Cut and Paste of ESPN Insider Clemson Preview - LONG

Jul 17, 2006, 8:43 AM

COACH AND PROGRAM
It's time, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden says, for the Tigers to start winning championships again.

The Tigers have been bowl eligible for seven consecutive years under Bowden and made trips to all the decent non-BCS bowls that are affiliated with the ACC: Two to the Peach and Tangerine/Champs Sports, and one each to the Gator and the Humanitarian.

And last year's squad had an exciting finish by winning six of its last seven games, including a 19-10 victory over Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

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But the season was defined by four oh-so-close losses: in overtime to Miami and Boston College, on the road to Wake Forest and by one point at Georgia Tech. The four defeats were by a combined 14 points.

Had the Tigers just been able to turn around the 10-9 loss to the Yellow Jackets in late October, Bowden and his team could have been the Atlantic Division's representative in the inaugural ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville, Fla., instead of his father, Bobby Bowden, and Florida State.

But Daddy beat him there, and shocked everyone by beating Virginia Tech for yet another ACC title.

This year, however, Tommy Bowden would like to see his team actually reach the height he began aiming for when he took the job in December 1998.

"We have been bowl eligible seven straight seasons," the Tigers coach said. "At some point, you hope that your team says, 'Well, that's nice, but let's see if we can be a championship team.'

"We haven't yet won our division. We haven't been to a BCS game. I am hoping that this is a team that can say 'Hey, let's make a run at it.' "

It's not like Clemson has never been in that position before: this is the 25th anniversary of the school's 1981 national championship. But it has been 15 years since the Tigers won their last ACC title, something they regularly owned in the years before Florida State joined the ACC.

"It's in the history here," Bowden said. "When you coach here, that is what the expectation is -- to win championships. I am going into my eighth year here and we haven't won one yet. Those are the steps we would like to take now.

"Whether this year's team can do it or not remains to be seen."

Bowden and his staff have been working hard to put things in place, from an overall staff restructuring before last season, a ramped-up recruiting effort this year and on-going facilities improvements. The school is attempting to finish off a massive renovation of Memorial Stadium, which it hopes will put Clemson -- which used to have far and away the best facilities in the ACC -- back in line with schools like North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and NC State that have all poured huge amounts of money into facilities in recent years.

The WestZone Project will enclose the west end zone of the stadium, providing a new set of luxury suites, about 1,000 permanent club seats and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. It will also offer the team new locker rooms, coaches' offices, meeting spaces and all the other amenities that are now standard across the ACC.

However, costs for the project, originally anticipated to be about $56 million, have sky-rocketed, and the final tab will likely pass $70 million when it's finished, which may still be two or three years down the road, depending on how fund-raising goes. Fans are miffed about the escalating prices for the long-envisioned project, some of which has been paid for with a ticket surcharge.

That might be forgiven if the Tigers are an ACC Championship contender. It will surely be used against Bowden if his team gets off to a slow start, as it has the last three seasons.

It won't be an easy task. The Tigers, who go on the road to play ACC foes Florida State and Boston College in the second and third games of the regular-season, will have to rely on unproven fifth-year senior quarterback Will Proctor, an inexperienced defensive line and a restructured secondary.

Bowden thinks those question marks can be overcome by one of the ACC's most experienced squads, which has eight returning starters on offense, seven on defense and all its specialists coming back.

The coach also thinks his team is maturing in the offensive and defensive systems that were installed before the 2005 season, when Bowden made radical changes on his coaching staff by bringing in Rob Spence as offensive coordinator and Vic Koenning as defensive coordinator.

Bowden gave Spence total control of the offense, and Spence made the Tigers a bigger running threat. It helped that he had a special recruit in James Davis, who finished fourth in the ACC rushing race, averaged more than five yards per game and was selected the 2005 ACC Freshman of the Year. The Tigers improved their rushing output by more than 50 yards a game; Spence would like to see it go up another 50 this season.

Spence also did something else remarkable, cutting down on Tigers turnovers. Clemson had just five fumbles and 10 interceptions, the fewest of any ACC team in each of those categories. Last year's starter Charlie Whitehurst, who had 17 interceptions as a junior, cut that number by seven picks last year.

