Clemson Head Coach, Tommy Bowden –
"The biggest things we are trying to accomplish this week is getting off the field defensively and sustaining some drives offensively. When you are on defense you have to be able to get off the field on third down, and then when you get the ball on offense you have to be a little more productive than we have been. We have to put our guys on defense in a position to make plays and get off the field on third down. Some of what has happened the past few games has to do with our competition but at the same time we have got to be more productive."
"We have had five straight games where it has been close going into the fourth quarter. I have talked to both the offensive staff and the defensive staff about finding ways to be more productive in the fourth quarter. Offensively our job is to find ways to make more big plays. We've challenged our defense to make some stops. I have to ratchet it up another notch and so do the players."
"Whether we were playing a conference game or a non-conference game like we are this week in Utah State we would be addressing the same issues. Through five games we are 1-4 so we have to change our mode of operation somewhere.
"I think it's similar to anything else when plans don't work out. My job as a head coach is to look at plan B and decide where we are going to go from here. Now I don't know if that is the right terminology, but some "parts" may not have worked while other "parts" have worked. That's the case for both the offense and defense right now."
"Ill be a lot more confident when we can accomplish our goals of getting off the field on third down on defense and getting that production on offense. Some of the productivity on offense will come with more at-bats. Running only 52 plays and 49 plays in a game can hurt your continuity on offense."
"I don't want to say we are discouraged, but we are definitely frustrated. As a head coach I have to understand that we have to pick it up on offense and defense, but I don't want the players to lose their sense of accountability either. There is going to be some frustration by the players but I don't want them to get discouraged or disappointed, and I want them to assume their responsibility and I'll assume mine."
"When you snap the ball quickly when you run the hurry-up offense you are actually minimizing your offensive package rather than maximizing it. Everything has to be simplified because you don't know where they are going to line up so you have to have simple blocking schemes and simple protections. You are limited somewhat when you run the hurry-up and the rules have changed a little bit from what they were three or four years ago."
"It will be good to get back home. I am glad its Homecoming and we'll need support from our fans. Our players are frustrated right now so it will be good to get that home environment we haven't had in a long time (34 days by gametime). The atmosphere that Clemson creates is something that is known throughout college football. It can definitely create an advantage for us."
Tommy Bowden
- Real | Windows Media
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