Wednesday January 18, 2012

The 2012 Defense

The 2012 Defense
At Oklahoma Brent Venables has had some great defenses but he is used to working with players like Teddy Lehman, Rocky Calmus and Derrick Straits.

At Miami Randy Shannon had players like the Blades boys, Ed Reed and Sean Taylor.

If it is Venables, Shannon or whoever the new defensive coordinator will be at Clemson, he will have a bunch of questions to be answered in terms of personnel.

Clemson will have to replace three starting defensive linemen and a corner back that has been invited to the NFL combine.

Malliciah Goodman and Corey Crawford had solid years at defensive end and should be counted on as a strength of the defense next season but they must stay healthy because there is depth concerns behind them. Vic Beasley is at his third position at Clemson and while he is only a sophomore, it is time that he makes an impact somewhere. If he can continue to add strength and size then he may develop as a pass rusher. Roderick Byers will have a big opportunity this spring as a back up defensive end as well. We might could see Spencer Shuey move from linebacker to defensive end to add depth here also. Outside of those two guys the rest of the defensive ends are newcomers. Shaq Lawson and Martin Aiken are highly regarded but I am not sure if either will be ready for the college game next season so depth at defensive end is a major concern.

The Tiger will have to replace both starting defensive tackles. Tyler Shatley is the most experienced and is solid but not spectacular and could be one starter. DeShawn Williams had a good true freshman season and might have the inside track on the other job heading into spring. Tavaris Barnes was highly recruited but he has been inconsistent in his development so far. Grady Jarrett got some snaps as a true freshmen and he will have a chance to impress this spring. If Josh Watson and Tra Thomas haven't played a lot yet and need to start impressing before the freshmen arrive. Red-shirt freshman Jerome Maybanks is a huge prospect with good feet that could develop into a contributor with his first chance to make an impression this spring. The Tigers will have Kevin Dodd in this spring and the mid-year enrollee will get his first taste of D-I football. In the summer they will add Josh Brown and highly regarded Carlos Watkins. It is rare but the staff could have to count on a true freshman for major snaps. In summary, defensive tackle is the biggest concern coming into next season.

The new defensive coordinator will most likely be the linebacker coach as well. The new coach will have some talent and depth but experience is more of an issue here. Corico Hawkins improved in his junior season and has experience at MIKE but many believe Stephone Anthony's experience as a true freshman will help the former five-star recruit to take over the position.

At the WILL spot Tig Willard had a solid junior campaign as well. He could be pushed this spring if red-shirt freshman B.J. Goodson is as good as the staff believes and next fall if former five-star Tony Steward can recover from an ACL injury.

At the SAM spot Quandon Christian did not have the impact as a sophomore that we had hoped for in the spring but he also did not play a lot of snaps because of the nickel and dime defenses Clemson used. Lateek Townsend avoided a red-shirt year and played on special teams as a true freshman and impressed. His role could increase this spring. Justin Parker had a great spring last year but that did not roll over into the fall and Parker saw little action as a sophomore.

In summary at linebacker, there is depth here and some ability but inexperience will great the new linebacker coach. He will have to get his guys improving in their cover skills in order to make an impact also.

The new defensive coordinator will get a more experienced group in the secondary. Rashard Hall will miss the spring with knee surgery but he is a rising senior and a player who has seen a bunch of time so far. Jonathan Meeks was a mystery in the fall. He was raved about by the staff i the spring but was inconsistent in the fall. Robert Smith avoided a red-shirt year and played some early but faded as the year progressed. You could see Xavier Brewer playing more safety than corner next year as is the case for red-shirt former four-star Cortez Davis.

If Davis or four-star freshman Travis Blanks works out at corner you could also see Baushad Breeland moving back to safety.

Besides Breeland, Brewer and Blanks at corner the Tigers also have experience with Darius Robinson and Martin Jenkins. Both are undersized but have played early in their careers. Garry Peters is a former four-star that did not see the field a lot as a red-shirt freshman a year ago.

Other than Blanks, Clemson adds three safeties to the mix in Ronald Geohagen, Cordrea Tankersly and Marty Williams. All three cold have a chance at safety because of depth concerns.

In summary for the secondary, the new defensive coordinator will be getting a group than has experience but talent is a concern. The former four-stars have to develop and the newcomers like Davis and Blanks could be a big upgrade here.

The point is that Brent Venables, Randy Shannon or whoever the new defensive coordinator is will have some talent and depth issues to deal with starting this spring.

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Those who need our prayers include:Finn Brookover, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie and motivateLocke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Mary Priester, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Randy Anderson, Lillian, Matt Hogan, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, Nancy Taylor, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, Tricia Hood, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Nancy Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Jimmy Head, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jack Bailey, Jake David family, Janice Thompson, Angie Crowley, Rachel Graves, Ira, Elsie Taylor, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister.