CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Spring Practice Day 9: Bowden Looking for Leaders
Bowden was impressed with the play of the defense.

Spring Practice Day 9: Bowden Looking for Leaders


by - Correspondent -

CLEMSON - As spring practice progresses at Clemson, head coach Tommy Bowden

finds himself looking for leadership on offense.

Wednesday, for the first time, his offense struggled everywhere except in

goal line situations. In the past, he need only look to Woody Dantzler to

right the ship. But with Dantzler gone, these spring sessions are as much

about finding his replacement as they are alignment and assignment.

"You lose 70 percent of your offense and somebody's got to step up," Bowden

said. "Nobody kind of stepped forward as a leader... We took a little beating

out in the middle of the field...

"Those are the times in the spring you want to see who takes charge in the

huddle. Who steps up. We didn't see that much (Wednesday)...But it takes a

little while to find it."

Naturally, most eyes turn to the quarterback when the question of leadership

arises.

Junior Willie Simmons currently holds the top job ahead of freshman Charlie

Whitehurst, and is expected to maintain that advantage even though Bowden

says "there is competition there." But both find themselves under the same

microscope where leading the team is concerned.

"Some of that's changing because there's no huddle anymore. A lot of teams

aren't huddling," Bowden said. "It used to be that you go in the huddle and

take charge...But to a large extent it's still that way. You come off to the

sideline after an unsuccessful series and the quarterback gets in their face.

(So) there's other places to do it even if you don't huddle.

In other news from Wednesday, Bowden was impressed with the play of his

defense.

"I thought the defense took a step forward...but they didn't finish it off on

the goal line," Bowden said. "The offense got down there and pretty much

scored at will. To be great on defense, you've got to finish the day. The

enthusiasm was good, and they did a good job until right there toward the

end."

Bowden, who sometimes gets criticized for being "all offense, no defense" in

his coaching focus, belies that theory in his practice actions.

Instead of working strictly in his own offensive set, he is showing Clemson's

defense multiple looks - such as more two-back sets - in order to help the

unit continue to get its bearings under new defensive coordinator John

Lovett.

"I want other coaches to come in here to see us because of our defense,"

Bowden said. "That's the way it used to be here. Now they come see us for

offense most of the time. But I'd like to get it back the way it was. Or at

least 50-50."

SPRING PRACTICE COVERAGE

Day 1: Weather or Not, Spring Practice Underway (Photos)

Day 2: Two Days In, Let the Hitting Begin

Day 3: Hitting, Fights Suit Bowden Fine (Photos) Day 4: Todd McClinton Gives Trainers a Scare

Day 5: Clemson Holds Football Scrimmage (Photos)

Day 6: Film Grade Promotes Walker to Starting Guard

Day 7: Mini Scrimmage Held Before Spring Break

Day 8: Tigers Return to Practice After Spring Break

Day 9: Bowden Looking for Leaders

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