This spring, Spence made more changes in the offense, creating the versatile "J-back" position, which can line up in the slot, on the outside, at tight end, fullback or H-back. The position, modeled after the same thing Spence did while at Maryland a few years back, was created specifically for sophomore Rendrick Taylor, who at 6-1 and 225 pounds is one of the most versatile weapons in the ACC.

The Tigers certainly need one, especially when they get close to the end zone. Last year, Clemson lead the ACC in converting trips to the red zone into points, scoring on 45-of-49 trips inside the 20-yard line. But they managed only 27 touchdowns, for a touchdown conversion percentage of just 60 percent, which was lower than every team in the league other than Wake Forest (58.1 percent) and NC State (51.7 percent).

The biggest question is whether fifth-year senior quarterback Will Proctor, Whitehurst's understudy the last four years, can seamlessly move into the starting role. He has only 34 career passing attempts, but he did lead the Tigers to two wins last year when Whitehurst was injured.

On defense, Koenning eventually turned things around and made the Tigers into a dominating squad; Clemson finished 11th in the nation in scoring defense and 20th in total defense. In the last seven games, the Tigers allowed just 287.1 yards and 11.4 points per game. Gone is senior cornerback Tye Hill to the NFL, but linebacker Anthony Waters and defensive end Gaines Adams, who both considered leaving school early, opted to return for their senior seasons.

Adams had 9.5 sacks last season, more than any returning player in the ACC. Waters averaged 9.3 tackles per game, also more than any returning player in the league.

"Over the summer last year, we were just putting in our basic schemes," Bowden said. "We couldn't really afford to put any wrinkles or anything in. This year, the system has been in place on both sides of the ball now for two spring practices.

"The players now have a pretty good grasp of it, and that will allow us to put in a wrinkle or two, in addition to all the other things we are doing. We are at a little bit more of an advanced stage, as far as our knowledge on both sides of the ball is concerned."

Bowden made a few more changes to his staff this year, as tight ends coach Jack Hines, his brother-in-law, gave up his job and defensive line coach Marion Hobby, a former player for the New England Patriots, left Clemson after just one year to take an assistant coaching position with the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

Chris Rumph was hired from Memphis to coach the defensive line, while former Clemson graduate student Billy Napier was hired from South Carolina State to coach the tight ends.

Clemson also put together another strong recruiting class, led by the surprise signing of tailback C.J. Spiller of Lake Butler, Fla., a first-team USA Today and Parade All-America who was rated among the top 50 players in the nation by six different recruiting analysts.

Running behind an offensive line that returns all five starters, Davis and Spiller could give the Tigers the one-two punch out of the backfield that just might return the Tigers to championship form.

QUARTERBACKS
After having Charlie Whitehurst in the starting lineup for the better part of four seasons, Bowden isn't completely sure what to expect from fifth-year senior Will Proctor (6-2, 210).

Oh, he knows that Proctor can win games for the Tigers, as he did while filling in for Whitehurst against Texas A&M, when Whitehurst was knocked out of the game, and against Duke later in the season when Proctor made his first career start while Whitehurst was nursing an injured shoulder. Proctor led the Tigers to 49 points against the Blue Devils by completing 13-of-21 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

What Bowden doesn't know, and won't until the season gets underway, is how Proctor, who has thrown only 34 career passes, will respond to being the guy in charge of the Tiger offense.

"He has some experience, but not a lot," Bowden said. "And he doesn't have the experience of handling the media, where all of the attention is on him, as it always is with the quarterback.

"I am anxious to see how he does with that."

In Bowden's eyes, Proctor had an excellent spring practice, in which he capably stood under center, making good decisions and showing strong leadership potential. However, in his only public exhibition, the Tigers' spring game with about 17,500 friendly fans in attendance, Proctor had a rough stretch in which he threw three consecutive interceptions.

Bowden said that didn't cause him to lose any confidence in Whitehurst's replacement or cause any doubts about his ability to lead the offense.

"What he did in the spring game, that is really not on the radar for me," Bowden said.

In fact, however, the three Tiger quarterbacks -- Proctor, and redshirt sophomore backups Cullen Harper (6-3, 215) and Tribble Reese (6-4, 200) -- combined to throw seven interceptions in the exhibition game.

Proctor, a native of Winter Park, Fla., has appeared in just a dozen games in his previous four years, and four of those were as a wide receiver during his redshirt freshman season. He has 34 career pass attempts as a quarterback.

