Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008

Recap: Clemson vs. Wake Forest

Game balls

Crezdon Butler: When the Tigers came up with a big stop, the junior cornerback was often involved. He forced Wake Forest to a field goal by diving to break up a touchdown pass on its second drive, then stalled two more drives by registering a deflection and a tackle on a pair of third downs.

Jacoby Ford: In a game in which Clemson lost four offensive starters to injury, Ford persevered. Although he limped or was helped to the sideline several times with aches and pains, the junior receiver kept coming back for more and hung on to a juggled ball for the team’s only touchdown.

Chris Clemons: With a ton of NFL scouts on hand, the senior safety might have earned himself some money. Fellow safety Michael Hamlin gets the billing, but Clemons delivered punishing hits in his steadiest performance of the season.

What went right

Can there really be much positive to say? Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning made successful adjustments to Wake Forest’s perimeter runs, and the Tigers made them look foolish every time they tried the direct-snap-to-the-running-back package. It took a half, but offensive coordinator Rob Spence finally loosened the belt and took some shots passing downfield — once the unit’s production could not get any worse.

What went wrong

Injuries to the guards continued ravaging the offensive line, although the group looked bad enough when healthy. It was clear why Spence feels so handicapped in his play-calling; yet Wake Forest’s line entered the season just as inexperienced, and the Demon Deacons have all kinds of creative ways to get their skill players the ball on the move and in space. And for as well as the defense exerted damage control, it inevitably gave up a costly fourth-quarter drive — just as it did last week against Maryland and in many defeats a year ago.

Key stat

Clemson has run 19 offensive series since scoring a touchdown with 7:17 left in the second quarter against Maryland. Only one of those 19 series has gone longer than 39 yards.

Injury update

Coach Tommy Bowden did not provide any information on the status of running back C.J. Spiller, who hurt his hamstring in the second quarter and watched the second half in warmup clothes. Three other starters sustained injuries and did not return: left guard Cory Lambert (ankle), right guard Mason Cloy (knee) and receiver Tyler Grisham (foot).

Extra point

The 12 points scored by Wake Forest were the fewest points needed for a home victory since 1994 when the Deacons defeated Appalachian State 12-10.

The buzz

By naming Willy Korn the starting quarterback Friday, Bowden perhaps reduced the heat under his seat, if only for the week. But at this stage, one has to wonder how much credibility the coaching staff has within its own locker room. Is Korn simply being thrown to the wolves?

Up next

Clemson (3-3, 1-2) has its next-to-last home ACC game Oct. 18 against Georgia Tech (4-1, 2-1), which plays host to Gardner-Webb today. The Yellow Jackets’ option offense under new coach Paul Johnson leads the league in rushing (290.2 yards per game), but its strength is a stout defensive front that limits opponents to an ACC-best 11.4 points per game. In other words, it might not be the optimum opponent in which to debut a rookie quarterback.

— Paul Strelow