Bettering Turnover Ratio Among Bowden's Priorities |
CLEMSON - Among the other problems facing Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden
entering the 2002 season is turnovers, from both a give and take standpoint. Bowden watched in frustration a year ago as his offense gave the ball away with alarming frequency, especially early in the season. It got so bad that he nearly benched quarterback Woody Dantzler against Georgia Tech after an early fumble. On the other side of the ball the Tigers' forced just 16 turnovers during the regular season, or few enough to rank No. 101 in the country. Add the numbers together and Clemson's turnover ratio was 90th overall at -.64. The issue was alarming enough that Bowden made it a focal point for his coaching staff's annual "hideaway," a solitary retreat held just a few days before the beginning of practice during which he outlines the operating plan for the coming season. And two days into full squad workouts, he is cautiously optimistic that the scrutiny is paying immediate dividends. "After just two days I can see we're already a little better," Bowden said Sunday during the media portion of Fan Day. "Our quarterbacks are making smarter decisions with the ball, and defensively we've created turnovers by knocking the ball out of a player's hands, which we didn't do much of last year." The quandary facing Bowden during two-a-days is the punishment vs. reward factor. Any offensive player who exhibits a tendency to put the ball on the ground will be pulled out and sat down ("They can see if they have more fun playing or sitting," he said). But at the same time, he wants the defense to force turnovers. How does one balance the practice system? "The first skeleton (drill) we had we didn't have any (turnovers) on offense," Bowden said. "You're feeling great until you look over at the defense and you didn't get any. You do have to find a way to reward and motivate both sides. The ideal situation would be to knock it out as opposed to an interception or fumble on the center-quarterback exchange or quarterback-running back exchange. "You want a hat on the ball with vicious contact, as opposed to just being lazy and coughing it up." The balance sometimes can be easily skewered because of Bowden's offensive philosophy and sometime gambler's mentality. In a scheme that has the quarterback operating out of the shotgun, constantly on the move and throwing the ball often, the chances of something going wrong are greater than those in a more conservative offense. On the other hand, a timid quarterback can't effectively run Bowden's complicated offense. Quarterbacks are, by nature, usually the gambling type themselves, and Bowden wants to see that type of mentality out of both junior Willie Simmons and redshirt freshman Charlie Whitehurst. Again, it's back to risk and reward. "The last thing you want with your quarterback is for them to be scared," Bowden said. "You want to have them be a little bold, daring, have a little audacity and a little courage. But at the same time you've got to be smart." As for the defense? Following the fiasco of 2001, the approach should be simple, Bowden said. "Creating (turnovers) on defense is a matter of pride. It's going to be the defensive staff's job - and mine - to see that they take a little pride in creating turnovers." Dan Scott covers Clemson University for the Florence Morning News. He also hosts SportsTalk from 10 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Friday, on WCCP-Fm, 104.9. Click here for Dan Scott's SportsTalk discussion board.
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