But it's not like there's anyone behind him: Harper and Reese have just two career passing attempts between them, both by Harper last year against Duke.

The Tigers signed one quarterback prospect in February -- Michael Wade (6-2, 187) of nearby Greer, S.C., a legacy player whose father Mike was on the 1981 team that won the national championship team and whose mother Elizabeth played volleyball for the Tigers. He was rated one of the top 15 prospects in the state by several recruiting experts.

RUNNING BACKS
What's offensive coordinator Rob Spence going to do with all of his running back candidates? Use them.

The Tigers not only have 2005 ACC Freshman of the Year James Davis (5-11, 210), who rushed for a team-best 879 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and fifth-year senior Reggie Merriweather (5-8, 215), who had 715 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, returning in the backfield, but also incoming freshman C.J. Spiller, one of the top-rated running back prospects in the nation, to compete for playing time.

One of the things Spence did last year was return to a more ground-oriented attack, something Clemson has always been known for. The Tigers' rushing average went up from 107.5 yards per game in 2005 to 153.0 yards per game last season. Bowden would like to see it jump to more than 200 yards per game this year.

Bowden continues to expect some big things out of Davis, who won the most valuable player award at the Champs Sports Bowl, where he rushed for 150 yards on 28 carries. He was the only running back all year to gain more than 100 yards against Colorado's defense.

That was just the cap to an impressive debut season, which included six starts and a school freshman record of seven touchdowns against ACC competition.

"He was a talented back when he came in and he showed that last year," Bowden said. "Where I am expecting his biggest improvement is his understanding of our zone blocking schemes and the reads he needs to make. I am sure he can get a little stronger and a little faster, but I think where his real improvement will be is his knowledge of our blocking schemes and protections, and his ability to get extra yardage based on his pre-snap knowledge of our fronts."

Merriweather, who also started six games last year, was second on the team and ninth in the ACC in rushing at 59.6 yards per game. He averaged nearly five yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. He's been a consistent contributor, with at least 650 rushing yards each of the last two seasons.

Despite the talent in front of Spiller, Bowden thinks there is an opportunity for the freshman to come in and get an armload of carries right away, and that's why the first-team Parade and USA Today All-American chose the Tigers over schools like Florida, Southern California and Florida State, where there would have been even more candidates in front of him.

"I think he saw the opportunity of numbers here, and the potential for getting early playing time," Bowden said.

The other player making his debut in the backfield is redshirt freshman Demerick Chancellor (6-1, 195) who sat out with his younger brother Chris Chancellor, a cornerback, last season after arriving from Miami's Edison High School.

The other possibilities in the Tiger backfield include junior walk-on Paul Macko (5-10, 190) of Wadsworth, Ohio, who led all running backs with 70 yards on 12 carries in the annual Orange and White spring game.

Spence plans to use the fullback position a little more, and will line sophomore J-back Rendrick Taylor (6-1, 225) up in that position at times. Sophomore Alex Pearson (6-2, 255) and fifth-year senior Brent Smith (6-0, 220) are the more traditional style of fullback who can be used for blocking.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
One of the things that Bowden likes most about his set of offensive weapons is the fact that he has a good mix of experienced receivers, none more so than fifth-year senior Chansi Stuckey (6-0, 190), whose 11-catch, 156-yard performance against Florida State was one of the season's highlights.

The first-team All-ACC selection had a league- leading 64 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns as he became the second consecutive Clemson receiver to lead the league in catches. (Airese Currie did so in 2004.) He returns as perhaps the ACC's top receiving threat, assuming Proctor can get him the ball enough times.

Bowden also likes his corps of young receivers, headlined by versatile sophomore Rendrick Taylor, who was limited to just nine catches for 69 yards because of a broken wrist he suffered against Boston College in the fourth game of the season.

This year, the Tigers are pinning much responsibility on Taylor in the unique position of J-back, in which he could line up at fullback, tight end, H-back or split end in Spence's offensive scheme. Taylor, described by teammates as "beastly," has the speed, body and athletic ability to handle each spot with a sub-4.5-second 40 and a 40-inch vertical leap.

Taylor, who had three catches against Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl, certainly wowed the 17,500 spectators at Clemson's spring game with a 97-yard touchdown on a bubble pass, one of the many jaw-dropping plays he made during the Tigers' offseason workouts.

