Defense Controls Last Practice Before Spring Break

by TigerNet Staff - Sat Mar 18 23:43:42 GMT-04:00 2000

CLEMSON, SC -- On Friday, the Tigers held their last spring practice before taking a week off for spring break. The time off couldn't have come at a better time for the team, because it will give several key players from both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball time to recover.

"We are starting to get some of the guys banged up but we are getting some good work," said Bowden. "It's lucky that we have spring break. We should get most of them back."

After some drill work, the Tigers held their first eleven on eleven full contact scrimmage of the year. The first team defense of the Tigers controlled the offense for most of the afternoon. However, receiver Waymon White did have a long touchdown catch that bought cheers from the many fans present. In the final ten minutes of practice, the Tigers practiced goal line situations. Once again, the Tiger defense was stingy, allowing only a couple of touchdowns in more than a dozen attempts.

After practice Bowden seemed pleased with the effort of his defense.

“The better they (defense) are the better chance we have to win a bunch of games,” said Bowden. “ I wish they would dominate every scrimmage everyday. That would be my personal preference because I think they are going to be pretty good and if they are then I think we might be pretty good.

The next practice will be on Monday, March 27 with a start time of 3:00-3:15 EST. It is open to the public.

Spring break needed

Expected back on the Monday following Spring break are receiver Matt Bailey (knee), running back Chad Jasmin, linebacker Chad Carson (hamstring), and running back Bernard Rambert. Although previously thought to be back by Friday’s practice Rambert was absent again due to his sister’s car accident.

Senior wide receiver Rod Gardner was held out of action on Friday with a slight ankle sprain. “I wanted him at full speed on Monday,” said Bowden. “I am guaranteed full speed if I let him out today, plus he is a fifth year senior.”

Woody and Willie Watch

“I think they are making some progress,” said offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez. “I think the starting quarterback might not be settled till the end of two a days. They both made some good decisions and they both did some bad things. But as long as they get better and correct the mistakes then I think we will be fine there."

Spring Practice ’99 vs. Spring Practice ‘00

“We expect more out of them offensively because of the number of players we got coming back,” said Bowden. “We are less tolerant with mental errors. Last year you could not really say much to them about mental errors. We are a lot less tolerant with the upper classmen.“

“It gets a little frustrating because you think they have retained some of the stuff they have already learned, but we are light years ahead of where we were last year, but we are still a long ways from where we need to be,” said offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez. “ I think our goal at the end of spring is develop a 2 deep at every position and be better in all techniques and the mental part.”