Tuesday linkage
posted by LW, Tuesday, December 29, 2009
No major theme stands out today.
Just a bunch of football links looking back at the season, and assessing next season.
Ron Morris of The State says the top priority in 2010 isn't replacing C.J. Spiller, but stopping the run.
I would somewhat agree with that take, considering that replacing Spiller's diverse impact on the game is impossible.
No matter what Spiller offered Clemson, it became irrelevant in games in which the Tigers' defense could not stop the opposing team's running game. Clemson opponents rushed for more than 150 yards six times. The Tigers lost four of those games.
The Clemson defense never seemed to solve attacks that featured either some sort of option or the Wildcat formation. Georgia Tech used the option in both victories against Clemson while rolling up 301 and 333 yards rushing. TCU (162 yards) used a spread option, and Miami (177 yards) operated out of the shotgun with a mobile quarterback.
Even South Carolina unveiled a spread option component to its offense, and the Gamecocks racked up 223 yards rushing. During one stretch extending into the Music City Bowl, Clemson had not forced the opponent into a three-and-out on 21 consecutive possessions.
One small quibble: He's wrong about Miami, which largely runs under-center, between-the-tackles stuff with play-action off of it.
It should also be noted that, in the last three games, the offense had the ball too little because it either a) had three-and-outs or b) scored too quickly. That, in addition to opposing offenses hogging the ball, contributes to the gaping disparity in time of possession in those games.
But his central point -- that the defense needs to stop the run and get off the field -- is sound.
Paul Strelow has five questions for 2010, and the huge holes at WR and LB tend to stand out.
The lack of receiving options is a huge deal, but you have to be confident in Billy Napier after what he did in his first full season running the show. That's what Paul hits on in this blog post.
I was equally impressed with the job Napier did after the 2-3 start. It has been speculated by me and others that he was given more philosophical and game-day leeway after the loss at Maryland, and the numbers dramatically improved from that point.
You have to wonder how Kyle Parker would've developed if Rob Spence were still here. Not to pile on Spence -- he had some really good ideas, evidenced by the fact that his successors retained a lot of his system -- but he had some basket-case tendencies that seemed to infect his quarterbacks at times.
The 30-year-old Napier was always the picture of coolness, whether answering difficult questions from reporters after a game or calling the shots from the box during a game.
I'm sure Napier had some churning moments this season on the inside, but you never saw it on the outside. That matters when you're tutoring a quarterback, and you have to think it really matters when you're tutoring a first-year quarterback.
After a 2-3 start that included some really shaky moments against Maryland and TCU, would KP have improved to the degree he did had Spence remained offensive coordinator? I have my doubts.
And what about Napier sticking up for his QB during the much-publicized practice feud with Swinney the week after the Maryland debacle? That's something that's been mostly forgotten, but you have to think it was a positive in Parker's development.
Two minor second-guesses, though: It seemed to me that the Tigers went away from their I formation running game too much against South Carolina and Kentucky.
Had they stuck with it against the Gamecocks -- before they fell behind 24-7, of course -- you have to think Spiller or Andre Ellington manages to break one.
And I was a bit perplexed that they didn't feed Spiller the ball more out of the I in the bowl game.
But overall, a fine piece of coordinating from Napier in 2009. Given that Dabo Swinney's decision to promote Napier drew some of the most severe scrutiny during the offseason, and early this season, Dat Boy deserves a heck of a lot of credit for what he saw in Napier.
In The Post and Courier, Gene Sapakoff writes about Spiller passing the torch to Ellington and Jamie Harper.
There are worse positions to be in than having these two replacing the best player in college football. I said over the summer that Ellington would be starting at most other places, and he supported that assessment. Harper had some difficult times this season -- most notably the game-turning fumble at South Carolina -- but he really looked good in the bowl game.
Ellington should be the starter from day one of the post-Spiller era, IMO.
Also in the P&C, Swinney says the Tigers made progress in 2009.
Measuring the team against Swinney's own preseason goals, Clemson reached 60 percent of its objectives: the program's first Atlantic Division title, Clemson's first bowl win in four seasons, and Clemson's opening win.
The Tigers failed in the other posted two goals: win the state championship and ACC title.
"Next year we have things in place, guys better understanding the system," Swinney said.
Senior Ricky Sapp said the season is made more impressive when considering the coaching turnover, which he said shouldn't be underplayed.
"The coaching change," Sapp said, "that's a hard deal."
Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail has some serious questions about 2010.
Heather Dinich has ridden the Clemson bandwagon for a while, and she ain't getting off now.
It’s not just the players, though. This staff, in its first year, managed to change the mindset at Clemson. Dabo Swinney and his staff got Clemson to its first ACC championship game. It coaxed the team out of a rut -- twice. Once at the beginning of the season after a 2-3 start, and again at the end of the season, after tough back-to-back losses to rival South Carolina and Georgia Tech. And Swinney suspended four backups for breaking their bowl curfew, instilling discipline along the way.
Clemson won’t be the same without Spiller and Jacoby Ford next year. The Tigers will have some work to do in the Atlantic Division. But the program took an important step forward this season under Swinney, and they did it when nobody was expecting it.
In 2010, feel free to expect something from the Tigers -- even without No. 28.
Miami hopes a Champs Sports Bowl victory propels them to greater heights next season.
Raise your hand if you thought the Canes would win 10 games this year.
A West Virginia player named Boogie Allen is looking for extra Gator Bowl tickets. He should get them for free on name alone.
In the Greenville News, Trevor Booker hits his stride at the right time for the Tigers heading into tonight's game against South Carolina State.
