Virginia forecast: Going, Grohing, gone to Tampa

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney turns 40 today (Friday), and if this weekend goes as he surely hopes, he’ll have the means to buy plenty of tacky coffee mugs to celebrate the milestone … well, maybe one of several milestones.

The question is, will Virginia amount to his birthday cupcake?

The Cavs’ candle looks like it should have been blown out already.

To rehash, the 18th-ranked Tigers win the Atlantic Division crown and advance to the Dec. 5 ACC title game (vs. Georgia Tech) in Tampa, Fla., through one of three ways:

• 1. Beating Virginia (3-7, 2-4) in Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game. OR
• 2. Surging UNC wins at co-leader Boston College in Saturday’s noon game. OR
• 3. Boston College loses to the Terribles, er, Terrapins of Maryland next Saturday.

The odds of any of those three happening are in that order, from most likely to least.

As usual, there are any number of scenarios by which Virginia could prove Clemson’s buzz kill.

The Cavs have two good corners who could make the Tigers pay for a poor Kyle Parker read or an bounce-pass off somebody’s chest. Clemson’s offensive line is indeed improved, but not to the degree where you’d be at all stunned to see them botching assignments vs. Virginia’s 3-4 front or getting stonewalled on power plays.

QB Jameel Sewell is a serviceable run-pass threat, and WR Vic Hall is a trick play waiting to happen after his turn as a QB earlier this year. Toss in an atrocious special team mistake or two (Clemson missed FGs and PATs notwithstanding), and you have the formula for a tension-builder.

Especially against a Clemson team with so much at stake – and a history choking under this pressure.

Can this (im)perfect storm occur? Sure. Worse teams have wrecked Clemson seasons in recent memory.

Just don’t see it happening this time.

This Clemson team still has its imperfections, some of which have been glossed over by virtue of its five-game winning streak.

But it has consistently shown that it plays to win instead of not to lose, and that trait alone may be why I believe the Tigers will get the monkey off their back.

OK, that, and a few other reasons.

Virginia has incurred four straight losses, and administration appears set to put the “go” in Al Groh. It came within inches of a chance to knock off Boston College last week and has every reason to go through the motions.

The bar, in my opinion, is as simple as this: If Clemson can exceed 17 points, it should win.

From what we’ve seen of the Tigers’ offense and defense the last month, there’s no reason either shouldn’t be able to hold up their end of the bargain.

And then Swinney won’t be the ACC’s biggest head-coaching bargain any longer (see a $1 million annual raise for the final four years of his contract).

PREDICTION: CLEMSON 27, VIRGINIA 14

B(u)y the UVa. numbers

One snippet I failed to pass along from defensive coordinator Kevin Steele:

Steele was asked his thought at possibly winning the Atlantic Division on Saturday.

He replied that he should only be asked that if the Tigers win, and when the reporter suggested that surely Steele was thinking about it, here was his response:

“No. I’m thinking about what they’re going to line up in. You start thinking about that other stuff, then you put emotional pressure on yourself – (and) all that other stuff will never happen.

“It’s not the lottery, where you go buy a ticket and sit in front of the TV and say, ‘Boy, if I keep watching TV, there’s No. 1 and No. 2 …’ You ‘d better go to work. That’s where the real money comes from. You can sit at home all day and rub that lottery ticket, but if you don’t go to work, you may not have any money.”

I just picture Steele, in those days after he was fired from Baylor, sitting on his sofa, waiting for lottery numbers to be flashed on the TV screen during a syndicated evening rerun of “Night Court” or something. And then slamming his visor and defiantly grumbling about “the process.”

“You do something for 28 years, and you get beat by Louisiana-Monroe (when he was at Alabama) or you’re undefeated, No. 1 in the country and you’re down 20-7 with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter against Kansas (Nebraska, maybe???) and they’ve won three games – you don’t have to fall off a truck but so many times until you start learning from successful people what you need to focus on.”

Here are some of the numbers I’ve focused on, many of which lead one to conclude Clemson should win comfortably Saturday. Which, of course, isn’t to say they will.

