Keep in mind these are all unofficial times, and probably slightly inaccurate but they give a relative speed.
Can’t wait until next year. Had 8 players run unofficial 40 times today under 4.4. Watkins led with a 4.2. At least 5 of those were WRs, starting WRs. One was a RB. Unofficial or not, its fast. Clemson, best WR corps in the nation? I think so, deepest AND fastest WR corps in the nation. http://www.tigernet.com/view/clemson_update.do?id=6187
Did I mention Sammy ran a unofficial 4.2 as a SOPHOMORE?! Spiller, Ford, and Johnson ran that after their senior years in the combine.
Offense is loaded. Defense is being loaded. I like our chances taking it all for 2013…
It is great that Clemson has so much speed on the offensive side of the ball, but, as you said, they need to increase their overall speed and talent level on defense in order to compete on a national level.
I am going say this in not a mean type way but when Clemson was looking for a coach I said they would rue the day they did not pick up Holgorsen. I still stand by that statement.
I think we have a pretty dang solid coaching staff now. Venables is already paying off in recruiting. Our defense is only, and can only, get better since last season’s ending. I really think you will be surprised at what you see out of Clemson’s defense this year. And like I said, I really really like our chances for the big prize in 2013 especially if we end up playing a Big 12 schedule. It will be hard if we have to play a 2013 ACC schedule with Kent St and Citadel, and we would have to have FSU, UGA, USCjr prop us up….and if GT and UVA can stay somewhat elevated it will help.
You’ll see a different Clemson defense, one actually using fundamentals and one out to prove something. Not worried about our defense at all. My only bit of concern this year is the OL. Get the OL sorted out and the sky is the limit.
The problem with Clemson is the head coach. I stand firmly with my opinion that Dabo is not a national title caliber coach.
I like the assistants, and I think the Tigers have some elite talent dotted through the depth chart.
However, it all starts at the top…and the top is a weak link at Clemson to me.
For exhibit A…just see how the team was prepared for that Orange Bowl last season.
The best case scenario for Clemson is to continue to add talent (it seems that Dabo and company can recruit), and then get a new coach in the next few years that can take the Tigers the last mile to a national championship-type caliber program.
Its just a reality that Clemson would be rated just the number 7 (give or take a spot) program in the SEC right now. Right around where South Carolina falls.
Keep adding talent (especially on a questionable defense) and work towards hiring a new coach…and Clemson has every chance in the world to move up the college football pecking order and into more stable national prominence.
As a huge Clemson fan, I am worried about our defense. we have NO proven studs/big-time players in the front seven and not much in the secondary. If BV even comes close to putting out a stellar defense this year, he should be Coordinator of the Year. Do we have some young talent….. sure. But that is not the same thing as having several high quality players who have performed on the field. Not saying it won’t happen, I’m just not a believer in all the “talent” hype way too many players receive. I want to see what they do once the football is snapped.
I think the offense will have to carry this year’s team for the most part. If the OL is average plus, we have a shot to win 9+ games.
Jeremy: while I am probably more in your “boat” on Dabo, he may prove you (and me) wrong if he can keep his assistants in place.
I am not sure about the #7 rating though. The SEC is very good at the TOP but other than AL/LSU, Clemson would be fighting it out with the other good programs in the SEC. I agree we are on-par with USuC but FL, Auburn, MissSt, Ark (now that Petrino is gone), A&M, Mizz, TN (maybe) are all quality but not elite teams. UGA may be ahead of the curve but they have under-performed in recent years too.
It’s easy to say AL/LSU are 1-2 but beyond that, it is nebulous at best. I don’t think any one program is significantly better than the others. I think the East is WIDE open in the SEC and the West is a two-man race, as it has been for awhile.
I know that many people are expecting big things out of DE Malliciah Goodman this year, but he really seemed to under-perform last season, in my opinion.
The last time we bragged about SEC Speed, Alabama Curb-stomped us and Tommy Bowden was fired in mid-season.
We are fast…but we have to be able to not get caught in a trap game which is why the phrase “Pulling a Clemson” exists..
Also, if we lose a big game, we cannot allow it to beat us a few times…Both Clemson and FSU are guilty of this.
Last year, when were 8 and 8-0, we acted like we haven’t been there before and we got too cocky…..This year the challenge of the coaching staff and team is to treat every game as if it is big deal….even Duke
Clemson will do fine with their ACC and OOC schedule its facing SEC type competition is where you will fail. It’s more than having a few fast guys. Your O and D line cannot compete against better teams.
And no clemson is NOT at the level of south carolina as the past 3 curb stompings have shown.
We here at south carolina have said for years that dabo is not a legitimate head coach. Great recruiter and cheerleader. Every time he has a bad season you can expect an DC or OC to be fired but he is the problem. We were glad to see him signed to a 3 year extension.
Having watched practice reports and practice from Venables era, I can honestly say I’m not worried. It was Steele causing the problems, players didn’t care to play for him. Venables has made it fun again and the guys are all about it. Talent or not, this DC will have them ready to play.
