CLEMSON FOOTBALL

The 2013 season has chance to be special, but don't forget about 2014

The 2013 season has chance to be special, but don't forget about 2014


by - Senior Writer -

The Clemson Tigers are built to make a run at a championship in 2013, but might also be poised for a repeat run in 2014.

Clemson fans are familiar with senior quarterback Tajh Boyd, talented junior Sammy Watkins and an ever evolving offensive line. The defense showed signs of improvement in the bowl win over LSU, and defensive coordinator Brent Venables has stated that he has seen even more improvement this spring.

I’ve had more than one person tell me that “2013 is Clemson’s year to make a run, because we’ll take a step back in 2014.”

Yes, the Tigers will lose the services of Boyd, kicker Chandler Catanzaro and senior running back Rod McDowell and possibly Watkins. Yes, the defense will lose a few key players. But this will be a team in 2014 that will return a bevy of talented players, players that will also have the added experience of 2013 and whatever possibilities this season holds.

First off, let’s take a look at what will be lost – to graduation - on the offense:

*QB Tajh Boyd and backup Donny McElveen; RB Rod McDowell; WR Julian Patton; K Chandler Catanzaro; FB Darrell Smith; LS Phillip Fajgenbaum; RG Tyler Shatley; LT Brandon Thomas; OG Darrell Brevard.

That does not include wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who will likely be high on the NFL draft boards next spring and could decide to forego his final season of eligibility.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers lose even fewer players:

*DB Darius Robinson; DB C.J. Jones; LB Spencer Shuey; LB Quandon Christian; DE Zach Fulmer.

Defensively, the Tigers will lose just three players that are likely to see significant snaps in 2013 in Robinson, Shuey and Christian. That’s right, Clemson’s entire talented defensive line will be back in 2014 unless someone like defensive tackle Josh Watson or defensive end Corey Crawford has the kind of breakout season that has NFL scouts drooling.

Offensively, of course, the challenge will be in replacing Boyd and perhaps Watkins. I happen to believe that one of the freshman running backs – either Tyshone Dye or Wayne Gallman – will come in this season and earn significant carries and will help bolster a backfield that will also return Zac Brooks and D.J. Howard.

The receiving corps will be in good shape with the continued emergence of players like Germone Hopper, Charone Peake and Martavis Bryant. The team is building depth on the offensive line, even though the loss of Shatley and Thomas will sting.

To make a long story short – if the Tigers can find the heir apparent to Boyd in either Stoudt, Kelly or even incoming freshman Deshaun Watson and can find replacements for the two linemen, the offense won’t miss too much of a beat. And with a defense that should continue to get better and better, Morris’ offense won’t have to score 40 points a game just to get a victory.

Defensively, the Tigers are beginning to build depth and should be able to handle the loss of Shuey, Christian and Robinson, leaving the big question mark for 2014 in the kicking game.

Will Ammon Lakip make it back to the team this fall? Can kickoff specialist and punter Bradley Pinion handle the job for one season? Or will the coaching staff go out and get a kicker this next signing period?

Whatever happens, don’t write off what will be a talented, more-experienced and solid Clemson team in 2014. Next season might indeed be the year, but 2014 won’t be far behind, and that is what good programs do. They don’t rebuild, they simply reload.

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Post your comments!
Subject (Replies: 34) Author
spacer Front Page Story: The 2013 season has chance to be special, but don't forget about 2014
TigerNet News®
spacer sure our D looked decent against lsu..
tgrfan42069
spacer Re: sure our D looked decent against lsu..
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer they did look good in that last game no doubt..
tgrfan42069
spacer Re: they did look good in that last game no doubt..
martelapts
spacer I mean...
skiddymarkson
spacer I think you make an excellent point
AllTimeClemson
spacer Why look forward to this season
CU2013
spacer Don't look ahead
kpttiger®
spacer ONE game at a time!***
Clemson_Orange
spacer And if we lose Morris....
BentZero
spacer Notice your article doesn't brace us for losing Chad Morris.
ArmyRanger28®
spacer Losing Chad Morris.....
Tiger8693
spacer Here we go again,,,Wait till next year
sspassport®
spacer They weren't saying it after an 11 win season...
kiggity
spacer But they were after losing to us 4 years in a row.***
Wosco
spacer Wait til next year!***
GWPTiger®
spacer I honestly don't see how 2014 will be as strong - don't.....
Tiger77
spacer Re: I honestly don't see how 2014 will be as strong - don't.....
CharlieHarper
spacer Re: I honestly don't see how 2014 will be as strong - don't.....
apextiger
spacer Re: I honestly don't see how 2014 will be as strong - don't.....
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Similar to Vols winning a MNC with T Martin at QB
Tiger95
spacer QB is way to important in the grand scheme of things
truetiger1998
spacer Re: QB is way to important in the grand scheme of things
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: Front Page Story: The 2013 season has chance to be special, but don't forget about 2014
eddyknows
spacer Good article! But doubtful Morris returns. That's critical***
Razzmatazz
spacer I don't take this article to say wait til 2014, overlooking
tigerfan28173
spacer Just my input...
Prime T. Tiger
spacer Some of you need to learn how to comprehend
Bryanttiger®
spacer Re: Some of you need to learn how to comprehend
oldschtiger70
spacer Some of you need....
Prime T. Tiger
spacer can we just ####### worry about 2013 first ???? GO TIGERS
FLTiger87
spacer I think we will be fantastic in 2014
tigerforlife28®
spacer 2013 FIRST!!!!
ALLIN4CU®
spacer 2013 FIRST!!!!
ALLIN4CU®