More on the bball team in the Seneca paper.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
No major theme stands out today.
Just a bunch of football links looking back at the season, and assessing next season.
Ron Morris of The State says the top priority in 2010 isn't replacing C.J. Spiller, but stopping the run.
I would somewhat agree with that take, considering that replacing Spiller's diverse impact on the game is impossible.
No matter what Spiller offered Clemson, it became irrelevant in games in which the Tigers' defense could not stop the opposing team's running game. Clemson opponents rushed for more than 150 yards six times. The Tigers lost four of those games.
The Clemson defense never seemed to solve attacks that featured either some sort of option or the Wildcat formation. Georgia Tech used the option in both victories against Clemson while rolling up 301 and 333 yards rushing. TCU (162 yards) used a spread option, and Miami (177 yards) operated out of the shotgun with a mobile quarterback.
Even South Carolina unveiled a spread option component to its offense, and the Gamecocks racked up 223 yards rushing. During one stretch extending into the Music City Bowl, Clemson had not forced the opponent into a three-and-out on 21 consecutive possessions.
One small quibble: He's wrong about Miami, which largely runs under-center, between-the-tackles stuff with play-action off of it.
It should also be noted that, in the last three games, the offense had the ball too little because it either a) had three-and-outs or b) scored too quickly. That, in addition to opposing offenses hogging the ball, contributes to the gaping disparity in time of possession in those games.
But his central point -- that the defense needs to stop the run and get off the field -- is sound.
Paul Strelow has five questions for 2010, and the huge holes at WR and LB tend to stand out.
The lack of receiving options is a huge deal, but you have to be confident in Billy Napier after what he did in his first full season running the show. That's what Paul hits on in this blog post.
I was equally impressed with the job Napier did after the 2-3 start. It has been speculated by me and others that he was given more philosophical and game-day leeway after the loss at Maryland, and the numbers dramatically improved from that point.
You have to wonder how Kyle Parker would've developed if Rob Spence were still here. Not to pile on Spence -- he had some really good ideas, evidenced by the fact that his successors retained a lot of his system -- but he had some basket-case tendencies that seemed to infect his quarterbacks at times.
The 30-year-old Napier was always the picture of coolness, whether answering difficult questions from reporters after a game or calling the shots from the box during a game.
I'm sure Napier had some churning moments this season on the inside, but you never saw it on the outside. That matters when you're tutoring a quarterback, and you have to think it really matters when you're tutoring a first-year quarterback.
After a 2-3 start that included some really shaky moments against Maryland and TCU, would KP have improved to the degree he did had Spence remained offensive coordinator? I have my doubts.
And what about Napier sticking up for his QB during the much-publicized practice feud with Swinney the week after the Maryland debacle? That's something that's been mostly forgotten, but you have to think it was a positive in Parker's development.
Two minor second-guesses, though: It seemed to me that the Tigers went away from their I formation running game too much against South Carolina and Kentucky.
Had they stuck with it against the Gamecocks -- before they fell behind 24-7, of course -- you have to think Spiller or Andre Ellington manages to break one.
And I was a bit perplexed that they didn't feed Spiller the ball more out of the I in the bowl game.
But overall, a fine piece of coordinating from Napier in 2009. Given that Dabo Swinney's decision to promote Napier drew some of the most severe scrutiny during the offseason, and early this season, Dat Boy deserves a heck of a lot of credit for what he saw in Napier.
In The Post and Courier, Gene Sapakoff writes about Spiller passing the torch to Ellington and Jamie Harper.
There are worse positions to be in than having these two replacing the best player in college football. I said over the summer that Ellington would be starting at most other places, and he supported that assessment. Harper had some difficult times this season -- most notably the game-turning fumble at South Carolina -- but he really looked good in the bowl game.
Ellington should be the starter from day one of the post-Spiller era, IMO.
Also in the P&C, Swinney says the Tigers made progress in 2009.
Measuring the team against Swinney's own preseason goals, Clemson reached 60 percent of its objectives: the program's first Atlantic Division title, Clemson's first bowl win in four seasons, and Clemson's opening win.
The Tigers failed in the other posted two goals: win the state championship and ACC title.
"Next year we have things in place, guys better understanding the system," Swinney said.
Senior Ricky Sapp said the season is made more impressive when considering the coaching turnover, which he said shouldn't be underplayed.
"The coaching change," Sapp said, "that's a hard deal."
Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail has some serious questions about 2010.
Heather Dinich has ridden the Clemson bandwagon for a while, and she ain't getting off now.
It’s not just the players, though. This staff, in its first year, managed to change the mindset at Clemson. Dabo Swinney and his staff got Clemson to its first ACC championship game. It coaxed the team out of a rut -- twice. Once at the beginning of the season after a 2-3 start, and again at the end of the season, after tough back-to-back losses to rival South Carolina and Georgia Tech. And Swinney suspended four backups for breaking their bowl curfew, instilling discipline along the way.
Clemson won’t be the same without Spiller and Jacoby Ford next year. The Tigers will have some work to do in the Atlantic Division. But the program took an important step forward this season under Swinney, and they did it when nobody was expecting it.
In 2010, feel free to expect something from the Tigers -- even without No. 28.
Miami hopes a Champs Sports Bowl victory propels them to greater heights next season.
Raise your hand if you thought the Canes would win 10 games this year.
A West Virginia player named Boogie Allen is looking for extra Gator Bowl tickets. He should get them for free on name alone.
In the Greenville News, Trevor Booker hits his stride at the right time for the Tigers heading into tonight's game against South Carolina State.
More on the bball team in the Seneca paper.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.