TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Mickey,
Going out of town Friday and might not see it so what was the big news from the University? Hopefully nothing bad. Tell Ryan we are pulling for him!

Carl,
Clemson has moved up to 22nd on the US News and World Report list of top public institutions. They were 27th but moved up five spots. Sorry, but I could say anything until they released the list today.

Mickey,
I hope Ryan is settled in well at home. I am sure it is quite nice to have him home.

Thanks for the kind words. McClain is a real talent but it is terribly difficult for true freshman to make a big impact on the offensive line. It is possible but extremely rare. McClain still is a little lost when it comes to assignments but that is to be expected. Also, Corey Lambert has been very good in camp. I think McClain will see some snaps this season but I cannot see him starting unless there is an injury to Hairston or Lambert.

It is time to make a statement. But I don’t think Clemson has been mediocre and I don’t think the Tigers will be mediocre anytime in the near future. I think they will win the ACC this season but if they don’t all is not lost. I think Clemson should be among the favorites to win the conference in 09 and beyond.

Montgomery is a little different. He tells a lot of schools he likes them. I think he will take all of his visits but I also think he will change his mind a few times between now and when he makes his decision.

Jim,
The staff is really high on Thompson. He is very strong and is difficult to move out of the way. I see Thompson as a terrific run stopper. However, Clemson is still three deep at tackle even with Jackson sidelined. Scott, Jenkins, Cumbie, Chavis, McKissic and Murchison give the Tigers talent and depth at tackle. Thompson will be a very good player but I think he will red-shirt this season.

Mickey,
Are we really as good as some of the experts think? I heard you talk about the College Football News.com rankings and it got me fired up. But I find it hard to believe that we are as good as they are saying. Hope I am wrong.

Jimmy,
I think this is a special season. I agree with collegefootballnews.com with respect to most of their rankings. Clemson is loaded at running back, wide receiver, defensive line, defensive back and quarterback. The staff has done a very good job of evaluating in cases like Cullen Harper, Aaron Kelly, Tyler Grisham, Michael Palmer, Brian Linthicum, Kevin Alexander, Dorell Scott, Rashaad Jackson, Brandon Maye, Kavel Conner and Chris Clemens.

They did a great job recruiting on players like James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Jamie Harper, Ricky Sapp, Da’Quan Bowers and Michael Hamlin.

The weight staff has done a great job of development as well. So what we have in 2008 is a very talented group of Tigers.

This is the first time Clemson has been favored to win the division or conference since Bowden has taken over and I would be surprised if they did not win it this season.

Tony,
The staff has a decent idea but situations can change. At this point my best guess would look like this:

Plays: Harper, Ellington, Jones, Allen, McClain, Bowers, Hunter, Hall, Skinner, Zimmerman
Red-shirts: Parker, Richt, Brown, Ford, Sanders, Freeman, Page, Thompson, Rollins, Willard, Andrews, Lewis, Adams, Brewer, Benton

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Comments:

Rollins and Willard both redshirt despite lack of depth at LB and that their size and skills make them well suited for special teams? Not saying I disagree, just surprising to me.

Posted by radarby1 on August 22, 2008 at 02:05 PM EDT #

I am weary of negative naysayers like Rick above, who are not even rational.

Like you said, Mickey, this is first time we have been forecasted to win ACC since TB has been here. Also, the Tigers have finished usually about where they are predicted to be, which is above average - not "mediocre".

So,if you are negative, please just open your mind to rational facts!
Or just shut up!

GO TIGERS! DOMINATE! TIGER FANS - BELIEVE!

Posted by captron on August 22, 2008 at 02:05 PM EDT #

What is not rational about telling the truth? Sure we may have not been predicted to win the ACC until now but we have had every opportunity to make it to the ACC Championship game the last few years and dropped the ball on each attempt. When the underdog exceeds expectations that is "above average". When you continously come up short that is "mediocre". It's time to put up or shut up to convince people we belong. What's irrational about that?

Posted by John_Boy on August 22, 2008 at 03:34 PM EDT #

So I guess Ohio State is mediocre. They've come up short two years in a row.

Posted by WakeBdr on August 22, 2008 at 03:49 PM EDT #

We have finished at where we were predicted or better in each of CTB season except two I think. That is better than most. Also he and Saban are the only two coaches in the country who have never had a losing season in their career as a head coach, the only two! Now I agree that we should win it all this season, but CTB has done it the right way and you have to remember what he got when he took over, A losing record team. Go Tigers and lets roll the tide!

Posted by CUson1 on August 22, 2008 at 04:39 PM EDT #

When a coach joins a school and uses existing players, it’s fair to judge him by how he performs against the media's expectations. But after about the 5th year (and certainly by the 8th or 9th), I think there needs to be another yardstick. Otherwise, we could say that Duke's coaches have done a good job by consistently meeting the media's expectation to finish last.

A coach's job is to raise the level of the program into a championship contender (with an occasional crown) while maintaining good off-field performance (like Grobe). I think everyone agrees that TB has met the off-field goals. I think people can disagree about whether Bowden accomplished the on-field goal and whether he's done so in a reasonable time-frame. If Clemson wins the ACC, there can be no disagreement about whether the key on-field goal has been met. If not, based on TB’s recent statements, I think even TB would agree that another 5-3 ACC campaign would warrant criticism.

Go Tigers! 14-0!

Posted by Razzmatazz on August 22, 2008 at 06:12 PM EDT #

yo, wakebdr...but they made it there and they've won conference championships!!

Posted by MyBoyWilly on August 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM EDT #

it is LONG past time for excuses. it is time for Tigers to win the ACC champ and win a bcs game.this LONG record of underachivement has to be gone. it is not our fault that our team is underrated each year because we just don`t do what we should!

Posted by Litefoot on August 24, 2008 at 09:43 AM EDT #

What is mediocre? "middle of road", "average" - 6-6 is mediocre! TB has never had a "mediocre" season, except maybe the first one, after inheriting little talent from West.

Posted by captron on August 25, 2008 at 10:13 AM EDT #