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Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

Playbook gave Tigers slight change to story

Man-to-man coverage answered Wake's misdirection passing game

- pstrelow@thestate.com
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CLEMSON — From Dabo Swinney's perspective, the only new schematic wrinkle to Clemson's offense was the option keeper run that quarterback Kyle Parker took up the middle for 16 yards to open their third series.

The rest, including receiver Jacoby Ford's reverse pass, had been playbook staples before the 38-3 thumping of Wake Forest.

Swinney reiterated Sunday that Clemson might have appeared to showcase new things because it had desirable options at its discretion.

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The Tigers accrued 208 yards on their 13 first-half downs. Success in executing play-action passes and creating running lanes for Parker and the running backs allowed the play-calling to diversify.

"The call sheet is so much bigger when you're on schedule because it's all normal downs to you, as opposed to second- and third-and-longs," Swinney said.

Soaking in the sunshine? ABC set kickoff for Clemson's game Saturday at No. 8 Miami at 3:30 p.m., after also considering it for the 8 p.m. national telecast.

That designation went to No. 3 Texas at Missouri.

Injury update. Junior defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins said after the Wake Forest game that he sustained a bruise on his leg, but he should be OK - a prognosis Swinney echoed Sunday.

Swinney said he hopes backup linebacker Scotty Cooper will return after a one-game absence for a concussion.

Motivation station. The bye week afforded the Tigers two weeks to gear toward Wake Forest, but Swinney didn't believe his team would suffer a letdown with one week to prepare."I don't think we'll have any problem at all getting them ready to play," he said. "They'll be ready to go, I assure you. You just have to make sure you harness their energy in the right direction."

Passing not-so-fancy. Credit for several of Clemson's season-high five sacks, as well as Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner's season-low 82 passing yards, went to the man-to-man coverage of the Tigers' defensive backs.

Junior safety DeAndre McDaniel said the Demon Deacons' rushing game thrives on misdirection. Once Clemson took that away, the defensive backs' jobs became much easier.

"As far as we were concerned, Wake has a basic offense," McDaniel said. "They run the same routes out of different formations. Coach (Kevin) Steele picked it out, and we executed it."

Extra points. Swinney, on whether Miami's Jacory Harris is the most talented quarterback Clemson has faced this season: "He's a pretty cool customer. I don't think we've played anyone more talented, but the kid from TCU was a winner and Riley Skinner the same." ... Swinney said the Tigers had their best day tackling and got their top performance from the offensive line and receivers on Saturday.

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