Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

All over but the waiting for Tigers

CLEMSON — Clemson will practice today, then have a game-day walk-through Saturday before beginning on its game-week schedule for the Sept. 5 home opener against Middle Tennessee.

With preseason coming to a close, The State examines what we have and have not learned from the Tigers.

WHAT WE LEARNED

There is order in the QB court. Redshirt freshman Kyle Parker sustained his edge over sophomore Willy Korn from the spring and was named the starter, although Korn will play.

Both have displayed a pocket presence and running ability that figures to add a new dimension to the offense. But the August buzz surrounded anticipated redshirt freshman Tajh Boyd, who might have a higher ceiling than either Parker or Korn.

Ricky Sapp’s quickness was not sapped. To see the senior defensive end burst past offensive tackles with his first step, one would hardly believe Sapp is nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. There appear no physical limitations preventing Sapp from emerging as the dynamic pass-rusher he has long been expected to be.

The offensive line cannot afford injuries. The Tigers enter the season comfortable that seven linemen are game-ready. That does not leave much wiggle room for injury or sub-standard performance, and guards Thomas Austin and Antoine McClain had better be well-conditioned.

Dabo’s “Dandy Dozen” is morphing into the “Disappearing Dozen.” With offensive tackle J.K. Jay’s season-ending back injury, only one freshman from the 12-member class appears set for a prominent role — defensive end Malliciah Goodman. Two others, safety Jonathan Meeks and linebacker Corico Hawkins, are designated to avoid redshirting.

• There will be no such thing as a chip-shot field goal. Junior Richard Jackson and redshirt freshman Spencer Benton have showcased plenty of leg in battling for starting duties, but plenty of mental hurdles still lie ahead.

WHAT WE HAVE NOT LEARNED

• How much will an offseason change Clemson’s offense? We have a better idea of the types of plays Swinney and coordinator Billy Napier want to use (spread scheme, equal parts glitz and power running, sprinkling in some option), how they want running them run (faster tempo) and by whom (ride running back C.J. Spiller). But how will it all mesh together?

• Will the offensive line be improved, and if so, by how much? All the program’s changes could be moot if the Tigers are not better in terms of physical push and pass protection. All five starters have experience, but it is basically the same line that was stonewalled in the Gator Bowl by Nebraska.

• Can the defense equal or surpass the sum of its parts? Sapp and sophomore Da’Quan Bowers form an imposing defensive end tandem, and Clemson’s defensive line and secondary depth may be the best in the ACC. The true test will come in whether the unit can eliminate the third-and-forever conversions and fourth-quarter scoring drives that made former coordinator Vic Koenning’s defenses good instead of great.

• Where will the bar be set? This season’s expectations figure to hinge on where the Tigers stand after the first four games, including the Sept. 10 showdown at No. 15 Georgia Tech and a Sept. 26 home game with No. 17 TCU.

Right now, you can argue that Clemson should be content with an eight- or nine-win season and has as good a chance as anyone to win the Atlantic Division.

But as the last few seasons have borne out, how they reach their final destination is as important than the facts and figures themselves.

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