Re: Instate Olineman

RememberTheDanny

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We’ve done well with Putnam, Parks, & Mayes.

Feb 2, 2023, 1:21 PM

Putnam, Parks, and Mayes are all very good players.

Putnam’s first year at Center was stellar. He had not played Center before this year. I guess he’s entirely self-taught … surely without our coaching, he’d have entered the NFL draft and would be a lock for the #1 pick.

Parks started at RT as a true SO and played very well. He ‘took one for the team’ by moving to RG last year so that our bright prospect Blake Miller could develop at RT while having an experienced pass blocker to his left (e.g., Parks) at the RG position. Parks was credible (not great, but credible) at RG. He didn’t just get dropped on our doorstep being able to excel at both the Tackle and Guard positions. He has had some excellent coaching.

Mayes is a very athletic lineman who has played extensively at LT, RT, RG, and LG. Most of his play prior to Miami game was at Tackle, with his pass blocking being (favorably) noteworthy. When required to fill in for (injured) M.Tate late in the Miami game and then start at LG through the end of the season, Mayes’ play got better each game. Being able to learn quickly and improve quickly at several different OL positions just doesn’t take place entirely based on individual effort. Excellent coaching must also be there.

Who knows about Leigh and Linthicum? Both were RS FR last year and played sparingly.

I’ll admit to not having paid much attention to Linthicum when he got in there.

Leigh looks a little slow, but not bad. It’s really hard to coach ‘quicks,’ but if Leigh is able to earn time at any of our OL positions, then it will be due in large part to some special S&C work + OL coaching to get him to take better quality first-steps. Some players just take longer to get there; I am optimistic about what T.Leigh will accomplish here.

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Franks is a bit surprising especially being in Clemson's backyard but the other 2 not so much. Both Pringle and Thompson were known to be chicken leans. As far as Franks...maybe Clemson's depth chart is an issue for him, maybe he and his fam grew up chicken fans, maybe the new offensive scheme for the OL is turning him off, maybe it's NIL and that SEC money is finally benefiting them...i don't know but what i do know, is now more than ever it matters very little where a kid initially signs. Their best player right now is a transfer and when he's gone they'll have to try and hit on another transfer qb bc i don't think they've recruited that well at the qb spot.

Clemson has existed for years and had great success with mediocre OL play with premium QB talent and that's certainly Dabo's formula now. Boyd, Watson, Johnson, Lawrence, DJU, Klubnik, vizzina, and maybe white here shortly. Yes i know DJU and Johnson didn't pan out but both were a 5 stars and they were staying true to the formula.

I'm not a coach and have never coached but it's been said over and over by ones who have....OL is the hardest position to evaluate. Would it be great to have all 3....absolutely but at the same time Clemson has recruited well at the position lately if you go by star rating. The most annoying part is having to listen to the chickens beat their chest over this.

Instate Olineman