Bowden: FSU Not Lacking Defensive Speed |
CLEMSON - Not that he would call anyone a liar, but rumblings that Florida
State's defense may have lost a step or two apparently don't jive with Tommy Bowden. The Clemson head coach said nothing he's seen live or on film gives him any indication the Seminoles are slowing down. "It's excellent," Bowden said of FSU's team speed. "We recruited some of their secondary guys, and all of their guys really are Parade All-Americans or something. They've got really, really good speed." Well, except for maybe one guy. "One of their linebackers is 270 pounds, so he's going to be a little slow," Bowden said with a laugh. "He's not going to be as fast as Marvin Jones or some of the other guys they've had in the past. But again, he'll do damage in other ways. "They really haven't lost very much." Meanwhile, Bowden continues to rave about the job Yusef Kelly has done carrying the load at running back in the continued absence of Bernard Rambert. Kelly is averaging 95 rushing yards per game in his three starts, during which he has scored four of his five touchdowns. He has become extremely proficient at picking up the tough yardage, one or two-yard chunks that usually mean either first downs or touchdowns. "One of the most impressive things about Yusef so far is toward the end of the game when we have needed first downs he has made some really good runs," Bowden said. "And even earlier in the game on goal line and short yardage he has made really some good runs. "That’s tough yardage and critical yardage.” 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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