Tommy Bowden's Tuesday Press Conference

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Tue Oct 17 11:20:51 GMT-04:00 2006

Tommy Bowden Press Conference, Windows Media, (29:53)

Quotes

On Georgia Tech's wide receiver Calvin Johnson:

"The biggest thing is his height, speed, and size. You don't see a lot of receivers that big. He's a top-five or top-10 first-round draft pick, and you expect him to make some plays. He's a game-changer and momentum-changer. I think the Virginia Tech game showed that. I think Patrick Nix (Georgia Tech offensive coordinator) has done a good job this year getting him the ball, and putting him in different positions and creating formations that can get him open. I think he has been more of a factor this year than he was last year at least statistically."

On Georgia Tech's quarterback Reggie Ball:

"He's a seasoned veteran. There's not much you can throw at him that will rattle him. You have to account for him as a running back, and rush lanes and discipline as far as containment. He presents a problem. He's making good decisions, and he's a big reason for their success."

On ESPN College GameDay coming to Clemson:

"This is a game that is easy to motivate. Our motivation is not going to be a factor, where as Temple you've got to find creative ways to motivate. Georgia Tech is a team where this won't be a problem. Execution won't be a problem. As far as GameDay coming, that's why guys go to college at schools like this, to have the opportunity to play a game of this magnitude. I wish we can do it more, and hopefully we can in the future. I think they will be very excited. I think it's a win-win for Clemson and ESPN."

On the game against Georgia Tech:

"We had four turnovers last year. We're fourth in the conference in turnover ratio and they're (Georgia Tech) first. They're turning it over less than us. In a game like this that is expected to be close, several things will be a key factor. The kicking game, inability to rush, and of course turnovers can be a difference in a field goal, which could be the difference in the game."

On Georgia Tech's defense:

"A lot of teams are multiple front, but they're multiple front and multiple pressure. The ones that play multiple front usually don't play multiple pressure. They're not a real big team, but they're very quick and very agile. Our offensive linemen will have to catch movement. Something always will be coming at them from somewhere. They're not stationary targets. They're a gap-controlled, pressure defense, and that is unusual. We haven't played anyone with the percentage of time that they blitz. It's practically every single play that five are coming. Jon Tenuta (defensive coordinator) has a great track record."

On James Davis on picking up on blitzes:

"It is going to be very important (that he picks up on blitzes). He has improved a lot. This will be his biggest test because of the multiple fronts he will see. The different fronts will give him different reads, so he's made great progress, but again this will be a great challenge for him, Reggie (Merriweather), and C.J. (Spiller)."

On the recruiting of Atlanta native James Davis:

"It had been tough to convince a back that we were dedicated to running the football. We made a change, and we hired a guy (Rob Spence) who had a background in that (running the football). We recruited him under the pretense that he would be at the right place at the right time. Thank goodness he bought into it, because he was a quality back, and he was here at the right time. We made the commitment and we had the system, and the rest is history for him. I've been amazed at how well he has handled the success. He's really done well. He's a good student, and he's does things he's suppose to off the field. He's a good leader."

On balanced offense:

"I've mentioned before that my preference would be 60 to 70 percent run to pass with run being the 60 to 70 percent. We're probably getting close to that. Anytime you're ahead, then your rushing numbers are going to be bigger, but when we can run against good people, then that is important. We've been able to do that. The Boston College game is a good indicator of when we had to throw. Will (Proctor) threw for 343 yards. The way defense plays, you have to be able to run and throw. It helps when you're balanced. Georgia Tech and we are very similar if you look at the statistics."

Quick Notes from Tommy Bowden's Tuesday's Press Conference previewing the Georgia Tech game:

- Reggie Ball: Have to keep rush lanes. Can't let him get outside and make plays with his feet. Have to keep him contained.

- This is a game that's easy to motivate. Temple, La. Tech, maybe you have to find some creative ways to motivate. That won't be a problem this week. Execution will be a problem.

- GameDay: Entertaining for the fans. Win-win for Clemson and win-win for ESPN.

- Turnovers vs. Tech last year: We're fourth in the conference in turnover ratio and they're first. Turnovers could be a difference in a field goal, which could be the difference in the game. We've talked about it with the team.

- Comfort level with the kicking game is getting a lot better. It's something we can recapture. We've shown signs of that.

- Tech defense: A lot of teams are multiple front. They're multiple front and multiple pressure. They're not real big. One defensive lineman over 280 pounds. They're not stationary targets that play technique. Their defensive coordinator has a great track record.

- They'll do mostly five-man pressure. But they'll bring it from a lot of different places. Very unusual.

- Very important for James Davis to pick up blitz. Reggie and C.J. too. This will be a big challenge for them.

- Offensive balance: My preference would be 60-70 percent run to pass. When you can run it against good people that's very important. We've been able to do that. The way defenses play you, though, you have to be able to do both. It helps when you're balanced, but it also helps when a defense chooses to take something away you can go ahead with the other part of your offense.

- Calvin Johnson: Tough to duplicate what he does in practice, especially the deep balls and jump balls.

- We've played nobody who blitzes as much at Georgia Tech does. Virtually every play they're bringing five man pressure.

- The philosophy of one game at a time, playing up to your potential, that's the biggest thing we've accomplished this year. Try to be better than last week. Try to get better every day in practice. We have a lot of seniors, and I think it's filtered down.

- We're already bowl eligible, so that's not an issue. All the goals we set at the beginning of the year are still on the table. All of them. But only if we win the next game. Helps give us a high level of concentration.

- Don't think we're going to be too hyped for this game.

- This rivalry: Because neither one of us has been ultra successful it hasn't reached the national spotlight. If both continue to win it can go national. Right now it's more regional.

- Being in spotlight: Now we have to get consistency, year after year. That's the trick.

- You're always coaching at schools like this to keep your job. The stock is higher at this point in time this year. But there's no more pressure. The pressure comes from unemployment, and that's every year, every game.

- Team's mindset: Wish I could say it was a reflection of my personality, but I think it's more of the players. I wish it did reflect more on me personally, then I might get a raise and a new contract and things like that (laughs).

- Tremaine Bille: Has declared he's going to redshirt.