He's part of a big class of sophomore receivers, all of whom got playing time as freshmen.

Sophomore Aaron Kelly (6-5, 185) missed much of spring after suffering a knee injury during a non-contact drill but is expected to return at full speed in the fall. Besides leading the team with a 26.6-yard kick return average, Kelly was second on the team with 47 receptions for 575 yards and two touchdowns. He had at least two catches in every game last year, including seven receptions for 155 yards against Maryland.

Sophomore Tyler Grisham (5-10, 175) is the only other returning receiver who had double-figure receptions last year, catching 10 passes for 101 yards. He saw his most action of the season in the Champs Sports Bowl against Colorado, filling in after Stuckey left the game with a concussion.

Freshman Jacoby Ford (5-9, 170) gained attention immediately as a big-time playmaker and for his 4.18-second clocking in the 40-yard dash. The native of West Palm Beach, Fla., spent last year at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy but was eligible to enroll at Clemson in January so he could participate in spring drills. He had more than 100 yards receiving in his first scrimmage, and will no doubt be on the field immediately.

Freshman Jeff Ogren (6-3, 200) also enrolled in the spring and went through offseason drills with the Tigers.

Spence makes good use of his tight ends: The 24 catches made last year by the tight ends were the most for the Tigers in 30 years.

Fifth-year senior Thomas Hunter (6-4, 250) had more than half of those catches (13 for 130 yards), including three in Clemson's bowl win over Colorado. Junior Zach Green (6-7, 265) and sophomore Akeem Robinson (6-5, 255) both have experience at the position as well, though they have also seen action at offensive tackle.

Green missed all of last season with an injury after lettering in 2004. Other players who could be used at tight end are redshirt freshmen Durrell Barry (6-4, 255), Paul Muse (6-3, 245) and sophomore Preston Stone (6-4, 240). Incoming freshman Michael Palmer (6-4, 228) of Atlanta is a future candidate at the position as well.

OFFENSIVE LINE
It's all well and good to talk about the skill players the Tigers have on both sides of the ball, but the biggest reason Bowden's team may be able to win the school's first league championship in 15 years is the return of five starting offensive linemen.

In fact, Clemson returns nine of its top 10 linemen from last year, and has the kind of experience, depth, size and versatility that most teams in the country would envy.

"We have some experience and depth on the offensive line," Bowden said. "And we finally have a little bit of size back."

A little bit? The five returning starters average 6-4, 312 pounds.

It begins with fifth-year senior Roman Fry (6-4, 300), one of the most versatile linemen in the country. He played guard, tackle and center at various points of last season and was voted second-team All-ACC guard for his efforts. Fry led the team with nearly 100 knockdown blocks last year, and paced Clemson in that department each of its last seven games.

He enters the season as the starter at left guard, with junior Chris McDuffie (6-5, 320) and redshirt freshman Thomas Austin (6-3, 300) playing behind him.

At the other guard, senior Nathan Bennett (6-5, 305) returns for his fourth season as a starter, with a total of 30 starts in his first three years. He was second to Fry in knockdown blocks with 74.5. Behind him is junior Brandon Pilgrim (6-6, 290) and redshirt freshman Jamarcus Grant (6-4, 330).

At center, fifth-year center Dustin Fry (6-3, 325), no relation to Roman, returns after starting all 12 games as a junior. He's likely to be one of the top centers in the ACC. Behind him will be sophomore Bobby Hutchinson (6-3, 305), redshirt freshman Barry Humphries (6-2, 275) and sophomore Russell Harris (6-2, 265)

Returning as the starting tackles are junior Barry Richardson (6-7, 345) on the left side and senior Marion Dukes (6-4, 320) on the right side. Richardson notched his most impressive performance of the season against NC State when he held NFL first overall pick Mario Williams to just one tackle and no sacks in a 31-10 thrashing of the Wolfpack.

Behind Richardson is fifth-year senior Tim DeBeer (6-6, 275), redshirt freshman Cory Lambert (6-5, 290) and junior Zach Green (6-7, 265), who also doubles as a tight end. Behind Dukes is junior Christian Capote (6-4, 295), sophomore Taylor Tremel (6-5, 290) and redshirt freshman Quentez Ruffin (6-3, 260).

