Wednesday February 18, 2009

Maryland Review; Defensive Players at the Combine

Maryland Review
Oliver Purnell told everyone after the Duke game that the Tigers still have not played their best basketball. However, they will have a hard time playing any better than they did in the second half last night.

It was a 59-point second half that helped Clemson to its largest victory margin ever against Maryland. Until last night’s 29-point win the largest margin of victory a Clemson team had over Maryland was 22 points in 1977.

Some of the offensive numbers really standpoint. Some of the impressive numbers include:
*Six different Tigers hit three pointers.

*The Tigers were 12-26 (46%) from behind the arc which is actually like 18-26 or 69% from two point land.

*Clemson shot 57.8% from the field including 68.6% in the second half.

*The Tigers shot 78% from the free throw line.

*The Tigers won the battle on the boards, 37-33.

*Six Tigers were in double figures.

*Trevor Booker had another double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

*Demontez Stitt had perhaps his best game of the season with 15 points including 3-6 from three point land. But his main contribution came in his aggressive driving the ball into the lane.

*Clemson’s bench had its best game in several weeks.

*Jerai Grant had 10 points, two assists four rebounds and a block. Grant was 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line.

*Andre Young had 10 points including 4-5 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc.

*Tanner Smith and David Potter both hit two three pointers and pitched in some terrific defense again.

*Terrence Oglesby was only 2-10 from behind the arc but he had six assists and only one turnover.

*Clemson was coming off of the most turnovers they suffered in an ACC game against Virginia but last night the Tigers turned it over only 12 times.

*Clemson outscored Maryland in the paint 44-30.

*The Tigers had 20 points off of turnovers compared to the Terps’ 13.

*Clemson’s bench outscored Maryland’s 34-15.

All of the stats were impressive but the stats don’t tell the entire story. Clemson’s ball movement was the best we have seen all year. The interior passing game was terrific. The confidence seemed to grow every trip down court. The energy was better. The students in attendance were fantastic. The night was close to perfect.

Last night was one to cherish. Maryland is a traditional power. They have a national championship this decade. Sure they are nowhere near as talented now as they have been but it still feels so good to destroy an ACC team like this. I like Gary Williams but I like him a lot more when Clemson beats him by 29.

Like the Duke win, I will put this one in the memory bank because these types of wins are few and far between. Maybe a little less few and a little less far between in the future under Oliver Purnell though.

That was one fun evening.

Clemson’s Defensive Players at the Combine
The NFL Combine starts today in Indianapolis and Clemson has six players on the initial official invitee list. There are changes to the list sometimes but of the 360 players invited James Davis, Cullen Harper, Aaron Kelly, Dorell Scott, Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemens were on the list.

Yesterday I took a look at the offensive players representing Clemson at the combine and today we will preview the defensive players.

Dorell Scott will go about 6-3 or 6-4 and about 320 at the combine this week. He moves his feet well enough to play in the league too. The NFL is full of guys like Scott. He is a big body who can stop the run and command double teams. He is also just good enough as an athlete to create a little pass rush. Scott looks like a lot of defensive tackles ranked between 10th and 20th at their position. I think this combine will be huge. He could go anywhere from the third to the sixth round.

Rashaad Jackson is a little undersized for a defensive tackle in the league at about 6-2 and 285. However, he will impress scouts in his individual workouts. He is more athletic than Dorell Scott and actually was more productive when he was healthy. Jackson is a high character guy that I think has a good chance at playing some in the league despite his fifth to seventh round projections.

Chris Clemens is about 6-1 and around 210 pounds. He will impress the NFL people with his top end speed. He is also a good open field tackler. Where he will not impress scouts is his level of production. Clemens was solid but never spectacular in college. He is a safe pick late in the draft form a team that needs help at safety. Clemens currently projects about the sixth or seventh round heading into the combine.

Michael Hamlin is about 6-3 and around 205 pounds. I was surprised that he did not play well in the Senior Bowl week. I think Hamlin is a bright player that is very productive so I was very surprised when he hurt his stock in Mobile. He does not do any one thing extremely well but is pretty well rounded. He is not overly physical but I think is physical enough. He does not run all that well but runs well enough. His intelligence will be his biggest attribute. Scouts like Hamlin in the range of a third or fourth round pick heading into the combine.

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Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Kaitlyn L, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Sandy Wright, Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, Ronnie Queen, Edward Putman, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Anna Rawl, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey.