Friday Email Bag

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Fri Oct 17 07:36:08 GMT-04:00 2014

Friday Email Bag

Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Mickey,

I hope that you and your family are well and prayers are continued for Ryan daily! I enjoy reading your blogs here on TigerNet because of your opinions and insight that is brought to Tiger Nation. I have read your thoughts on Cole and those of others that question his ability to win games. Now, I'm simply making this statement based on my own personal experiences as well as facts about Cole. Being a former college athlete, I know how important it is, not only to have confidence in yourself, but also confidence from everyone else associated with the program and the fans. You can have all the confidence in the world within yourself but that all can go away with one negative comment. Now don't get me wrong, being a player in college, I fully agree with putting your best player on the field in order to give you the best chance to win. It doesn't matter how long you've been in the program or if you're just a freshman. Deshaun has showed that he can win games for us and is the one that should be starting. But let's agree that Cole is not been given the opportunity to be successful since Deshaun replaced him against FSU. He feels as if the entire Clemson organization has no confidence in him producing victories and that has hindered his play on the field. If all he hears is negative comments then how can we expect anything less from him. Just remember that last season, Cole was the most efficient passer in the country and when he stepped on that field, he played with a swagger because he had confidence in himself and from Clemson. It's a completely different situation when an athlete has complete support of everyone from too to bottom and it shows from his play last year to this year. But Cole is our QB right now whether we like it or not and we need to get behind him 100%. If we, as a supporter of Clemson Football, keep tearing him down then we are just as much to blame for his bad play than he is! It's up to us as fans and supporters to build his confidence through positive reinforcement. Everyone wants to win, including myself, but when I'm having to rely on someone else then that person is going to have my complete support to make him believe that I know I'm going to win because he's in the game. Last year Cole just went out and played the game he loves. This year with all the talk of losing his job, it's caused him to go into panic mode and play tight instead of loose. If Cole hadn't already showed his ability to be effective as QB then it'd be a different story. But it feel that his success is a direct result of the support of everyone involved around him. Thank you again for all you do and Go Tigers!

Best Regards,

TigerFan4Life78

TigerFan4Life78,

I agree with almost everything you said. Confidence is so important. Especially at his position. I do think it is important for Clemson Nation to get behind Stoudt for the next few weeks. However, Stoudt must have confidence in himself even if others don't. He is a high profile player in a high profile program. There is pressure there and when he doesn't perform, people will notice. This is unfair but this is what comes with playing in a program like this. In the end I hope Stoudt can turn people back in his corner and change his legacy a Clemson. We all want the same thing and that is a win.

Mickey,

Well Thank Goodness these players don't succumb to all the negative comments from all the Monday Mornin' QB's that know exactly what it takes to have a successful "team." Their character and determination shine thru while you and the rest of the detractors provide "professional lip service." To paraphrase "If you can't..Talk!"

180 Tiger

180 Tiger,

It is my job to analyze games, players, coaches and administrators. My industry is based upon making judgements on wins and losses. This is harder to do with amateur athletes but it still has to happen. Also the players and coaches that come to programs like Clemson understand this is a high pressure situation. If they didn't want to be analyzed they could have gone to a smaller program and not gotten the scrutiny. Sorry but this is the world we live in now. College football is a big business and is analyzed all over the country.

Mickey,

I think we will find out a good bit about Morris over the next couple of weeks. As Dabo says, we do what we do, but you need to adjust to the personnel. Moreover, Morris needs to adjust and not sure I see that in the play calling, especially last week. We are supposed to take what the defense gives us, but Louisville’s defense seemed to adjust better to our offense than our offense adjusting to their defense. I love what Morris does for us and hope we keep him, but defenses eventually catch up to offenses and my question is, can Morris adjust his system? This is really the first time we have seen Morris with new personnel, so it remains to be seen what Morris will do. We will certainly find out over the next couple of weeks.

Stuart

Stuart,

Morris' job got tougher when Watson went down. There are limitations with the running game. Now there are limitations with the passing game. He will have to be creative and work to Stoudt's strengths and avoid his weaknesses. Morris will definitely have to adjust and he will have to earn his keep the next few weeks.

Hey Mickey love the show,

I had a question I was hoping you could answer in your Friday Mail Bag since I'm sure so many people wonder the same thing. There has been a lot of talk by Clemson fans about putting the stadium over 100k people, as it would make the Valley even scarier, and I know there has been talks before of connecting the stadium over the WestZone, but now with family dining areas being set up on top if the WestZone in Phase 3, although still doable, I doubt they'd sit 20,000 people up there. I've heard of plans to potentially one day connect the upper decks around the East end zone, but one of our traditions is watching "the bus round turn 4" before stopping and spewing players and coaches down the hill, I don't see that happening. Do you think Clemson will ever get up to or over 100k, and if so, how do you think they would build it? Hypothetical I know, but fun to talk about! Thanks a lot man.

Dylan

Dylan,

I like thinking about this too but I have not seen any plans. At this point I don't think it will happen anytime soon. They would have to sell out 81,000 for many years before they expand again. Hopefully in my lifetime I will see it.

Mickey,

First of all, a great job, a game winning job by the defense and a great job, a game winning job by the special teams, thank goodness. As for the offense, Dabo needs to step in and find a 1 yard game because Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile has no clue. No doubt, Louisville's defense is very, very good but how many times will the offense fail on less than a foot, less than a yard before changes are made. Do we not have a player on the team that can play fullback and be a lead blocker or heaven forbid watch teams like Florida State or Georgia and actually give him the ball? Call Dr. Lou, call Mike Ditka, call Grady JarrettGrady Jarrett
Sr. Defensive Tackle
#50 6-1, 290
Conyers, GA
View Full Profile and give him the ball like The Fridge, call anyone that will run anything other an 8 yard deep handoff with no lead blocker, just get it fixed before the defense and special teams can no longer bail out the offense.

Andy

Andy,

I think they will work to get it fixed. They will try some new things this week. Hopefully the changes will be effective. I know they have worked hard this week to become more effective in short yardage.

Mickey,

We are not getting the blocking from our TE's and H-backs. 4th quarter of SC State game, I watched #40 Kurt FlemingKurt Fleming
Fr. Running Back
#40 6-0, 233
Louisa, VA
View Full Profile . He is listed at 6'0" 235 #. He runs hard, with a toughness, an edge to him I really liked.

Coaches have any thoughts of using him in short yardage, not as ball carrier, but similar to our previous # 40 Darrell SmithDarrell Smith
Fullback (2009 - 2013)
#40 6-1, 250
Gadsden, AL
View Full Profile ? I can envision lining Fleming up at fullback, TE, or H-Back and let him lead block at point of attack.

BMW

BMW,

The coaches have not felt comfortable enough to count on Fleming yet. He has not earned their trust.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

src="https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/ads/plyler/allstate_logo.gif" border=0>

border=0>

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 email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com

*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, 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, 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 Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile , Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon KirklandLevon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
View Full Profile and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile , David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Tavaris BarnesTavaris Barnes
RS Sr. Defensive End
#9 6-4, 273
Jacksonville, FL
View Full Profile and family, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Tommy "Red" Harper, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Tony Henderson, Kaki Harmon, Ron Moore, Brandy Stephens, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
View Full Profile , Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Sr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 231
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile , Israel, the Horton family and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.