One other versatile lineman who could fill in at any position is senior Chris Carey (6-4, 265).

Bowden and his staff were so set on the offensive front, they brought in only two recruits at the position, Chris Hairston (6-5, 270) of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Jamal Medlin (6-6, 305) of Orangeburg, S.C.

KICKERS
The bright side to having to settle for so many field goals last year -- the Tigers had 18 field goals in their 45 trips to the red zone last year and -- was that place-kicker Jad Dean was deadly when he was called upon to score.

Dean (5-11, 205) established school records for field goals made (24) and attempted (31) in a single season, and led the ACC in scoring with 8.8 points per game. For the year, Dean scored 106 points, just two off the school record held by Chris Gardocki.

Dean, a Lou Groza Award finalist as the nation's top kicker, started the season with an amazing performance in the win over Texas A&M, making a school-record six field goals in six attempts, including a 42-yard game winner with two seconds remaining.

Now entering his third year as the Tigers' starter, the senior from Greenwood, S.C., will likely get some competition however from Parade All-America kicker Richard Jackson, who will arrive with the freshman class. Bowden will likely turn to Jackson to handle kickoffs, which is how Dean got his start three years ago behind Clemson's all-time scoring leader Aaron Hunt.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior Gaines Adams (6-5, 265) couldn't crack into the top eight defensive linemen in the ACC last year. Then again, neither could Florida State's Brodrick Bunkley, and he ended up being the No. 14 overall pick in the 2006 draft, which had a record 12 selections from the ACC, including 10 defensive players.

But Gaines had more sacks last year (9.5) than any player returning in the ACC this season, and he'll likely be the league's top player at the position now that Mario Williams, Kamerion Wimbley, Manny Lawson and Mathias Kiwanuka are now all cashing their NFL first-round checks.

Adams had a tremendous first season as a starter and is now rated as one of the top senior defensive linemen in the country by ESPN's Mel Kiper.

Behind Adams are juniors Kwam Williams (6-3, 240) and Jermaine Martin (6-3, 245), who moved in the spring from linebacker to defensive end.

On the other side, sophomore Phillip Merling (6-5, 280) takes over the position vacated by two-year starter Charles Bennett. Merling was voted by the coaches as Clemson's top defensive freshman last season after he recorded 22 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss as a rookie.

Behind him is fifth-year senior Brandon Cannon (6-3, 245), redshirt freshman Antwon Murchison (6-5, 265) and redshirt freshman Elsmore Gabriel (6-3, 270). Sophomore Tate Richardson (6-3, 220) is also available for depth at the position.

But two of the biggest names in the freshman class -- Jamie Cumbie (6-7, 255) of Morris, Ill., and Ricky Sapp (6-5, 225) of Bamberg, S.C. -- are both expected to vie for playing time. Both were first-team All-America selections by USA Today. Cumbie was rated the No. 2 defensive end prospect in the nation, while Sapp was rated in the top 15.

On the interior, no one has solidified the starting job at either position.

Fifth-year senior Donnell Clark (6-3, 270) and sophomore Dorell Scott (6-3, 310) will continue to battle for the starting nose guard position into fall camp, with redshirt freshman Etta Etta-Tawo (6-4, 300) listed at third team.

At defensive tackle, sophomores Jock McKissick (6-6, 295) and Rashaad Jackson (6-3, 285) are still vying for the starting job. Murchison and junior Bryan Baker (6-3, 250) are the other possibilities.

Potentially, however, the Tigers could have three second-year sophomores on the field up front, and the prospect of so much youth on the field bothers Bowden.

"We have some very good talent up front, but we are awfully young," Bowden said. "We played four freshmen a lot of the time last year, and they are all coming back.

"It's a matter of whether they remain hungry. I don't know how they will handle the success they had as freshmen, or how much pride they have to want to be a great player instead of just a good player."

Bowden questioned his defensive front's effort and leadership at times during the spring, particularly after its next to last scrimmage, when talented Tiger offense rolled up 581 yards and seven touchdowns in an abbreviated scrimmage.

"They are all going to have to grow up real fast," Bowden said.

LINEBACKERS
A major battle for the starting strong-side linebacker position between senior Tramaine Billie (6-1, 205) and sophomore Antonio Clay (6-0, 225) will carry over into the fall, according to Bowden. Both played well, but Clay was exceptional in pushing Billie, who has started the Tigers' last 18 games at Sam linebacker.

