Thursday February 12, 2009

2009 Schedule

2009 Schedule
Sept 5 Middle Tennessee State
Offense-The Blue Raiders were not a dynamic offense last season but they return 10 starters including tailbacks Phillip Tanner and Desmond Gee. The only loss is multi-year starter at quarterback, Joe Craddick.
Defense-Middle Tennessee was pretty solid on this side of the ball but must replace four starters in the front seven.
Summary-The Blue Raiders were young and injuries took a toll last season when they were 5-7. However MTSU did win three of their last four and return a ton of lettermen. The main storyline here will be long-time Clemson assistant Rick Stockstill’s return to Death Valley.

Sept 10 (Thur) @ Georgia Tech
Offense-Tech’s unique offense presents different challenges especially when RB Jonathan Dwyer gets loose. They also get Louisville transfer Anthony Allen in at Running back. QB Josh Nesbitt returns for his junior year but has to remain healthy. All of the skill players return including the only real receiving threat, Demaryius Thomas. The Jackets will have question marks on the offensive line.
Defense-Tech’s biggest issue on defense will be replacing three top-notch defensive linemen in Michael Johnson, Darryl Richard and Vance Walker. Two linebackers return and three members of the secondary return including Morgan Burnett. Jahi Word-Daniels will be missed at corner.
Summary-Tech had a nice first season under Paul Johnson but is steaming after an embarrassing loss to LSU in the Chic-fil-a Bowl. This is usually a close, fourth quarter battle but the Tigers have not played well in Atlanta recently.

Sept 19 Boston College
Offense-BC struggled on offense especially in the second half of the season and will go into 2009 with Dominique Davis as the leading candidate at quarterback. Montrel Harris was effective at tailback as a freshman. Rich Gunnell returns as the leading receiver. The Eagles return four starters on the offensive line.
Defense-Boston College was solid on defense against last season but must replace both defensive tackles, BJ Raji and Ron Brace. They also lose linebacker Brian Toal who was injury prone. Superstar Mark Herzlich does return.
Summary-Frank Spaziani takes over an unstable program and faces a tough road. Staff turnover continues to plague the program. They also lack play makers on offense. This is not the same program they have been.

Sept 26 Central Michigan
Note: I am not sure on this one because on Central Michigan’s website it says they have finalized their non-conference schedule for 2009 and it has Arizona, Michigan State, Alcorn State and Boston College. They don’t have Clemson on their schedule but Clemson and the ACC released Central Michigan as the September 26 opponent. I think you will see Idaho replace Central Michigan on the schedule soon.

Oct 3 @ Maryland
Offense-The Terps have to replace speedy wide out Darius Heyward-Bey and most of their talented offensive line. The good news is tailback Da’Rel Scott returns. This has not been an explosive offense in several years but the staff is hoping Chris Turner’s experience will help.
Defense-Maryland will have to replace three starters in the secondary and three linebackers. The Terps were solid on defense a year ago but questions will have to be answered in the spring.
Summary-Clemson has not played very well against Maryland in the recent years and have struggled in College Park. This will be a crucial early season match up.

Oct 10 Open Date

Oct 17 Wake Forest
Offense-The Deacs will have a bunch of experience return on this side of the ball including senior quarterback Riley Skinner. A stable of backs return including Josh Adams and Brandon Pendegrass but Wake did not run the ball effectively last season. The offensive line was a weakness last year but they return almost the entire two-deep so this should be an improved group. The wide receivers will miss D.J. Boldin.
Defense-Here is the major concern. Wake Forest returns only three starters from a year ago. They also lose two of the best players to ever play at Wake in linebacker Aaron Curry and corner Alphonso Smith.
Summary-The Deacs will have to grow up early on defense and a running game would help. Skinner needs to have a big year for Wake to have a chance in the division. He might be the most important player to his team in the ACC.

Oct 24 @ Miami
Offense-The Canes have a new offensive coordinator and a new full-time starter at quarterback in Jacory Harris. He looked like a true freshman at times last season but the offense will be as good as he lets them be. There is a lot of young talent on this side of the ball.
Defense-Like the offense, Miami’s defense has a new coordinator and a bunch of young talent. Former Clemson defensive coordinator John Lovett will have young stars like Sean Spence and Marcus Fortson to work with.
Summary-Something still has not clicked down on Coral Gables. Randy Shannon’s group lost their last three games last year to finish at 7-6. He enters 2009 on the hotseat.

Oct 31 Coastal Carolina
Note: Coastal is coming off of a 6-6 season a year ago. Former Clemson assistant David Bennett will bring his team to Clemson for the first time.

Nov 7 Florida State
Offense-For the first time in years FSU is more experienced on offense than defense. Christian Ponder is kind of like the rest of the program in that he is not as good as they had 10 years ago but he is better than they had three years ago. FSU is getting back but it is not back yet. The offensive line returns everyone and should eventually be better. There is talent but inexperience at running back. The wide outs will miss Preston Parker but there is talent there.
Defense-It has been a while since it has happened but FSU is thin at some places on defense. They have to replace DE Everett Brown, SS Myron Rolle, DE Neely Moffitt, two linebackers including Derek Nicholson, CB Tony Carter and FS Darius McClure.
Summary-The Noles physically beat up Clemson last year but the Tigers have played well against FSU in Clemson. This is a key game for the division.

Nov 14 @ North Carolina State
Offense-The Pack should be better on offense mainly because Russell Wilson will be more experienced. They lose Andre Brown but Jamelle Eugene is back and Toney Brown may finally be healthy. They wide outs were not good last season but everyone returns. They will miss Anthony Hill at TE. The offensive line returns three starters but is not a strength.
Defense-State was average on defense a year ago but LB Nate Irving returns and might be the best defensive player in the league. The Wolfpack must replace JC Neal and Jeremy Gray in the secondary.
Summary-State finished the season strong a year ago and will be better if Russell stays healthy and Baker returns to form. This has traditionally been a tough place for the Tigers in recent seasons.

Nov 21 Virginia
Offense-Virginia has new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Offensively they will run the spread. Jamelle Sewell looks like he could come back to run the attack after sitting out last season. They lose Cedric Peerman, Kevin Ogletree and Eugene Monroe, their three best players from an average offense.
Defense-Defensive coordinator Bob Pruitt retired so there may be a new scheme on defense. The Cavs will have to replace three starting linebackers from last season.
Summary-The Cavs lost their last four games tom finish at 5-7 and I am not sure they will be improved in 2009. Al Groh is squarely on the hot seat in Charlottesville and by the time this game comes around we may already know his fate.

Nov 28 @ South Carolina
Offense-The Gamecocks are trying to improve in three areas from a bad offense last season. They would like to improve the offensive line and have hired a new OL coach who gets most of the players back. USC would like to finally run the ball well but the running backs are inexperienced. The passing game will need to improve and stop turning the ball over. Stephen Garcia gets the starting job but he will miss Jared Cook and Kenny McKinley, his two favorite targets.
Defense-South Carolina has been pretty good for a couple of years but must replace Jasper Brinkley and Emanual Cook. The defense will welcome back Eric Norwood and will be OK if highly recruited players like Cliff Matthews play up to their potential.
Summary-South Carolina is looking to finally break through under Steve Spurrier. However, they have question marks at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive line. Spurrier needs to beat Dabo or things might get ugly if he goes 0-2 against the new Tiger coach.

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