What We Know About This Team
Heading into an open date we have seen this year's team go 2-0 and climb to number three in the AP poll. Tomorrow I will look at some of the unanswered questions, but here is a look at what we have learned about this team today:
Depth
This is a team that has a lot of depth in a lot of positions. In fact, I think depth may be the strength of this team.
Cole Stoudt
Cole Stoudt
Jr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 205
Dublin, OH
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made the staff feel better about depth at quarterback after he went 19 of 20 in the win over SC State.
Rod McDowell looked great against Georgia.
Zac Brooks
Zac Brooks
So. Running Back
#24 6-1, 185
Jonesboro, AR
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has been a pleasant surprise so far.
C.J. Davidson
C.J. Davidson
RS So. Running Back
#32 5-11, 185
Clemson, SC
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looked very good in his first action, so running back depth is a strength.
I am not sure who the number two guy behind
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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is at wide receiver, but
Charone Peake
Charone Peake
Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 200
Moore, SC
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,
Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant
Jr. Wide Receiver
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC
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,
Adam Humphries
Adam Humphries
Jr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 190
Spartanburg, SC
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,
Germone Hopper
Germone Hopper
RS Fr. Wide Receiver
#5 6-0, 170
Charlotte, NC
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,
Mike Williams
Mike Williams
Fr. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 205
Vance, SC
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and TJ Green look like a solid group.
Injuries hit at tight end but
Sam Cooper
Sam Cooper
RS Jr. Tight End
#86 6-5, 250
Brentwood, TN
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got back into the game against SC State.
Stanton Seckinger
Stanton Seckinger
RS So. Tight End
#81 6-4, 210
Isle of Palms, SC
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and
Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith
Gr. Fullback
#40 6-1, 250
Gadsden, AL
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made a huge difference against Georgia.
Jay Jay McCullough
Jay Jay McCullough
RS Fr. Tight End
#89 6-3, 230
Fort Mill, SC
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had three catches against SC State, including a one-handed grab.
For the first time in a long time the offensive line has depth.
Tyler Shatley
Tyler Shatley
Gr. Offensive Guard
#62 6-3, 295
Icard, NC
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missed Saturday's game but
Kalon Davis
Kalon Davis
RS Jr. Offensive Guard
#67 6-5, 330
Chester, SC
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stepped right into his place.
Isaiah Battle
Isaiah Battle
So. Offensive Tackle
#79 6-6, 280
Brooklyn, NY
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,
Jay Guillermo
Jay Guillermo
RS Fr. Center
#57 6-2, 290
Maryville, TN
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,
Reid Webster
Reid Webster
RS Jr. Offensive Tackle
#77 6-4, 285
Woodstock, GA
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,
Eric Mac Lain
Eric Mac Lain
RS So. Offensive Line
#78 6-3, 260
Hope Mills, NC
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and
Shaq Anthony
Shaq Anthony
RS So. Offensive Tackle
#76 6-3, 265
Williamston, SC
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can push the starters on the offensive line.
On the defensive line, five defensive ends and five defensive tackles have provided excellent depth. In fact, we have seen six different guys start in the first two games.
Corey Crawford
Corey Crawford
Jr. Defensive End
#93 6-5, 270
Columbus, GA
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made huge plays against Georgia.
Vic Beasley
Vic Beasley
RS Jr. Defensive End
#3 6-3, 225
Adairsville, GA
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had two sacks against the Dawgs.
Tavaris Barnes
Tavaris Barnes
RS Jr. Defensive End
#9 6-3, 270
Jacksonville, FL
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,
Shaq Lawson
Shaq Lawson
Fr. Defensive End
#90 6-4, 260
Central, SC
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and
Kevin Dodd
Kevin Dodd
So. Defensive Tackle
#98 6-4, 280
Taylors, SC
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give the Tigers great depth at defensive end.
Grady Jarrett
Grady Jarrett
Jr. Defensive Tackle
#50 6-1, 290
Conyers, GA
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has started both games at tackle, and
Carlos Watkins
Carlos Watkins
So. Defensive Tackle
#94 6-3, 300
Mooresboro, NC
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and
DeShawn Williams
DeShawn Williams
Jr. Defensive Tackle
#99 6-1, 285
Central, SC
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have started one game each beside Jarrett.
Josh Watson
Josh Watson
RS Jr. Defensive Tackle
#91 6-4, 285
Wilmington, DE
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and DJ Reader give Clemson more depth at defensive tackle than it has had in several seasons.
At linebacker we have seen
Stephone Anthony
Stephone Anthony
Jr. Linebacker
#42 6-2, 235
Polkton, NC
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,
Spencer Shuey
Spencer Shuey
Gr. Linebacker
#33 6-3, 230
Charlotte, NC
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and
Quandon Christian
Quandon Christian
RS Sr. Linebacker
#34 6-2, 225
Lake View, SC
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play well in the first two contests. We have also seen BJ Goodson,
Tony Steward
Tony Steward
Jr. Linebacker
#7 6-0, 235
Hastings, FL
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,
Kellen Jones
Kellen Jones
RS So. Linebacker
#52 6-1, 215
Houston, TX
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, TJ Burrell and
Ben Boulware
Ben Boulware
Fr. Outside Linebacker
#10 6-1, 230
Anderson, SC
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gain valuable experience.
The secondary is still the biggest issue, but
Bashaud Breeland
Bashaud Breeland
RS Jr. Cornerback
#17 6-0, 195
Allendale, SC
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,
Garry Peters
Garry Peters
RS Jr. Cornerback
#26 6-0, 195
Conyers, GA
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,
Darius Robinson
Darius Robinson
Cornerback
#8 5-10, 175
College Park, GA
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and
Martin Jenkins
Martin Jenkins
RS Jr. Cornerback
#14 5-10, 180
Roswell, GA
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give the Tigers four experienced corners.
Size
I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about how this team is physically the best looking team I have seen at Clemson in recent years. I think this has been confirmed through two games. Clemson outplayed Georgia along the lines of scrimmage and was the more physical team in both games so far this season.
Kicking
As I outlined yesterday,
Chandler Catanzaro
Chandler Catanzaro
Gr. Punter / Kicker
#39 6-2, 195
Greenville, SC
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and
Bradley Pinion
Bradley Pinion
So. Punter
#92 6-5, 230
Concord, NC
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are two weapons in the kicking game for the Tigers. Catanzaro has hit 28 of his last 29 field goal attempts. Pinion has seen four of his 24 kickoffs and punts returned for a total of 51 yards.
Staff
I am not sure there is a better staff in the country.
Chad Morris
Chad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
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gets a lot of credit and he deserves every bit of it, but
Brent Venables
Brent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
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has done an amazing job as well. Clemson's staff has done a terrific job with player development to compliment the schemes. Finally, the strength and conditioning staff deserves another pat on the back for their excellent off-season work.
Schedule
The schedule may be tougher than we first thought. NC State is 2-0 under its new staff. So is Boston College. Maryland looks like a completely different team this season. Georgia Tech may have a passing game after all and Florida State might have its best quarterback since Chris Weinke.
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
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, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David and 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, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, 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, the Gardner family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, 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, Jim Lanier, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