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4 – rushing TDs Clemson has allowed in 10 games

2 – Virginia rushing TDs the last five games

3 – Virginia defensive TDs in that span

118 – Cavs’ national ranking, out of 120, in total offense

Ugh. I think Virginia’s offense is exponentially more formidable with Jameel Sewell at quarterback instead of Marc Verica – Sewell’s running ability gives them an extra (or single) dimension, and I’m argue he’s a more dangerous passer than Verica.

So yes, Dabo Swinney, the Cavs are capable of prevailing.

But I’d be inclined to believe it would take a sloppy offensive performance from Clemson – QB Kyle Parker in particular – to keep Virginia in it.

And …

35 – the stunningly minimal number of points opponents have scored off Clemson’s 19 turnovers

17 – Virginia’s highest point total the last four games (vs. Boston College, Miami, Duke and Georgia Tech).

****

We knew Steele’s defense would prevalently feature man-to-man secondary coverage and a more aggressive approach in terms of pressuring the quarterback. But you might not have surmised …

633 – most snaps played this season by a single defender

DeAndre McDaniel? Brandon Maye? Nope. Marcus Gilchrist, nickel cornerback and occasional free safety

15 – team-high for individual quarterback pressures

Defensive ends Ricky Sapp or Da’Quan Bowers, the team’s sack leaders? Nope. Maye, the middle linebacker

10 – team-high tackles for loss

Then Maye, right? Bowers? Sapp gets you partial credit … but he’s tied with defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins

****

If you’d have told me before the season that sophomore Marquan Jones would rank seventh on the team in catches at this stage, I’d have bet that Clemson’s offense was putrid – because I firmly believed Jones would be the team’s second-best wideout.

7 – Jones’ total snaps the last two games (6 vs. N.C. State, 1 vs. FSU).

Boy, I didn’t expect Jones to fall that far off the map.

But you can see why – Xavier Dye, Pt. 2 (pictured) and Terrance Ashe have risen to the occasion since the bye week, and their contributions as both reliable pass-catchers and standout run-blockers (neither of which are Jones’ strengths) have aided the offensive outburst.

****

Virginia’s defense suffers no shortage of talent.

DE Nate Collins (6-2, 290) is vastly underrated and has five sacks, more than either Bowers or Sapp. Inside LB Steve Greer (6-2, 225) is a freshman with heaping upside. And both corners, senior Chris Cook (6-2, 210) and junior Ras-I Dowling (6-2, 200), figure to have pro careers ahead.

But their 3-4 scheme doesn’t seem to be doing them any tangible favors.

6 – games the Cavs have allowed at least 26 points (including to William & Mary, Southern Miss and Duke)

4 – straight games Virginia has allowed at least 300 yards of total offense. The opponent hit 424 yards in three of the four

On the other hand …

90 – percent of opponents Virginia has held below its season passing yard average

But in the end …

58.7 – more rushing yards per game Clemson is averaging this season (170.2, compared to 111.5 last year)
+
12.4 – percent improvement in Parker’s completion rate during the Tigers’ five-game winning streak
+
9 – seniors in the starting lineup, with the chance to reach the ACC championship by winning their last game at Death Valley
=
1 – Clemson’s first ACC title game appearance since the ACC went to the split division format five years ago

Coordinator corner

Before getting to Tuesday’s media interviews with Clemson’s football coordinators, the basketball team’s rout of Liberty bears mentioning.

This Liberty team wasn’t half as formidable as last year, but the Tigers looked impressive in a lot of facets:

• Their length and lineup versatility is wreaking more defensive havoc than I’d expected this early.
• Oliver Purnell’s belief that they can spread the 3-point wealth and improve their offense through efficient shooting has been supported by their opening two performances, although I’m inclined to reserve judgment for after Clemson has faced a string of defenses with comparable athletes. But in particular, Tanner Smith has really improved his stroke.
• But first and foremost, this team displayed offensive ball movement in the halfcourt the likes of which I haven’t seen in a Purnell team. Very intrigued to see if that will be a tease or trend.

One more hoops note that was edited out of my 5 Questions preview story last week …

It appears as if Terrence Oglesby, who stunningly left the program after two years, has already gotten his first taste of the pratfalls of overseas basketball.

Oglesby has already moved from Italy to the Ukraine.

