Road Trips, Shuey, Reader, CB

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Wed Oct 24 09:10:22 GMT-04:00 2012

Road Trips

Dabo is 24-4 in games played at Death Valley. His teams have won 11 in a row at home and 20 of the last 22 games at home. His 24-4 home record is better than Danny Ford's record at home in his first 28 home games where Ford's teams went 22-4-2.

But Dabo's team is just 8-12 on the road. They are 11-16 away from Death Valley (road games and neutral site games).

I have written several times in recent years about winning on the road and how difficult it is in today's game. Winning on the road is what separates the good teams from the average ones. It separates the great teams from the good ones and the elite ones from the great ones.

Wake Forest is not a difficult place to play but Thursday nights on short rest are difficult. This is not a great Wake Forest team but tomorrow night is still a challenge.

If Clemson wants to take the next step it has to be able to win on the road. Last season Clemson was 8-0 but lost four of the last six games away from home and ended the season at 10-4.

This season the Tigers are 2-1 away from Death Valley including one neutral site win and one road win. If Clemson can win this week and next week in Durham it will go 4-1 away from home. The Tigers may have a shot to play in Charlotte in the ACC title game and a bowl game also on a neutral site.

Clemson has won five or more games away from home in 1995 (5-1), 1989 (5-1), 1988 (5-1), 1996 (5-2-1), 1981 (6-0), 1978 (5-1), 1977 (5-1-1), 1950 (5-0-1), 1948 (7-0), 1941 (5-2), 1939 (7-1), 1938 (5-1-1), 1930 (5-2), 1928 (5-3), 1917 (5-1), 1914 (5-3-1) and 1900 (5-0).

Quality Road Wins

The are 68 schools in BCS conferences and four major independents. Of those 72 schools only 16 teams have beaten a team with a winning record from a BCS school on the road this season.

Clemson will play Wake Forest (4-3) and Duke (6-2) on the road the next two weeks.

So far this season here is a list of BCS schools who have beaten a team from a BCS conference with a winning record on the road:

SEC 3-LSU (A&M), A&M (Ole Miss), Florida (A&M).

Big 10 2-Penn State (Iowa), Nebraska (Northwestern).

ACC 2-NC State (Maryland), Duke (WF).

PAC 12 3-Oregon (ASU), Oregon State (UCLA, Arizona).

Big East 1-UConn (Maryland).

Big 12 11-Kansas State (OU, ISU, WVU), Texas Tech (ISU, TCU), Iowa State (Iowa, TCU), Texas (Oklahoma State, Ole Miss), Oklahoma (Texas Tech), WVU (Texas).

Shuey

Clemson 's staff gave Spencer ShueySpencer Shuey
RS Jr. Linebacker
#33 6-3, 230
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile more reps in the Georgia Tech game and he responded with the biggest play of the game on the fourth quarter safety.

Clemson defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
View Full Profile rewarded Shuey by giving him his first start of Shuey's career against Virginia Tech. Again Shuey responded with another big effort. In fact, Shuey had 15 tackles, which is the most any Tiger has had all season. Over the past two games Shuey has 22 tackles in 82 plays.

Reader

Another player that has stepped up on the defensive side of the football is true freshman D.J. ReaderD.J. Reader
Fr. Defensive Tackle
#48 6-3, 335
Greensboro, NC
View Full Profile . Over the past three games the defensive tackle has 15 tackles in 59 plays. He has created a pass rush and has commanded double teams at times. His quickness and natural strength allow him to make this early impact. Look for Reader to see his snap total continue to climb.

Corner

The Tigers were not very talented at cornerback when the season began but injuries have devastated the position. Martin JenkinsMartin Jenkins
Jr. Cornerback
#14 5-10, 180
Roswell, GA
View Full Profile was injured in the pre-season and was ruled out for the season in August. On Saturday Darius RobinsonDarius Robinson
Jr. Cornerback
#21 5-10, 175
College Park, GA
View Full Profile broke his ankle and is out until at least the bowl game. Yesterday we found out Bashaud BreelandBashaud Breeland
RS So. Cornerback
#17 6-0, 195
Allendale, SC
View Full Profile is questionable due to a strained abdominal.

So Thursday night Xavier BrewerXavier Brewer
Gr. Defensive Back
#9 5-11, 190
Jacksonville, FL
View Full Profile and Garry PetersGarry Peters
RS So. Defensive Back
#26 6-0, 195
Conyers, GA
View Full Profile will man the corner positions. Cortez DavisCortez Davis
RS Fr. Cornerback
#29 6-3, 200
Daytona Beach, FL
View Full Profile is the only other scholarship corner available if Breeland can't go.

Walk-on Dante StewartDante Stewart
RS So. Cornerback
#37 5-8, 185
Swansea, SC
View Full Profile has seen action on 26 plays from scrimmage this season. Davis has played only 15 plays from scrimmage this season.

Emergency plans could include Travis BlanksTravis Blanks
Fr. Defensive Back
#11 6-1, 190
Tallahassee, FL
View Full Profile who has played nickel and safety so far. A real emergency might get Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
So. Wide Receiver
#16 5-11, 190
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile moving from wide out to corner.

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Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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