Wednesday May 23, 2007

The Key

The Key
As last football season approached I had a question from a caller on the radio show, “What is the key to Clemson’s season?” he asked.

I answered that Clemson must win the close games.

I know that sounds like I was dodging the question but I thought that was the key. The previous year Clemson had seven games decided by less than a touchdown and went 3-4 that season. However, the Tigers won just one of their last five games that were decided by less than a touchdown. The 2005 season saw Clemson drop three straight to Miami, Boston College and Wake Forest all by six points or less including a total of four overtimes during that stretch. They went on to lose a one-point decision at Georgia Tech that season.

We all know that Clemson went 8-5 last season but was just 1-3 in games decided by less than a touchdown. One-point losses to Boston College and Maryland hurt and a three-point loss to South Carolina was devastating.

As much as close wins give you momentum, close losses are often killers. But I think teams are playing more close games than I remember as a kid. Wake Forest went 5-0 last year in games decided by seven points or less. If one of those ended in a loss the Deacons may not have won the ACC title last season.

We all understand that one or two plays can turn a season but we all hate the “parity” card. However, as much as we dislike the concept, it holds true.

Consider the following:
*In my opinion, Maryland was not very talented last season but went 9-4. It helps that the Terps went 5-1 in games decided by six points or less. Maryland won five straight games by a total of 13 points including a three-point win, two two-point wins and a one-point win.

*NC State went 2-7 in games decided by eight points or less last season and finished the year at 3-9. NC State fired Chuck Amato after the season.

*Rutgers had a magical season last year partly due to its 3-1 record in games decided by five points or less.

*Auburn’s 11-2 season was highlighted by its 5-0 record in games decided by seven points or less.

*Oklahoma went 11-2 last year but two of the losses were by one-point. Both of the losses were memorable. The refs cost the Sooners the Oregon game and the Fiesta Bowl was a thrilling high-scoring affair with Boise State.

*In the regular season last year, Texas A&M went 9-3 but their three losses were by a total of six points. The Aggies dropped a four-point game to Texas Tech before one-point losses to Oklahoma and Nebraska.

If these type games can make or break your season, how can you improve your chances to win these games? The answers are not clear cut. If your running game is struggling then there are things you can do to help it out. Same goes for almost any aspect of your team. But how do you win the close one?

Obviously turnovers are always a key. I would say two other aspects can help you in the close games. First is the kicking game and the other is to not beat yourself with mistakes.

I would make the case that the losing teams do more to lose close games instead of the winning team doing something to win the close one.

I want Clemson to play smarter in 2007. I cringe at the meaningless penalties and mistakes. How many times have mental mistakes hurt this program in recent years? Sometimes you can see it happen before it happens. The opponent has it third and 17 and Clemson commits a meaningless pass interference penalty. If it was not a pass interference it was roughing the passer or some other personal foul. Please get the formation and personnel packages correct.

I don’t want to see a quarterback run out of bounds short of the first down marker. Please spare me the block in the back on a kick return that has no impact on the play. If I never see another defensive lineman jump offsides on third and four then I will die a happy man.

The other major factor in close games is the special teams. Clemson has been very strong in some areas and very weak in others. It seems that they years the Tigers are good in kick-off returns, the punting game is pathetic. If the coverage is good, the extra-point and field goals are terrible. When was the last time Clemson won the field position battle?

Call me crazy but I would like to watch an extra-point or a field goal from inside of 35-yards and not expect the worse. Two years ago it was an adventure anytime the Tigers had to punt the ball.

Of all of the great players in Clemson history, is it too much of a stretch to say that the past two teams could have used Nelson Welch and David Sims more than they could have used Terry Kinard and Perry Tuttle? Would a simple David Treadwell would have been worth more than Terry Allen?

There is a school of thought that also said if Gaines Adams would have made one more sack or if James Davis would have broken one more tackle you win a close one but the special teams are so simple to see.

Turnovers hurt also. Would Clemson have won at Boston College without Chansi Stuckey’s fumble? The fourth quarter fumble against South Carolina was the momentum turner also. And the Kentucky loss was filled with miscue after miscue.

I would say the losses could be blamed on several things. The Boston College loss saw awful kick-off coverage. The red-zone offense against Maryland was terrible. The run defense against South Carolina was pitiful. The game plan against Kentucky was inexcusable.

But in the end you can still look at the little things that helped lead to close wins and losses and the little things can be the difference in contract extensions and contract terminations.

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