As Tommy Bowden enters his 4th season as Clemson Head Coach, he seems to be losing a little of that "new car" smell. In some ways, Bowden is a victim of his own hype. Bowden and staff did little to slow the unrealistic expectations of Tiger fans after the 8-0 start in 2000. Since Bowden arrived, the Tigers have been a soft football team that lacks the toughness and depth to win on a consistent basis.
The pressure is on Bowden to show his team is getting deeper and better in 2001. Once the darling of the ACC, Bowden must now play second fiddle to hot new names like Amato, Friedgen, and Groh. This could be to his advantage as the '02 Tigers just might sneak up on some folks.
Offensively, Clemson doesn't try to overpower anyone. They like to spread teams out and force them to make plays in the open field without help. The running game is simple yet effective when combined with a potent passing game. Clemson will use the draw play to keep the d-line honest. Many teams like to bring 6-7 pass rushers at a time to overload Clemson's offensive line. This can be very effective but you've got to get there quick because those talented receivers are one missed tackle away from going to the house. Clemson must replace the 3 interior starters on the o-line. These youngsters must step up in big way or Bowden will have a tough time getting this offense clicking. Junior QB Willie Simmons should be an effective starter and the WR corps is loaded. The question is will Simmons have time to get the football where it needs to go.
Clemson struggled in a major way on defense last season giving up more than 35 points 5 times. The defensive front was overmatched at times and nagging injuries to the departed Jovon Bush and Nick Eason didn't help matters. The secondary has been suspect since '00 and really struggled last year. Former Auburn DC John Lovett moves in to take over for the much-maligned Reggie Herring. I don't expect Lovett to change things up that much. Tiger fans hope that an improved defensive line will help take some pressure of a secondary that is still somewhat suspect. The Linebackers, led by junior John Leake, are speedy playmakers. They will be expected to carry a big load. This isn't a great unit, but if CU gets the offense rolling they could be just good enough.
Offensive Starters Returning: Official Count:4 Axe's Count: 5 or 6
Quarterbacks (0 Starters Returning) Junior Willie Simmons finally gets his shot to be the man. Jacket fans may remember Simmons was very close to joining the Jackets in the winter of '99, but choose the Tigers late. Simmons burst on the scene in 2000 with a 4 touchdown performance against UNC in a big comeback win. However, Simmons has struggled some since that big performance which isn't that odd considering how scattered his playing time has been. He has plenty of experience against some very good teams. He isn't the runner that Dantzler is, but he can move around pretty well. GT fans will remember his clutch scramble and TD pass to Rod Gardner that nearly beat GT in 2000. Simmons must improve his accuracy and decision-making ability for Clemson to be successful. Freshman and Atlanta native Charlie Whitehurst could push Simmons if the junior is slow out of the gate. The 6-4 Whitehurst is a strong-armed QB that the coaches are high on. He had a good spring.
Running Backs(0 Starters Returning)It seems like the flashy Travis Zachery was at Clemson forever. Some Tiger fans are glad he's gone and ready to move forward with more of team player at the RB position. Clemson usually uses one RB in their offensive sets and it appears that a number of players will pitch in here. Senior Bernard Rambert returns after averaging 4.9 yards per carry and racking up 368 yards on the ground. He is a very productive back and should get the bulk of the carries. Sophomore Keith Kelly was a hot name for Tiger Fans in 2000 when he broke on the scene as a true freshman. The coaches decided to redshirt Kelly last season and expect good things from him in '02. Both guys are much tougher than Zachery, but might not be as good catching the ball out of the backfield. Junior Chad Jasmin is a fullback type but got plenty of action in the spring at RB. He will get action as a fullback and some at RB.
Wide Receiver & TE ( 4 Starters Returning)Clemson uses 4 wide sets most of the time and most of their major contributors return including junior Kevin Youngblood who returns after missing all of 2001. Clemson did suffer some bad luck when they lost sophomore Roscoe Crosby to an injury. He will be out for the season. However, Clemson is still well-stocked at this position. Sophomore Derrick Hamilton had an outstanding season a year ago catching 53 balls. He's got outstanding quickness and was difficult to bring down in the open field. Hamilton was also the league's best Kickoff returner a year ago. Airese Curry, JJ McKelvey, and Jackie Robinson are all experienced and talented players who should get plenty of action. In addition, true freshmen Kelvin Grant and Ty Zimmerman were highly recruited out of high school and could be a factor.