The unstable team with which he originally signed had a recurring bout with financial turmoil, and when neither Oglesby or the club team were happy with one another, the team agreed to release him – as it did with the other two Americans on the roster (Lance Allred and former UVa star J.R. Reynolds). 

Anyway, here’s the transcripts from defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and offensive coordinator Billy Napier:

KEVIN STEELE

Q: Virginia is ranked No. 118 of 120 in total offense. Here’s assuming this is one of those weeks where you’re drumming home that stats don’t matter.

A: Ain’t no different than any other week. We don’t talk about that. It’s about formation they line up with, the down and distance, the hash mark, and go play.

Q: What are your impressions of the Cavs?

A: They look like an NFL team lining up. They’re a pretty looking group of guys in terms of physically, they’re big across the board. Running back, receiver – well, they’ve got one who’s 5-11 – offensive line, pretty impressive looking.

There’s a little enigma of trying to figure out a couple of things. They had gone to what is kind of a Rich Rodriguez, Urban Meyer kind of offense. That was (new coordinator Gregg) Brandon’s style. It’s kind of migrated into something else.

They run the ball NFL-style. You don’t get all the fire drill stuff, all over the map. And their passing game, they’ve got the quick game like everybody else. They’ve got more vertical stuff than most people we play, probably like Florida State.

The quarterback has had some really impressive games.

Q: Have they migrated back to Brandon’s stuff with Sewell at quarterback, or do they vary what they do when it’s Sewell or Marc Verica at quarterback?

A: No, they’ve been pretty consistent in what they’ve lined up in. It’s the same stuff.

Q: Is it more of what Al Groh ran before he brought Brandon in?

A: I don’t know that. Something tells me they were more power, two-back stuff.

Q: Another strong performance against a good quarterback last week.

A: We’ve played four or five in the top 20, and for the most part have affected the quarterback and reduced their yardage significantly – and more importantly, their completion percentage.

The frustrating thing there was there were some things we could have done execution-wise to get him on the ground. And we just mis-executed a couple of times in terms of finishing and having the right guy in the right place. He got some rush lanes and even though he didn’t hurt us, he stayed alive. We got him on the ground twice and probably should have five or six other times.

That was the second-most frustrating thing.

The other thing that got our attention this week was correction of the penalties. It’s a physical game and guys are running around, flying around out there, and some of that’s going to happen.

But we’ve had very few penalties defensively this year. And to go out and have six – four on third down, three of which were pretty obvious … I knew the flag was coming out … you have to get back to technique. If you apply the proper technique, then you don’t have to be in position to get those type of penalties.

Q: Were the interferences as simple as the corners getting their head turned around earlier and locating the ball?

A: Depends on what coverage you’re in. Depends on where you’re at on the field. You’d better be in sync with somebody – if you’re not in sync with somebody and look back, then good luck.
Just more footwork stuff and body position stuff.

Q: Do you expect Da’Quan Bowers to play Saturday?

A: I do.

Q: Was that one of the better games for your second-stringers?

A: Yeah, we mixed and matched a lot and played a lot of younger people early in the game.

We go in at halftime, I think they have 110 yards on 35 plays. That’s pretty good numbers. So really first half, the penalties were the only thing that kept drives alive.

Then in the second half when we started mixing people in – we ha dto really take that film and teach off it.

The thing people don’t understand is everything off that film is a teachable moment. It has nothing to do with the scoreboard. I’ve said that 50,000 times. Or the down and distance or what game it is. You’re looking out there watching guys, and you’re going to have to teach them the right way at some point in time.

The guys who were out there, a year or two down the road, are the guys who’re going to be out there (as regulars). If you say well, the game’s in hand, let’s go to the house, then all you did was push back your teaching moment. Because at some point in time, you’re going to have to teach them. So better now than later.

That was the real focus of the second half, using those teachable moments.

Q: Do you have to get into motivating guys not to take Virginia lightly?

A: No. We’re so conditioned now to the way we approach things. You could call over here and say, who are we playing, and it wouldn’t matter. Doesn’t matter.

Our routine is the same. I’ve said that many times. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing the Green Bay Packers or Tecumseh Junior High. At this time, we do this. We come in at this time and do this and go over this.

