Allen could be key link to Clemson offense

CLEMSON - Of the two most pressing issues they will face the next four months, Clemson football coaches have a firmer grip on one.

Last year, Dabo Swinney said he wouldn't come out of a game wondering if he had given C.J. Spiller enough opportunity to win it.

Offensive coordinator Billy Napier recently said much the same when discussing the potential impact of sophomore tight end Dwayne Allen.

Replacing Spiller will be virtually impossible, but replicating his offensive numbers in the three R's - rushing, receiving and returns - may not be, which is where the two issues converge.

Running backs Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington are entrenched as components of the offense. The differences in their body types and rushing styles are more distinctive than when Spiller and James Davis shared the backfield - and they are potentially as dynamic.

Ellington has Spiller's slash and dash. Harper, though 30 pounds heavier, is a hair faster. Along with sharing the bulk of the three-down work on offense, they are candidates for kickoff returns, where Spiller excelled.

Napier began preparing freshman quarterback Tajh Boyd for the inevitability of Kyle Parker's departure, whether that's sooner or later. With Parker playing baseball, Boyd had the first team to himself the majority of the spring. Napier said Boyd "laid a good foundation" during 15 spring practices.

"I think he's figuring out it's going to take great effort, attention to detail and preparation to be a great Division I quarterback," Napier said, "That ability alone is not going to be good enough.

"So he's where we expected him to be."

Though the two issues are linked, identifying the most capable targets for whichever quarterback starts the season is the tangential to the other.

Bryce McNeal, Jaron Brown and Brandon Clear "took huge steps" toward emerging as wide receiver targets. Napier described McNeal as "capable," Brown as "a work in progress."

"I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for Brandon Clear last year at this time," Napier said. "Right now, today, I think that guy's going to impact our team. He's matured. He's now been through a season. He's lived and learned to some degree."

This is where Allen enters the picture.

Michael Palmer set school records last season for receptions (43), yardage (507) and touchdowns (four) by a tight end. Recently signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons, Palmer predicted Allen would blow his records out of the water.

Tight ends and tackles coach Danny Pearman, a former tight end, is a veteran of four other ACC football staffs and has seen a lot of good players come through the league. Pearman said Allen reminds him of former Maryland tight end Vernon Davis in terms of size and skill.

"I think Dwayne Allen is the most dynamic guy we've got," Napier said while discussing receivers. "As I've told you guys before, it's all about players and getting your best guy the ball and giving those guys an opportunity to go win the game for you.

"We're not going to leave the stadium saying he didn't have his chance."