Kingsbury Set to Fire Away at Clemson's Defense |
CLEMSON - It's almost deja vu for Clemson as far as bowl opponents go.
A year ago at this time, Tommy Bowden's Tigers were preparing to face the sophisticated passing attack of Luke McCown and Louisiana Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl. This year Clemson will be lining up against yet another sophisticated passing attack, that of Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Dec. 23 Tangerine Bowl. The official announcement came Sunday afternoon, the day all bowl destinations were finalized for teams across the country. And though the two Tech's may approach the passing game with different philosophies, Bowden knows they both share one important common factor. "You never have a comfort zone with a lead against them," Bowden said. "Texas Tech had a couple of games this year where they fell way behind and then came back. If they ever get behind, they're never uncomfortable throwing the ball, because that's what they do." Do they ever. Kingsbury, the Associated Press Big 12 Player of the Year, has thrown for 4,642 yards and 42 touchdowns this season. His 447 completions (in 669 attempts) is an NCAA record. Kingsbury ranks 13 in the nation in pass efficiency and second in total offense. Needless to say, he'll provide a huge test for Clemson's 17th-ranked pass defense. "Getting a pass rush will be awfully critical, (as will) giving their quarterback different looks," Bowden said. "With our pass defense, with a little preparation you'd think that would work in our favor. Sometimes that can be a deceiving stat, but we've been pretty good this year." The announcement forced Bowden and his staff to shift gears just a little. Clemson's graduate assistants had already compiled four tapes on Oklahoma State, the team most prognosticators expected the Tigers to face in Orlando. But Clemson already has one Texas Tech tape at its disposal - the Red Raiders' 51-48 overtime loss to N.C. State early this season, a game in which Tech forced the extra period by scoring four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Bowden said he would have plenty more film in by no later than 4 p.m. this afternoon. NOTES - Clemson plans to practice twice at home before final exams, then open with two-a-day workouts Dec. 16-17 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Some of his coaches will miss either the Monday or Tuesday workouts in order to fly back to Rock Hill to watch Shrine Bowl practices. Bowden also said he expects some of the Central Florida players on Clemson's recruiting list to visit bowl practice in Orlando. - Rumors that offensive lineman Mark Jetton was planning to transfer apparently are unfounded, at least according to Bowden. "I talked to him last week and he was planning on going to the bowl game," the coach said. - Bowden said that Rodney Allison's permanent replacement won't be hired until after the bowl game. Allison late last week left his position as Clemson's defensive ends coach to take over the head coaching duties at UT-Chattanooga. 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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