Thursday August 30, 2007

Clemson Offense vs. FSU Defense; Roll Tigers Roll

Clemson Offense vs. FSU Defense
If you have been reading this blog or listening to the radio show lately you might get the impression that I might be mistaking the Florida State program for the Weber State program.

FSU is nowhere near as bad as it sounds but the point I have made over and over again is the Noles are not what they used to be. We documented again yesterday in the preview of the FSU offense that the personnel is not what it used to be. Today I will make the same case for the defense even though the difference is not quite the same.

My evaluation has as much to do with the respect I have for their past as it does my disrespect for their current personnel. I keep hearing how talented their defense is and how they can become dominant again but I just don’t see it.

In 1987 the Noles started a great run on defense when they held opponents to 12.3 points per game. Over the next 13 years they never gave up more than 18.2 points per contest. The decline began six seasons ago when they got torched for 26.1 points per game in 2001. Since then the Noles have allowed 21.5, 16.7, 14.1 22.0 and 19.8 points per game. This is a big increase overall change since their 1993 defense that allowed just 9.4 points a game.

From 1990 to 2000 FSU had four defensive players that won the Lomardi Award or finished second (Marvin Jones, Jamal Reynolds, Corey Simon and Andre Wadsworth). Deion Sanders and Terrell Buckley won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988 and 1991. The Seminoles have not had a consensus All-American on defense since Reynolds in 2000.

Last season nine teams scored at least 20 points against Florida State while the 1993 defense had only three teams accomplish the feat.

At the risk of repeating past blogs, does this group scare you? Where are Marvin Jones, Derrick Brooks, Deion Sanders and crew? I don’t believe Neefy Moffitt fits the mold nor does the pair of 5-9 cornerbacks.

Now it also needs to be stated that this group of Clemson offensive players might not remind you of Charlie Whitehurst, Derrick Hamilton or Kyle Young. But I truly believe that C.J. Spiller and James Davis will be the two best players on the field when FSU is on defense. Geno Hayes is good but I would not trade #1 or #28 for him.

I think Clemson has concerns at right tackle. I also believe there are issues at center and maybe at quarterback for the Tigers. This group of receivers is not the best in school history either but they don’t have to be to win.

Much like yesterday’s analysis of the FSU offense, I think Clemson has to run the football effectively to win Monday night. In my opinion it will be extremely difficult for the Tigers to have to throw the football when the Seminoles know they are going to throw it. The Tigers need to be able to dictate to the Seminoles what they will do offensively and not let FSU control that aspect of the game.

Like FSU, I also believe Clemson will have to win the war in the trenches. This offensive line is not as experienced as last year’s group but I do think it has more potential and more depth than the group FSU will bring to the stadium.

I believe Clemson will try to run the ball in different ways as well. Look for Davis and Spiller to be in the game at the same time and look for a running back at quarterback on certain plays.

Speaking of quarterbacks we continue to hear good things about Cullen Harper’s development. He has made a very good impression on his teammates and I think he has the trust of this team.

In am not sure either offense can drive the football consistently against the opposing defenses so field position will be a key. In terms of field position there are two ways to flip the field in your favor, turnovers and the kicking game. I am not sure which team has an advantage in either department but it will be a key.

One last key to the match up of the Clemson offense Monday night is Jacoby Ford. It seems he has not been talked about too much in the pre-season but I expect the sophomore to have a big season and it could begin Monday night.

Roll Tigers Roll
About a week ago we started to hear the rumor of Clemson being interested in playing Alabama in October of 2008 in the Georgia Dome. The Tigers may have an opening due to Central Florida’s move to Conference USA and Alabama does not want to face UTEP because of the Mike Price fiasco. So it makes sense to both schools.

I think this is a brilliant idea. Clemson and Alabama share so much history and these programs need to get together more often. It is my understanding that this will not work for either team on a home-and-home basis so a neutral site makes more sense.

Last season the Temple game would have worked in Charlotte had it been on a Saturday. I love the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, the Red River Rivalry, the Army-Navy game and really almost any yearly game that features a neutral site.

I would love to see Burton Burns on the sidelines again but I can’t imagine Coach Burns wanting to see Davis and Spiller in person in that fashion.

Atlanta also makes so much sense. Clemson will not be playing in Atlanta next season because Georgia Tech is scheduled to visit Tigertown in 2008. In fact, Clemson and Auburn have so much support in the Atlanta area that I think Tigers vs Tigers in the Dome makes a lot of sense also.

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