Offensive Line (2 Starters Returning) This is the biggest question mark for the Clemson team. As a group, they must give Simmons the time he needs to get the ball into their WR's hands. Seniors Gary Byrd and Derrick Brantley return to man the tackle spots. Both have decent size but are just steady tackles. It remains to be seen if Byrd has the feet and quickness to handle the LT spot. These tackles are asked to handle DEs and LBs without much help from a TE or RB. Clemson was hurt badly inside by graduation. Youngsters such as Nick Black, Greg Walker, , and Jermyn Chester must step up quickly. If this unit can't put it together, Clemson might be battling for 5th or 6th in the league.
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Line ( 3 Starters Returning) This was a very shaky unit a year ago as the Tiger defense struggled with injuries and inexperienced play upfront. Clemson is far from dominate this year but they should be improved. Senior Bryant McNeal and junior Khaleed Vaughn form a solid DE combo. McNeal lead the team in sacks a year ago with 6 1/2. Nick Eason is good inside, but could be just a little overrated. If he can stay healthy he should have a fine season. There is decent depth at end but some youngsters will need to step up at the backup DT spots. Heavily recruited as a TE a few years ago, junior Todd McLinton will be asked to learn quickly at DT. This unit has the chance to be solid, but there is little margin for error.
Linebackers (2 Starters Returning) This is Clemson's best unit on defense. Junior John Leake is one of the ACC's best playmakers. Senior Rodney Thomas also returns after a couple years as a starter. Speedy soph Eric Sampson will get his shot after playing well as a true freshman. This is a fast group with depth, they will try to confuse opposing offenses by being very active. However, if the front doesn't hold up, this undersized unit might be exposed against the run.
Secondary (Starters Returning) This group got taken out behind the woodshed on a regular basis last year. They should perform with a year of experience under their belts, but Clemson fans aren't expecting greatness. There is hope that Altroy Bodrick can return from a knee injury to help out at strong safety but his status is still up in the air. If he doesn't returnSophomore Ronny Delusme will be asked to carry the load. Speedy senior Brian Mance is a solid CB, but has never lived up to his recruiting billing. If the front can bring more pressure and stop the run some, guys like Eric Meekins and Kevin Johnson should have better years.
Kicking (2 Starters Returning) Aaron Hunt returns to handle the kicking chores and former Jacket killer Wynn Kopp returns as the punter. Kopp struggled some last season but he has always kicked well against GT. Clemson has struggled with the kicking game in past seasons, but Hunt has put some of those concerns to rest. Derrick Hamilton was the ACC's best KR man a year ago and Brian Mance took a GT punt to the house in '00. Should be a solid unit overall.
Clemson Offense vs. GT Defense: Clemson will attempt to spread GT out and force our DBs to make tackles in the open field. This is a great way to attack GT as our DBs have not proven to be steady tacklers. GT will attempt to pressure Simmons with a multiple blitz package. This young CU line will need to figure out a way to block Gathers, Fox, Smith, Wimbush, and company. I think GT's quick front 7 should do a pretty good job shutting down the Clemson ground game. The key is how much time will Simmons have to throw the ball. The GT secondary will struggle to handle these WRs.
Clemson Defense vs. GT Offense Bill O'Brien will attempt to control the football and keep the Clemson offense off the field. Clemson is going to load up the box and try to force GT to the air in hopes of creating turnovers and sacks. If GT can establish the ground game, this will put a lot of pressure on the Clemson secondary and will create a lot of good match-ups for the GT WRs. I think we will see early on if Clemson can shut down the GT ground game. If not the Jackets could control the tone of the game like they did in '00.
Final Prediction I like this Clemson football team. They have a great chance of finishing 2nd or 3rd in the ACC. However, this GT team is more balanced from top to bottom. GT has a better chance of controlling the line of scrimmage and the pace of this game. Clemson must hope to shut down the GT ground game early and get the fans in the game. If that happens, GT could get beat and beat badly. I'm betting it doesn't happen and GT controls the football on the ground and wins the special teams battle.
