CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Highlights from Tommy Bowden Press Conference

Highlights from Tommy Bowden Press Conference


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Tommy Bowden Press Conference

- Real | Windows Media

Overall impressions of Georgia Tech:

"Defensively, they're really playing at a high level of intensity.

Even though they won the Auburn game and lost the Florida State game,

I think they played better defensively against Florida State than

they did against Auburn. It looks like they have a good defensive

scheme. Auburn and Florida State both tried to run, but could not."

On the significance of Saturday's game:

"It's most significant in that it is a conference game. It's getting

difficult to win in the conference period, much less on the road.

You can see what's happening from week to week, not only in this

conference, but in all of college football. To win a conference game

in the ACC, and now on the road, is much harder than it used to be."

On the running game:

"I was impressed with Kyle Browning last week. Duane Coleman gave us

a nice big play on the touchdown catch. Reggie Merriweather came in

late and ran hard at the end of the game. Then we've got Chad Jasmin

lined up at tailback in short yardage situations, and he did a good

job. Those guys all understand their roles and have been unselfish.

The most discouraging thing is that through three games Charlie

Whitehurst still has our longest run. We've got to find somebody

that can break a long run."

On Airese Currie and the receiving corps:

"He never red-shirted and played as a true freshman. I think if a

guy works hard and has enough skills, he has a chance to be

productive. Our wide receivers had 24 knockdowns Saturday, which is

probably more than we've had since I've been here. They're playing

at a high level of intensity without the ball, and Airese is a big

part of that."

On quarterback Charlie Whitehurst:

"I think he completed 82 percent of his passes Saturday. He played

really well. It's hard to be critical of someone who was 23-28, but

there were some minor mistakes. The Middle Tennessee game was a

pretty good game for him, there's no doubt. There are still looks he

hasn't seen yet, and he'll get some this week. The bullets will come

faster this week against Georgia Tech. He'll have to make quicker

decisions, and that can only come from more experience."

On Clemson's defense thus far:

"I'd like to play better on defense. We gave up too much running

yardage Saturday. I thought we did in the first game and in the

third game. Against Furman, we held them to 175 yards and 25 of that

came on the last play. I thought our defense played really good

defensively that day. We're not to the point where I feel

comfortable going into conference play. Our run defense is not good

enough right now, and there's a higher level we can play

QB Charlie Whitehurst

- Real | Windows Media

"(Growing up) I wasn't a big Georgia Tech or Georgia fan. I don't know if it is right to say but I kind of liked them both the same. In the recruiting process I would have loved to go there too (for a visit). They didn't recruit me real hard after Coach O'Leary left. I'd like to play well."

RB Kyle Browning

- Real | Windows Media

"I just try to use my size to my advantage. I try to hide behind the linemen and then at the last minute before they know I am upon them I try to break one. (long run)"

DB Justin Miller

- Real | Windows Media

"I think we got a little swagger back, a little confidence going into the first ACC game. I think if we go out there and play well it will only get better."

OL Tommy Sharpe

- Real | Windows Media

LB John Leake

- Real | Windows Media

"It's the first ACC game. If we want to be ACC champs we can't lose. It's a big game."

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