More tight end?

posted by LW, Friday, October 09, 2009

I spent the offseason thinking and saying that the evolution of Clemson's offensive philosophy would be the most compelling thing to watch in Dabo Swinney's first full season as coach.

Five games in, that's been the case.

It's hard to get a precise read on exactly what's going on for two reasons: 1) Our efforts to tap the headsets on game day have proved unsuccessful, and 2) Swinney and his first-year offensive coordinator, Billy Napier, are guarded when it comes to revealing the play-calling responsibility.

Napier said earlier this week that Swinney has called no more than a couple of plays per game. Swinney said yesterday that he's felt compelled to call his own plays on "very few" occasions.

I don't know about that. Not calling these guys liars, but I think it's been a lot more complicated than that.

When your offense produces two touchdowns over a 13-quarter stretch and is a disaster in the red zone, things probably aren't going swimmingly over the headsets during games -- or on the practice fields between games.

Which brings us to this story by The Post and Courier's Travis Sawchik, who explores the possibility that tight end Dwayne Allen become more involved in the offense.

Napier seems a huge fan of getting more opportunities for Allen, who's caught two balls for 17 yards.

"Dwayne Allen is a guy we gotta get going," Napier said. "He's a guy you've got to live and die with at a certain point.

"Let him go. Let him grow up."

Swinney, not so much.

"He's got a chance every week," Swinney said. "He's got a chance every day on the practice field to do the right things.

"Dwayne Allen is no doubt a guy who can help us. But we have to do things right. There are a lot of things you have to do in order to get the ball."

Moving forward, one of the most pressing questions facing this offense is whether the receivers, who have been a major disappointment, deserve to keep getting opportunities that they have largely botched to this point.

Should this offense feature as many four-wide sets? Or should it feature more looks with two tight ends, getting the best players onto the field more?

It's an interesting debate. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Tigers' offensive meeting room.


Also in the P&C, Sawchik writes about the battle at center.
Bart Wright weighs in on the current FSU fiasco, saying Bobby Bowden should know not to claim entitlement as he hangs on in Tallahassee.

An angry Chuck Amato says he and Jimbo Fisher are actually pals, contrary to popular belief.

Good 'ole Chuckie. Life has been good the last few years not having to hear him talk ... or see him prancing around in those hideous red shoes.


Good story by The State's Bob Gillespie on Kevin Steele and John Chavis.

Steven Bradley of the Seneca paper says Clemson fans need to be more patient.

Hope Steven has freed up plenty of space in his e-mail box.

Wake Forest cornerback Kenny Okoro is finding his sea legs with the Demon Deacons. Stories on the redshirt freshman cornerback here and here.

Georgia Tech is wary as it steps into the Seminoles' soap opera.


Virginia Tech's offense looks pretty good this year after finishing 99th or worst the previous three years (and still managing to snag two ACC titles).

I think I recall writing that the Hokies wouldn't miss Darren Evans as much as folks were saying after his season-ending knee injury. Given how much I'm wrong, it's good to be right every now and then.


LW

For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.

Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home

---