The coaches even considered moving Clay, who in the middle last year, to the weak-side to get him into the starting lineup. Heading into the fall, however, Clay remained on the strong side, junior Nick Watkins earning the starting nod on the weak side.

Backing up Billie and Clay are junior Maurice Nelson (6-2, 215) and sophomore Adrian Kindred (6-2, 200). On the weak side, Watkins' backups include sophomore Josh Miller (6-0, 215) and Nelson.

There is no question, however, about the middle linebacker position. redshirt senior Anthony Waters (6-3, 240), who toyed with the idea of entering the NFL draft, returns for his third year as a starter. As the top returning tackler in the ACC -- he recorded 109 in 11 games last year -- he should be in line for postseason honors.

Behind Waters is redshirt freshman Kavell Connor (6-2, 215) and sophomore Cortney Vincent (6-1, 245). Other returning linebackers include junior Jermaine Martin (6-3, 225), sophomore Josh Miller (6-0, 215), junior Brandon Oliver (6-2, 215) and junior Britton Whetsell (6-1, 190).

The coaching staff also brought in two highly regarded freshmen who could contribute immediately, Kevin Alexander (6-3, 215) of Lake Butler, Fla., and Jeremy Campbell of Port Orange, Fla., both of whom were among the top 50 prospects in the nation at outside linebacker.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The good news for Clemson is that the secondary is capable of making big plays. The bad news is that the Tigers are capable of allowing big plays.

So while Bowden says he is most concerned about his defensive front, there are some major questions about the secondary, which loses first-team All-ACC cornerback Tye Hill and honorable-mention safety Jamaal Fudge.

In addition, one of last year's starters, senior Sergio Gilliam (6-3, 180), is still playing behind redshirt senior Duane Coleman (5-10, 195), who took over the starting job against Florida State and retained it through the spring.

Another starter from last year, junior converted quarterback C.J. Gaddis (6-0, 205), moved back to cornerback after spending last season at safety. Gaddis was the starter in the season's first five games but lost his job to then-freshman Michael Hamlin (6-3, 195) and was primarily used as a nickel back the rest of the season.

Gaddis is back at cornerback, hoping to lose the reputation that he was prone to give up big yards in critical situations. He thinks returning to cornerback is the perfect move for him. He'll be backed up by sophomore Haydrian Lewis (5-11, 170) and redshirt freshman Chris Chancellor (5-10, 160).

The other starting cornerback position goes to Coleman, with Gilliam listed as his backup. redshirt freshman Ray Ray McElrathbey (5-10, 185) is listed at third team cornerback.

At safety, things are a little more stable, with Hamlin manning the Cat safety position. He had an excellent debut season, and the Tiger defense developed into a dominating unit shortly after he was inserted into the starting lineup. Behind him is junior Roy Walker (6-3, 205), redshirt freshman Sadat Chambers (5-10, 190) and sophomore Brandon Croley (6-0, 195).

At free safety, new starter Chris Clemons (6-1, 200) takes over the position vacated by Fudge. He was a backup at corner and safety last year and was second on the team in special-teams tackles. He'll be backed up by junior Chris Russell (6-2, 210), who is eligible this year after transferring in from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College via Colorado, and Chambers. Another option in the secondary is junior Chris Stone (6-1, 180).

Clearly, however, the Tiger coaching staff sees a need for more depth in the secondary because it signed five potential defensive backs, including Russell, Crezdon Butler (6-0, 180) of Asheville, N.C.; Darius Gaither (6-0, 195) of Winnsboro, S.C.; Byron Maxwell (6-1, 185) of North Charleston, S.C.; and DeAndre McDaniel (6-1, 190) of Tallahassee, Fla.

PUNTERS
Returning starter Cole Chason (6-0, 195) knows he has pedigreed competition breathing down his neck, in the form of freshman Richard Jackson, a Parade All-America from nearby Greer, S.C.

Chason has been the Tigers' starting punter the last three years, and has more career starts (35) and more consecutive starts (21) than any player on the team. But Bowden has been less than impressed, primarily because Chason's slow release resulted in five punts being blocked last season. So, for the second consecutive season, Chason's net punting average went down, ending up at 33.4 yards, a three-yard plummet from his career-high of 36.4 net yards as a freshman.