Georgia Tech 27 Clemson 23
The pressure is on Bowden to show his team is getting deeper and better in 2001. Once the darling of the ACC, Bowden must now play second fiddle to hot new names like Amato, Friedgen, and Groh. This could be to his advantage as the '02 Tigers just might sneak up on some folks.
Offensively, Clemson doesn't try to overpower anyone. They like to spread teams out and force them to make plays in the open field without help. The running game is simple yet effective when combined with a potent passing game. Clemson will use the draw play to keep the d-line honest. Many teams like to bring 6-7 pass rushers at a time to overload Clemson's offensive line. This can be very effective but you've got to get there quick because those talented receivers are one missed tackle away from going to the house. Clemson must replace the 3 interior starters on the o-line. These youngsters must step up in big way or Bowden will have a tough time getting this offense clicking. Junior QB Willie Simmons should be an effective starter and the WR corps is loaded. The question is will Simmons have time to get the football where it needs to go.
Clemson struggled in a major way on defense last season giving up more than 35 points 5 times. The defensive front was overmatched at times and nagging injuries to the departed Jovon Bush and Nick Eason didn't help matters. The secondary has been suspect since '00 and really struggled last year. Former Auburn DC John Lovett moves in to take over for the much-maligned Reggie Herring. I don't expect Lovett to change things up that much. Tiger fans hope that an improved defensive line will help take some pressure of a secondary that is still somewhat suspect. The Linebackers, led by junior John Leake, are speedy playmakers. They will be expected to carry a big load. This isn't a great unit, but if CU gets the offense rolling they could be just good enough.
Offensive Starters Returning: Official Count:4 Axe's Count: 5 or 6
Quarterbacks (0 Starters Returning) Junior Willie Simmons finally gets his shot to be the man. Jacket fans may remember Simmons was very close to joining the Jackets in the winter of '99, but choose the Tigers late. Simmons burst on the scene in 2000 with a 4 touchdown performance against UNC in a big comeback win. However, Simmons has struggled some since that big performance which isn't that odd considering how scattered his playing time has been. He has plenty of experience against some very good teams. He isn't the runner that Dantzler is, but he can move around pretty well. GT fans will remember his clutch scramble and TD pass to Rod Gardner that nearly beat GT in 2000. Simmons must improve his accuracy and decision-making ability for Clemson to be successful. Freshman and Atlanta native Charlie Whitehurst could push Simmons if the junior is slow out of the gate. The 6-4 Whitehurst is a strong-armed QB that the coaches are high on. He had a good spring.
Running Backs(0 Starters Returning)It seems like the flashy Travis Zachery was at Clemson forever. Some Tiger fans are glad he's gone and ready to move forward with more of team player at the RB position. Clemson usually uses one RB in their offensive sets and it appears that a number of players will pitch in here. Senior Bernard Rambert returns after averaging 4.9 yards per carry and racking up 368 yards on the ground. He is a very productive back and should get the bulk of the carries. Sophomore Keith Kelly was a hot name for Tiger Fans in 2000 when he broke on the scene as a true freshman. The coaches decided to redshirt Kelly last season and expect good things from him in '02. Both guys are much tougher than Zachery, but might not be as good catching the ball out of the backfield. Junior Chad Jasmin is a fullback type but got plenty of action in the spring at RB. He will get action as a fullback and some at RB.
Wide Receiver & TE ( 4 Starters Returning)Clemson uses 4 wide sets most of the time and most of their major contributors return including junior Kevin Youngblood who returns after missing all of 2001. Clemson did suffer some bad luck when they lost sophomore Roscoe Crosby to an injury. He will be out for the season. However, Clemson is still well-stocked at this position. Sophomore Derrick Hamilton had an outstanding season a year ago catching 53 balls. He's got outstanding quickness and was difficult to bring down in the open field. Hamilton was also the league's best Kickoff returner a year ago. Airese Curry, JJ McKelvey, and Jackie Robinson are all experienced and talented players who should get plenty of action. In addition, true freshmen Kelvin Grant and Ty Zimmerman were highly recruited out of high school and could be a factor.
