Friday August 10, 2007

Friday Mail Bag

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Mickey,

Joe

Joe,
I think I may have not used the right phrase to describe this class. I was trying to point out the positives of the class. If you told any coach in the country that 19 of 21 signees would be everything you thought they would be and more they would ecstatic. If you told them that 19 of 21 would be so good you would recruit them again they would be extremely happy. That percentage is excellent. I can go back to every class in the last 20 years and give you more than two that they would not have recruited again. You are never going to sign a class that is 100% successful.

One coach says only two players have to work extremely hard to contribute. They will recruit players that will be more talented than those two. I would never publish who those two are. That would be very inappropriate. Plus those two have a chance to work hard and develop.

In summary, this class is very, very good.

Mickey,
Do you feel the coaches are in a bit of a dilemma with Korn and Harper at QB?

Prime.#21

Prime,
The coaches will play the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win. I think at some point Korn will win the job. I don’t know when but it will happen and that point will be when he is the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win.

I have no idea who they will lose to but I would say they will be underdogs against FSU, Virginia Tech and South Carolina. I am not sure who will be favored at NC State, Maryland and Georgia Tech or at home against Wake Forest or Boston College. I think it is way too early to tell.

Mickey,
So how do you select the questions you want to answer? I asked a straight forward question last week as to why at this early juncture do you sign so many 2 star players. Why not hold those slots to see what you're going to get later. The answer I don't think would be as simple as they have so MUCH potential. It seems if you want numbers, you can grab 2 stars on signing day by the dozens. What say you?

Mel

Mel,

I only have space for 1,000-2,000 word blogs each day so I answer the first ones that come in each week or the ones that are different that we still have room for.

I would not pay too much attention to the star stuff but outside of the kicker, punter and snapper most of this class is highly rated. The only other player not rated highly is Brandon Ford who camped at Clemson and Georgia and both offered. The Clemson staff feels like he is one of the top prospects in this class.

BTW, I saw on rivals.co they have Clemson number 18 in recruiting and scout.com has the Tigers 14th.

Mickey,

Shaun

Shaun,

Thanks for your insight. I think they think of it but I also think they feel the Top 20 movement is more of a priority.

Hey Idiot,

Triple T

Triple T,
Thanks for the kind words. First, let me say that I think Coach Koenning has every right to say what he feels and he was obviously upset at me for making a few comments about his scheme in a few games. He has the right to express how he feels about it.

I also think it is OK for me to question the scheme when it does not work. Would you not agree? Few are immune to criticism and that includes the coach and the radio host.

Clemson’s defense had 722 plays last year and their linebackers had seven sacks and 10 quarterback pressures the entire year. In three games against pocket passers with little mobility (Boston College and Matt Ryan on a bad ankle, Maryland and Stan Hollenbach and South Carolina and Blake Mitchell) Clemson had a total of 13 yards in sacks. They did not sack Blake Mitchell the entire game. I think it is fair to question the scheme.

The last two games of the season Clemson gave up 901 yards. I think it is OK to question the scheme.

College football at this level is a big business. I am not sure any coach should be surprised if you give up 900 yards in two games that you might be questioned.

I was also surprised he named a former defensive coordinator at Clemson in the interview and threw him under the bus. That is the only thing that upsets me. I don’t think it is good protocol to talk about former coaches in that manner. He has every right to question a sports talk show host but not former coaches.

One final note, I called a former coach a couple of years ago to explain what I said on the radio about his scheme. I wanted to explain myself and tell him why I said what I said. I felt a little foolish a few seconds in the call when the assistant said, “Mickey, no offense but I am too busy to listen to your show. For every second I spend worrying about sports talk radio is a second I could have spent on my job and my players.”

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