Monday June 15, 2009

What Will The Defense Look Like?

What Will The Defense Look Like?
Before I get into today’s blog, I want to thank the well wishers about my back. It is getting better and I hope I will be pain free later this week.

Anyway, in our last blog we looked at what the offense will look like in 2009. Today I wanted to do the same for the defense.

Clemson’s defense has been pretty steady as the Tigers have held the opponents to under 21 points per game in each of the last six seasons.

Consistency has also been a strength of the defenses in recent years. The stats have been remarkably consistent. The Tigers have given up around 300 yards per game in each of the last four seasons ranging from 281 yards per game in 2006 to 317 yards per game in 2005. Clemson has allowed between 103 and 127 yards rushing per game in each of the four seasons and have not allowed over 200 yards passing per game since 2003.

Two figures that need improvement come in terms of aggression. Clemson has seen a steady decline in the number of sacks over the last four seasons. In 2004 they had 42 sacks. That number dropped to 34 in 2005, 35 in 2006, 27 in 2007 and a low of 14 last season. It is hard to imagine having a defensive line of Ricky Sapp, Da’Quan Bowers, Dorell Scott, Rashaad Jackson, Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Thompson, etc and having only 14 sacks in 13 games. Injuries played a factor with some of the defensive linemen but Clemson was last in the league in sacks last season. North Carolina was 11th in the league in sacks but they had eight more than the Tigers.

Also turnovers will have to increase with the new defense. As the Tigers turn to more of an aggressive nature, I would think this would turn into more turnovers. Clemson was sixth in the league in forcing turnovers with 28 in 13 games. The Tigers were one of only four ACC teams to have more turnovers than they forced.

So can the Tigers maintain their steadiness they displayed with the conservative style under Vic Koenning and while creating more sacks and turnovers with a more of an aggressive plan under Kevin Steele?

This staff feels very good about two-thirds of the defense. They really like the defensive line and secondary but have question marks at linebacker.

The defensive line loses Scott, Jackson and Murchison but returns depth and talent. Jenkins and Thompson are two of the best defensive tackles in the league. North Carolina likes their pair of Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas but I am not sure Clemson’s staff would trade their starting pair for any two in the ACC this season. I am a little concerned about depth at defensive tackle but feel pretty comfortable with Jamie Cumbie, Miguel Chavis and Rennie Moore.

The defense end position could be among the best in the country if Sapp comes back to 100% by the fall. Bowers will have to be more consistent but he has a chance to be special. Kevin Alexander, Andre Branch, Kourtnei Brown and Malliciah Goodman could start in many ACC programs.

Much the front, the secondary is deep and talented, at least in three spots. Chris Chancellor, Crezdon Butler, Byron Maxwell and Marcus Gilchrist are among the best corners in the league. The staff also feels DeAndre McDaniel could develop into an All-ACC performer at one safety. Who knows if Sadat Chambers, Rashard Hall or Spencer Adams can handle the other safety spot at this point.

Actually at linebacker I think the Tigers are stable but not spectacular. Brandon Maye will continue to develop at the middle linebacker spot and Kavell Conner is steady at the weakside linebacker. I am very concerned about the strong side linebacker and depth across the board at all three linebacker positions.

Heading into fall camp I think we could see two position moves to shore up the two glaring holes on defense. It would not surprise me to see Marcus Gilchrist get time at the safety position opposite of DeAndre McDaniel. Byron Maxwell might get a look too but at this time Gilchrist would be a better bet.

The other move might be more of a reach but at this point I am not sure the staff will leave Ricky Sapp at his current position. There has been some talk of seeing how Sapp would play in space and moving him to linebacker.

Both moves make sense on two fronts. First, the Tigers are deep enough at corner and defensive end to afford the moves. Also the moves get the best players on the field and could turn areas of concern into strengths.

The drawbacks include inexperience at the positions by the players and the fact that Sapp is recovering from knee surgery and still trying to learn a new system at his old position.

At any rate, I look for the defense to be much more aggressive in 2009. The previous defenses have allowed long drives by the opponent and the Tigers actually lost the time of possession battle last season. Dabo is more aggressive than Bowden and Steele will be more aggressive than Koenning.

I have always felt a team takes on the personality of its head coach and if this is the case look for this defense to play with more fire and more aggression. Dabo wants this unit to control the tempo and set the tone. This will be done by mixing coverage more often and more man-to-man than we have seen in the past. Also we will see more blitz packages and more defenders coming from different angles this season.

Every program has question marks on both sides of the ball entering every season. With the 2009 season approaching I would ask, can you have a great defense without having a dominating group of linebackers?

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Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, 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, William Perry, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness.