Thursday August 07, 2008

Pre-Season Camp/Ryan Update

Ryan Update 8-7
Ryan had another strong day yesterday. He had a very busy morning with occupational therapy, physical therapy and recreational therapy. Today he has those plus an extra session of speech therapy.

The major news is that Ryan may get his feeding tube out very soon. He eats like a horse now and they think the tube is becoming useless. It took about an hour but I was able to get a Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread in Ryan for dinner last night. His appetite has been great.

They are also going to do a test on Ryan’s left wrist to see what nerve damage he has there.

We have begun to try to get Ryan out and about in the hospital more. We think he needs to become more social again and start interacting with people more.

I just wanted to remind all of the drop-in next Saturday, August 16 at Valley Walk behind the Esso Club from 4-7 PM. We would love to be able to see everyone and thank them for all of their prayers and kindness.

Pre-Season Camp
The Tigers start a new part of pre-season camp with today being the first day of two-a-days. Clemson will practice once this morning and once this afternoon. One will be in pads and another in shorts but at least they don’t have to endure through three-a-days like Coach Ford used to have.

Coaches are smarter now and the NCAA has eased the physical burden on the players. Now the NCAA mandates the players get one day a week off. They also are limited in the number of times each school can have two-a-days. The NCAA is protecting the athletes mainly for health concerns. I think this is the right idea and hopefully the number of heat related cases can continue to decline.

At Clemson, pre-season camp means closed practices as well. I know the die-hards would love to get out to practice every day and soak it all in but I understand why coaches close practice.

I have been out of town most of the camp so far and really have not talked with the coaches and insiders as much as most years but the news is slow coming out of camp. However, that is the best news.

Think about it….what is the biggest story to come out of camp so far? I am not sure either.

The fact is that we already know a lot about the most important things about the 2008 Tigers. Cullen Harper is healthy again. Willy Korn is a terrific back up this season. Kyle Parker has a rocket arm but we already knew that too.

At running back, what do we need to know about James Davis and C.J. Spiller that we have not already known? Both are great ones and they really only need to stay healthy. I guess perhaps the best news so far in camp in the good word about Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington. Both freshmen appear to be ready to contribute but I am not sure how much they will be needed. I want to see both but I keep saying that every time either carries the ball that is one les carry for Davis or Spiller.

There has been some news at wide receiver. Jacoby Ford hurt his other ankle but nothing serious. Xavier Dye banged his shoulder but is expected back soon. Outside of that, we already knew Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham would be ready for a good camp. Maybe the best news is the development of Marquan Jones who appears to be ready for a big impact, especially next season and beyond.

All of the tight ends are playing well but that is no major news. We all knew what we had with Palmer, Linthicum, Barry and Robinson. I am hearing good things about Dwayne Allen but I expected that. I am a little concerned about Michael Palmer and his hamstring.

The offensive line is the biggest concern on offense but yesterday is the first day with pads so we really have not learned a lot quite yet. The major news here is David Smith’s toe injury. The Tigers will need him to get healthy if he is going to push for a starting spot. It was not a major surprise that Chris Hairston and Corey Lambert switched sides at tackle. Brad Scott told me in June that he thought Jock McKissic would move back to defense so that was not a big surprise. I think Landon Walker and Antoine McClain came into camp showing a lot of promise so they will man the second team at the tackle spots. Jamarcus Gant and Barry Humphries have shown maturity at guard and have held off the younger competition. But I think we will get more important offensive line news after Saturday’s scrimmage.

The defensive line is deep and talented so I did not expect a big news week from the first week of practice here. We know what we have in Scott, Jackson, Chavis, Jenkins, Murchison and McKissic at tackle. I am pleased to hear good early reviews of Brandon Thompson though. Some may be surprised that Kevin Alexander is holding off Da’Quan Bowers but I am not. The current depth chart here has more to do with their work ethics than anything else. Like Grant and Humphries on the offensive line, Alexander is more experienced and more mature at this point.

The secondary is solid and nothing major has happened here. Maybe the best news is that the starters at corner are being challenged. Chancellor and Butler are very good but will only get better because Maxwell and Gilchrist are really competing and trying to take away more snaps this season. You know what you have in Hamlin and Clemens but depth is a concern. All news is good with the freshman safeties so far. We all knew Adams needs to get bigger but he can fly.

The linebackers are still my biggest concern and we will begin to see separation now that the pads are on. Saturday’s scrimmage will go a long way in determining the depth chart at all three spots. Whenever you lose three starters it is a concern so this is one area that concerns me the most. I still look for Stanley Hunter to make a move here.

Bowden mentioned after yesterday’s practice that the kickers struggled yesterday and that is still a major concern.

As we approach the end of the first week of practice I am thankful that the news is somewhat slow. This is a talented football team with a bunch of returners who have played a bunch of football. The freshmen are what we thought they would be so far. The only news we don’t need to hear concerns injuries. So far the Tigers have avoided the major injury bug. As far as I am concerned, I hope we continue to have an uneventful camp. Let the other schools have off of the field news or big splashes. No news is great news as far as I am concerned.

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