defense and pass efficiency defense and 11th in scoring defense this season. The only seniors on the defense are Gaines Adams, Duane Coleman, Sergio Gilliam, Donnell Clark and Brandon Cannon. Anthony Waters is still providing senior leadership also. Next season 31 of 37 scholarship players come back on defense. I believe next year’s defense could look something like this:

Notes: We do not know the status for next year for Etta Etta-Tawo. In this depth chart I have moved Kevin Alexander to Bandit, Byron Maxwell to safety and added the nine defensive commitments. Only seven seniors will be on next year’s defense.

Comments:

Only 7 seniors on next year's two deep, but I've got to think that Clay is a lock to leave early and possibly Hamlin or Scott.

Glad to see that we are replacing talent with talent. The cream of the crop doesn't rebuild when all-americans leave, the just plug in the next guy and go from there.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=10489>MyBloodRunnethOrange</a> on October 19, 2006 at 12:58 PM EDT #

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