Tuesday March 10, 2009

Spring Preview

Spring Preview
First, please forgive me for the omission of the blog yesterday. I have the flu and was closer to writing my obituary than my blog. At any rate, here is a weak, attempt at a comeback.

Monday was the opening of Dabo Swinney’s first spring practice as the head coach of the Tigers. Like most things around the program, everything sounds fresh. Everything has a new, renewed enthusiasm.

I was in the minority in that I did not get tired of Tommy Bowden’s daily press briefings after practice or weekly press conferences. If anyone was around that long it sounds tired when you are not winning. The same stale talk sounds like sound football speak when you are winning though.

Many Clemson fans cringed at Bowden’s words but they never really bothered me. I liked Tommy and sympathized with him having to answer the same old, tired questions for ten years.

Like our country asked for, sometimes change just for change sake is needed.

So Dabo’s words ring new. His energy level is fresh.

Spring ball is usually boring. But three things usually spice up spring and Clemson has all three this spring. First is a new head coach. Anytime a new head coach is involved spring is anything but boring.

The second excitement supplement is new coordinators. New coordinators mean new schemes and players moving up and down the depth chart. Normally few position battles occur in the spring but with new coordinators means open competition at every position.

The last catalyst for excitement for spring football is a competition for the starting quarterback position. Perhaps the single most important position on the field is always interesting news and Clemson has two good ones going at it this spring.

Tomorrow I will look at some other storylines but here are a few things I expect to see from the QBs, RBs and WRs this spring:

Quarterback
1. Is Willy Korn healthy? We had Willy in the studio for our radio show last Friday and he told us he was healthy. However, he said that before and admitted he was not. The fact is that Korn is an unselfish player who never wants to sound like he is making excuses. I say his passes will tell us if he is healthy and I will try to get out there for a few minutes tonight if my flu allows it.

2. Can Kyle Parker handle both sports this spring? It will be difficult but attitude is the key. Parker has the attitude that he belongs on the big stage in both sports. Confidence will not be lacking on his end.

3. Who fits the offense better? I don’t think either guy has a skill set that differs that much from the other. Therefore, I think the winner of the quarterback battle will be the guy who is more efficient. The guy who protects the football and the guy who has the best decisions will be the next QB in Tigertown.

Running Backs
1. Will C.J. Spiller be called upon to do anything this spring? Pictures, autographs and track. Spiller has nothing to prove this spring and injuries are not worth risking. C.J. needs to wear a baseball cap a lot this spring.

2. Is Jamie Harper healthy and back to the form he showed in camp last fall? Last August the staff thought he might have been the best back on campus. He was the big back they were looking for. The ankle injury lingered and affected his entire season. Harper is down to 222 pounds and looks the best he has since he arrived on campus.

3. Can Andre Ellington break into the rotation? Because Spiller will not do a lot this spring, Ellington has a chance to show his stuff. I think he is a star in the waiting. If Spiller gets nicked up this fall or Harper slips then Ellington will jump at the opportunity. I think it is hard playing more than two backs with any flow with the backs but Ellington might be the second best option anyway.

Wide Receivers
1. Can Jacoby Ford transition to the number-one receiver? I have always been a big fan of Ford’s. I have always thought he needed a bigger role in the offense. Therefore I see him having zero issues as the new number-one guy. Ford changes pursuit angles. He makes backside defenders stay at home longer. He is the real deal.

2. Who can be the number two guy? I would look for Marquan Jones, Xavier Dye and Jaron Brown to step up and have a chance at big roles. Jones is super smooth and a terrific route runner. Dye has shown some signs but has had few opportunities. He has a good skill set. Brown has impressed during his red-shirt season and excelled during the All-In drills. He has the work ethic needed to be very successful.

3. Is depth a concern? As long as Ford, Jones, Dye and Brown as good as I think then the Tigers will be OK here. Brandon Clear, Terrence Ashe, Brandon Ford and incoming freshman Bryce McNeal are more than capable as well in terms of adding depth. This is a position where Clemson needs to stay healthy though because inexperience cannot be overcome if players miss time with injuries.

Again, tomorrow I will look at other positions and should have a review of the first two days of spring ball (if I can get out to practice tonight).

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.