Robinson Steps in for Injured Youngblood |
CLEMSON - For the second time in four days, Clemson's coaching staff has been
forced to make lineup changes due to a season-ending injury. Saturday it was the defense shuffling, trying to overcome linebacker Altroy Bodrick's torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wednesday it was the offense's turn, as head coach Tommy Bowden poked and prodded his wide receiver rotation a day after junior Kevin Youngblood suffered a broken leg. When the dust settled, junior Jackie Robinson moved from the Y (inside) receiver to the X (outside), the position manned by Rod Gardner the past two seasons. Freshman Roscoe Crosby was elevated to the No. 1 spot at the Y, joining redshirt freshman Derrick Hamilton (H, or inside) and senior Matt Bailey (Z, or outside) in the starting lineup. Junior J.J. McKelvey (X), freshman Airese Currie (Z) junior Joe Don Reames (Y) and junior Tony Elliott (H) are all second on the depth chart at their respective positions. Reames is the only change at No. 2, having been moved up from third team following Youngblood's injury. The shuffling puts the immediate spotlight on Robinson, who in three previous seasons has spent time at each receiver slot in Bowden's offense. But the soft-spoken Orangeburg native insists he's not trying to fill anyone's shoes. "I've got to do whatever the coaches ask me to do," Robinson said. "If they want me to switch positions, it's a position I've played already so I'm pretty familiar with it. I've got to go out and make a play, which is what coach asks everyone on the field to do." Robinson spent his redshirt freshman season (1999) as a backup to Gardner at the X receiver. Last year as a starter in the Y spot, Robinson had 26 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns. But with Gardner gone and no standout go-to receiver emerging from camp just nine days before the season opener, Robinson knows those 2000 statistics must improve. "I like the challenge," he said. "You've got to love it. That's what football's about, it's about the challenge and competition. Everyday you've got to challenge yourself to get better. And since I'm switching positions right now I've got make sure I get everything down and I'm ready to help the team." Starting untested wide receivers is nothing new for Bowden. As Auburn's offensive coordinator in the mid-1990's he once had four true freshmen starting at receiver. But the loss of Youngblood is a difficult one. The lanky junior was the closest physical specimen Clemson had to compare with Gardner, and despite inconsistent hands in the past he was being looked to for big numbers this year. Now, with Youngblood done for the year, Bowden made the lineup moves based on necessity more than anything else. "Derrick Hamilton is a (redshirt) freshman, Crosby's a freshman, Currie's a freshman and Matt Bailey ain't the guy to go over there," he said. "Jackie Robinson's the only option right now...he's the guy who can swing across the board at about any position." NOTES - Clemson began putting in its game plan for Central Florida Wednesday. On Friday the team will run through a dress rehearsal at Death Valley. The live scrimmage will include full quarter and halftime breaks, as well as coaches in the boxes and on the sidelines, to acclimate the team to actual game conditions. - The naming of Crosby to the No. 1 Y receiver slot is a milestone of sorts. The Union High School prodigy becomes the first true freshman to start on offense for Clemson since Anthony Downs opened the 1994 season at running back. - Defensive end Khaleed Vaughn joined the list of walking wounded Wednesday, sitting out practice with a strained neck. He joined linebacker Rodney Thomas (pulled groin), offensive tackle Derrick Brantley (sprained knee) and tight end Morgan Woodward (sprained knee) on the sidelines. All are expected back within the next two or three days. Travis Zachery also suffered a slightly sprained ankle toward the end of Wednesday's practice, but it didn't appear to be anything serious. - Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring had surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon early Wednesday, but was out of the hospital and back in his office approximately an hour before practice. Herring made it through practice thanks to a combination of crutches, a golf cart and, according to Bowden, some artificial help. "That's the first time I've ever coached with anybody who was on morphine," he joked.
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