Really though, isn’t that whats supposed to happen? Head coach is the owner, doesn’t do the work just runs the business. The coordinators do the work, I think we’ve set that up well. Dabo oversees everything and has elevated everything in Clemson from the mindset of the fans and team to the grades and graduation avg. Our OC hire paid dividends on the field last year and I expect the same from our defense this year. Dabo doesn’t have to be a Nick Saban to win the title, he just has to have quality assistants and not Billy Napiers or Kevin Steeles.
Tommy Bowden had ZERO control on the team the year we got smashed by Alabama, thats been proven. While clearly Alabama was a better team, I think we just didn’t care enough at the time because no one wanted to play for Bowden.
I’m not worried boys, not worried at all. Special things are coming. Its different now than it was then. Go Tigers!
We still have a lot of concerns on both lines. We are recruiting some for the DL and the defense will improve, but we don’t have depth or experience right now.
Regarding Dabo, I think people thought it was foolish because of his age and the way he comes across from the beginning and will never acknowledge that they may have been wrong. He has been a great recruiter and made great hiring decisions - two huge parts of being a head coach. In a few short years, he has won a division title and a conference title and national coach of the year. There is still a way to go and there have been bumps in the road, but the only thing to go on in knocking him is that you don’t like him - certainly not any objective measure. He has been as successful as anyone could expect over a few years and coming into a tough situation in the middle of a season.
There is still a way to go and there have been bumps in the road, but the only thing to go on in knocking him is that you don’t like him - certainly not any objective measure.
This is where you may be off base. I like Dabo just fine. Have nothing against him personally.
My problems with him as a coach are objective:
1. Lost three straight to his main rival (never good in any sport against any rival) by an average of MORE THAN 20 POINTS (ouch)
2. His team was blown out in the Orange Bowl. And I mean embarrassed. If that doesn’t worry you, what will?
3. He had a losing record at Clemson in an average ACC just one year ago (2010 was 6-7)
4. His immature rant on South Carolina before the ACC Title game last season was very concerning to me too. But that is probably a whole other can of worms.
I think Clemson is a solid program that could compete in the SEC. I just have heavy concerns over whether or not Dabo is a coach that can lead Clemson past anything but a competitive ACC team.
There is still a way to go and there have been bumps in the road, but the only thing to go on in knocking him is that you don’t like him - certainly not any objective measure.
This is where you may be off base. I like Dabo just fine. Have nothing against him personally.
My problems with him as a coach are objective:
1. Lost three straight to his main rival (never good in any sport against any rival) by an average of MORE THAN 20 POINTS (ouch)
2. His team was blown out in the Orange Bowl. And I mean embarrassed. If that doesn’t worry you, what will?
3. He had a losing record at Clemson in an average ACC just one year ago (2010 was 6-7)
4. His immature rant on South Carolina before the ACC Title game last season was very concerning to me too. But that is probably a whole other can of worms.
I think Clemson is a solid program that could compete in the SEC. I just have heavy concerns over whether or not Dabo is a coach that can lead Clemson past anything but a competitive ACC team.
Fair points.
As for the first, nobody likes to lose to a rival particularly the way we did. Those things are unpopular but the truth is that USC has been good and we have been in a period of transition. I hate to lose to USC, but I also understand that it takes time for things to turn around. It took Spurrier 6 six years.
As for the Orange Bowl - it was terrible and embarrassing - no question. Simply getting there is something we haven’t done in decades. The defense apparently didn’t get the memo.
Relating to the two points above, he correctly diagnosed the concern in the offense and conducted the search for his guy and it has paid off. We’ll see how the defensive hire pays off, but I think he also made good decisions on that.
As for the losing record, it was his second year. The offense was miserble and it was clear - coordinator fired and 10 wins the next year - again, his decisions.
The rant - probably went overboard.
I see a guy who has been in his postion for 3 full seasons. He won two division titles and a conference title. We’re not where we want to be, but if you asked most fanbases if they would be happy with those results after decades of neither, I think most people would say that’s great progress. Whether or not we get to where we want to be remains to be seen, but the amount of progress in a short time and the recruits he’s getting certainly don’t lead me to the conclusion that he was a bad hire - not sure yet is fair, but I can’t understand staying at the conclusion that he was a bad choice.
im willing to look past the rant because he was being led by a reporter, they atributed quotes to steve that he never said, and dabo ran with it because hes an emotional guy. Ill give him a pass there because id rather have an emotional, rallying coach than a suit on the sideline.
as for the loosing season, again, ill give him a pass, we were 6-6 in the regular season, 10 years ago we wouldnt have gone to a bowl game, and it wouldnt have been a loosing season. Was he given the opportunity to make it a winning season and failed? yes he did, but he didnt have a loosing regular season record, so he gets the pass
on the losses to SC:
1st time-bound to happen eventually
2nd time-looks like its a rivalry again
3rd time-seriously man, get it together by next yeae