With all the blocked punts, the Tigers' team net was an ACC-worst 29.3 yards per punt.

"Our punter is back, but he has been very average, so I don't know whether that is good or bad," Bowden said.

Bowden spouted that kind of negative reinforcement throughout the spring, and Chason responded with improved distance and hang time.

But that doesn't mean his job is out of jeopardy, and Jackson will likely be on the field in some capacity this season. Rated the No. 3 place-kicker in the nation by Rivals.com and No. 10 by Scout.com, Jackson was a Shrine Bowl participant who averaged 46 yards per kick as a high school senior. He also made eight of his 11 field goal attempts, including a 64-yarder that was just four yards off the national high school record.

If nothing else, Jackson will handle kickoff duties for the Tigers.

SPECIAL TEAMS
While Bowden may have some concerns about Chason's abilities at punter, he does have one of the most experienced corps of specialists in the ACC. Not only do Dean and Chason return as starters, so do punt returner Chansi Stuckey, kickoff return specialists Aaron Kelly and Duane Coleman and long snappers Nic Riddle (6-2, 215) and Colin Leonard (6-3, 220).

That's a ton of experience on the special teams.

However, Bowden has not made it a secret that he would like to see more productivity, especially in the punting game.

The Tigers were middle of the pack in the ACC in every other special teams category: fifth in kickoff returns (21.9 yards per kick), sixth in punt returns (6.9 yard per return), seventh in kickoff coverage (41.1 yards allowed per kickoff).

Stuckey, who led the ACC in receptions with 64, is sure-handed as a return specialist. He scored the Tigers' only touchdown in the season-opening upset of Texas A&M on a 47-yard return. Kelly, another wide receiver by trade, will likely be his backup.

Kelly also teamed with Coleman, a cornerback, to handle most kickoff returns. Kelly's 26.6-yard average return would have ranked second in the ACC, but he had only 10 attempts on the year, about half the number needed to qualify for official statistics.

The Tigers split long-snapping duties between senior Riddle and Leonard. Riddle began the year doing both, but Leonard took over for snaps on punts in the second game of the season. He also handled field goals in the last four games, when Riddle was out with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

If needed, the Tigers have another long-snapper in junior Charles Roediger (6-0, 200).

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
If the Tigers are going to get back to ACC championship form -- almost a given every year before Florida State joined the league in 1992 -- they'll have to do something they haven't done in recent years: get off to a good start.

In fact, the primary reason Tommy Bowden has been under pressure in recent years is the fact the Tigers keep stumbling out of the gates. Last year, after winning early games against Texas A&M and Maryland, the Tigers lost three consecutive heartbreakers, to Miami and Boston College in overtime and to Wake Forest on the road.

Grading the Tigers
Unit Grade
Offense B+
Special teams B+
Defense B+
Intangibles A
In 2004, the Tigers lost four of their first five games. In 2003, the Tigers lost three games to BCS conference opponents before the middle of October.

Remarkably enough, last year the Tigers were still in contention for the ACC Atlantic Division's berth in the inaugural ACC title game until a 10-9 loss to Georgia Tech on Oct. 29, which might be more of an indictment of the Atlantic Division than it is praise of the Tigers.

Regardless, Bowden's team finished the season strong for the third consecutive year, reeling off wins over Duke, Florida State and South Carolina in the regular season and Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

This year, after the season-opener against Sun Belt Conference foe Florida Atlantic, the Tigers play another daunting early schedule, going on the road to face ACC opponents Boston College and Florida State in Weeks 2 and 3.

How they perform in those games will determine if Bowden's dream of returning the Tigers to championship form will come true or not.

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Cut and Paste of ESPN Insider Clemson Preview - LONG

Thanks!!! I was just gonna ask if someone could do that ;)***

Did I miss this... The WestZone Project will enclose the

I think they're talking about the scoreboard that's up over

That's what I thought. But then again I thought I might have

How DARE you post something that another site charges for.

I have appointed myself as the resident cut and paster

Excellent***

thank you!***

Re: I have appointed myself as the resident cut and paster

Pretty good read***

LOL. Me thinks this might be a slight mis-print

more than 5 yards per game, so they are correct lol*****

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