Sunday, Jan. 04, 2009

Five questions for Clemson Tigers in 2009

CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney has seven games overseeing Clemson’s football program under his belt.

It is evident the Tigers have and will play hard for him, but little is known about the direction Swinney plans to take the Tigers.

Swinney could not make drastic changes to philosophy, scheme or personnel and still give the team a legitimate chance to win in the short term.

Now, with a full offseason for Swinney to put his stamp on the program, here are five questions that will shape Clemson’s 2009 season.

1. WILL C.J. SPILLER RETURN?

We know that Swinney and senior running back James Davis have been in the junior’s ear, suggesting that if Spiller isn’t projected as a top-15 pick, there is more to gain by coming back. Draft analysts speculate Spiller is a fringe first-rounder.

We can assume agents are peppering Spiller’s family with promises they can help Spiller’s draft stock rise that high, and he will feel a ton of pressure to leave early because that has been the expectation for several years.

Yet Swinney thinks Spiller will stay, and he has a legitimate reason: Spiller marches to his own beat, as demonstrated by his choice to go against his mother’s wishes and sign with Clemson instead of Florida.

If Spiller returns, the Tigers’ offense drastically changes.

2. WHAT WILL KEVIN STEELE’S DEFENSE LOOK LIKE?

Steele’s acceptance of the coordinator job is viewed as a formality.

The 50-year-old Steele, a Dillon native and most recently Alabama’s top defensive assistant, has an impressive resume. But it would be premature to pigeonhole him into a definitive scheme because he possesses little coordinator experience.

The common thread in his background is an attacking-style defense, ranging from the Carolina Panthers’ 3-4 unit under Dom Capers (1995-98) to Florida State’s base 4-3 (2003-06) to Nick Saban’s multiple looks at Alabama (2007-08).

That meshes with the stated preferences of Swinney, who likes a simpler scheme. And he wants a defense that takes a more proactive approach by incorporating tighter man coverages and more blitzes than former coordinator Vic Koenning felt comfortable calling.

It will be worth monitoring how Steele uses players recruited to fill Koenning’s pass-rushing bandit end position, namely junior Ricky Sapp.

To that end, how effective will Sapp be nine months removed from a full anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

3. WHO WILL BE THE QUARTERBACK?

Come spring practice, all eyes will be on the two-man competition between redshirt freshman Willy Korn and freshman Kyle Parker.

Fans have clamored for Korn, the former local high school standout, for the better part of two seasons. But the job is hardly his to inherit because a pair of injuries to his throwing shoulder have hindered his development.

A key component to the competition is what Swinney wants his offense to look like.

Parker has a significantly stronger arm, but Korn would have the edge if Swinney prefers a dual run-pass threat at quarterback.

4. HOW WILL THE RUNNING GAME TAKE SHAPE?

Fired coordinator Rob Spence was the staff’s chief proponent of a predominantly zone-blocking scheme. With Spence gone, expect a continued overhaul of the running game.

In the final six regular-season games, the Tigers appeared more physical and incorporated more power, man-to-man blocking sets.

But the 26-21 Gator Bowl loss to Nebraska indicated the offensive line has a long way to go to gain the strength to pull off such an approach.

This all but ensures that to fill the one vacancy on the line — center — redshirt freshman Mason Cloy will move from right guard, allowing 320-pound freshman Antoine McClain to give the Tigers a bigger body at guard. Another undersized guard, junior Barry Humphries, will be Cloy’s competition.

5. ARE THERE ENOUGH OPTIONS TO FILL THE DEPTH-CHART?

Beyond the aforementioned spots, the Tigers also lose a pair of defensive tackles (Dorell Scott and Rashaad Jackson), two safeties (Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons) and a dependable kicker (Mark Buchholz).

Most spots have an heir apparent.

Sophomore Jarvis Jenkins and freshman Brandon Thompson have shown potential on the interior defensive line. Starting strong-side linebacker DeAndre McDaniel and converted corner Marcus Gilchrist, both sophomores, appear the front-runners to take over the safety jobs. And freshman Spencer Benton figures to be the favorite for kicking duties.

The biggest concern might be at receiver, where this year’s top two pass-catchers must be replaced.

Junior Jacoby Ford will start at one spot if he doesn’t go pro. The rest of the cast is unproven, starting with sophomore Xavier Dye, who is next in line at Kelly’s flanker position. Others in the mix are freshman Marquan Jones, walk-on Terrance Ashe, redshirt freshman Jaron Brown and perhaps an incoming signee.

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