Offensive Line (2 Starters Returning) This is the biggest question mark for the Clemson team. As a group, they must give Simmons the time he needs to get the ball into their WR's hands. Seniors Gary Byrd and Derrick Brantley return to man the tackle spots. Both have decent size but are just steady tackles. It remains to be seen if Byrd has the feet and quickness to handle the LT spot. These tackles are asked to handle DEs and LBs without much help from a TE or RB. Clemson was hurt badly inside by graduation. Youngsters such as Nick Black, Greg Walker, , and Jermyn Chester must step up quickly. If this unit can't put it together, Clemson might be battling for 5th or 6th in the league.
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Line ( 3 Starters Returning) This was a very shaky unit a year ago as the Tiger defense struggled with injuries and inexperienced play upfront. Clemson is far from dominate this year but they should be improved. Senior Bryant McNeal and junior Khaleed Vaughn form a solid DE combo. McNeal lead the team in sacks a year ago with 6 1/2. Nick Eason is good inside, but could be just a little overrated. If he can stay healthy he should have a fine season. There is decent depth at end but some youngsters will need to step up at the backup DT spots. Heavily recruited as a TE a few years ago, junior Todd McLinton will be asked to learn quickly at DT. This unit has the chance to be solid, but there is little margin for error.
Linebackers (2 Starters Returning) This is Clemson's best unit on defense. Junior John Leake is one of the ACC's best playmakers. Senior Rodney Thomas also returns after a couple years as a starter. Speedy soph Eric Sampson will get his shot after playing well as a true freshman. This is a fast group with depth, they will try to confuse opposing offenses by being very active. However, if the front doesn't hold up, this undersized unit might be exposed against the run.
Secondary (Starters Returning) This group got taken out behind the woodshed on a regular basis last year. They should perform with a year of experience under their belts, but Clemson fans aren't expecting greatness. There is hope that Altroy Bodrick can return from a knee injury to help out at strong safety but his status is still up in the air. If he doesn't returnSophomore Ronny Delusme will be asked to carry the load. Speedy senior Brian Mance is a solid CB, but has never lived up to his recruiting billing. If the front can bring more pressure and stop the run some, guys like Eric Meekins and Kevin Johnson should have better years.
Kicking (2 Starters Returning) Aaron Hunt returns to handle the kicking chores and former Jacket killer Wynn Kopp returns as the punter. Kopp struggled some last season but he has always kicked well against GT. Clemson has struggled with the kicking game in past seasons, but Hunt has put some of those concerns to rest. Derrick Hamilton was the ACC's best KR man a year ago and Brian Mance took a GT punt to the house in '00. Should be a solid unit overall.
Clemson Offense vs. GT Defense: Clemson will attempt to spread GT out and force our DBs to make tackles in the open field. This is a great way to attack GT as our DBs have not proven to be steady tacklers. GT will attempt to pressure Simmons with a multiple blitz package. This young CU line will need to figure out a way to block Gathers, Fox, Smith, Wimbush, and company. I think GT's quick front 7 should do a pretty good job shutting down the Clemson ground game. The key is how much time will Simmons have to throw the ball. The GT secondary will struggle to handle these WRs.
Clemson Defense vs. GT Offense Bill O'Brien will attempt to control the football and keep the Clemson offense off the field. Clemson is going to load up the box and try to force GT to the air in hopes of creating turnovers and sacks. If GT can establish the ground game, this will put a lot of pressure on the Clemson secondary and will create a lot of good match-ups for the GT WRs. I think we will see early on if Clemson can shut down the GT ground game. If not the Jackets could control the tone of the game like they did in '00.
Final Prediction I like this Clemson football team. They have a great chance of finishing 2nd or 3rd in the ACC. However, this GT team is more balanced from top to bottom. GT has a better chance of controlling the line of scrimmage and the pace of this game. Clemson must hope to shut down the GT ground game early and get the fans in the game. If that happens, GT could get beat and beat badly. I'm betting it doesn't happen and GT controls the football on the ground and wins the special teams battle.
Georgia Tech 27 Clemson 23