It’s not about the emotion. It’s about the technical aspect of the game and how to apply the technique and principles in the given situation to execute to the fullest. And when you do that every week, that’s what they come to expect. It’s a habit then.

So we don’t get into all that because when you do, you change the routine. Then you’ve brought it to the forefront. Then you’ve changed the process. We don’t get into that.

Q: What do you think of how Kavell Conner has played?

A: There have been a couple of guys who’ve kind of rock-solid steady. Kevin Alexander being one, Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Thompson.

Where at the end of the game, you put the film on, and they apply the technique and are where they’re supposed to be and do what they’re supposed to do. Because so many times people get caught up on how many tackles people have.

Well, I can’t help if you’re the SAM linebacker and they don’t want to run at you. So the patience of, it’s about the end result, it’s not about my name on a piece of paper. They’ve unselfishly done their job quietly.

Q: Has Conner developed into a better tackler?

A: We have worked very hard on being more of a wrap-up tackler, and I think he understands that emphasis and is doing a better job.

Q: Where’s the biggest room for growth with your defense at this point?

A: What’s the down and distance? There’s a laundry list.

The biggest thing is just that we’ve got to get – and this is a broad-brush statement – but a little more dominant. We’ve got the talent to dominate and contest everything. And there’s a lot of plays contested out there. But there’s still a play here and there where things get away from you.

Q: Is that a mentality or playing faster?

A: It’s a lot of things. It’s mentality. It’s a habit. It’s understanding the defense. It’s understanding the situation. It’s just part of the process.

BILLY NAPIER

Q: Do you think that was Kyle Parker’s most efficient performance?

A: I do. I think he played pretty well. We had a few plays in particular where he had to move in the pocket, and I was most pleased with that. He did get a few breaks – a few plays in there that could have went in another direction. He continues to have a few plays where he could play a little smarter, but that’s part of the process.

I thought he probably played his most complete game since he’s been here.

Q: Do you have to tell him to dial it down if you get a lead?

A: I think you call the game that way, to a certain degree. You know going in what’s a little bit dicey and what’s not.

Early in the season in particular, we called the game different because we knew he had a little of that in him. As the season’s progressed, we’ve been able to give him more decision-making opportunities within a game plan.

He’s grown up, obviously, a lot – not only in his play, but in his preparation for play. That’s where he’s made the most strides.

I think he came in thinking this was going to be like baseball – I can show up and just go play. Not to say that’s their approach, but it’s completely different from the approach you’re going to have to take to prepare mentally for a game plan.

As long as he’s making good decisions, he’s very effective.

Q: You haven’t had to require him to run these last few weeks, but when he has, it’s been effective. Is this the way it’s supposed to be?

A: I think it’s one of those deals in the plan each week, in that you want to find an effective way to run the quarterback, and it matches a lot of the things we do.

Where maybe it looks like another play, then all of a sudden he’s pulling the ball and rushing the football.

It helps the other plays and makes another thing on their little checklist that they have to prepare for defensively.

That’s ultimately what you want to be, you want to be trouble for a guy getting ready to stop you. There needs to be a lot of questions to answer each week for the guy getting ready for you. And then throughout the game, you’ve got to kind of play the chess match with what they’re trying to take away.

But I think the quarterback run has been a good thing for us since the open date. We’ve found ways for it to be a little more effective than it was in the past. And when we do dial it up, it’s been a good play.

Q: You’ve also got more weapons now and guys who aren’t dropping balls like they did in September. That’s kind of expanded things.

A: Well, you look back, when we did struggle offensively, a lot of that was just things we could control and we screwed up. Whether it was execution, whether it was our front guys maybe not playing as well, guys dropping balls, penalties – those things, I think our kids finally figured out: Hey, if we’re going to be any good, we’ve got to take care of business and eliminate those problems.

So we’ve got really good leadership on offense. We have some smart football players that are some of our better players and most influential leaders. Mike Palmer and Thomas Austin in particular. So those guys, they see the tape. They know, “We’ve got to take som ownership here. So we’ve got to get this thing going in the right direction.”

We’ve benefited from that. Our execution has gone way up. Some guys obviously have caught balls, have made plays when given opportunities.

They’ve become more confident players, and then as a play-caller you don’t necessarily have to plan around those type of things.

It’s kind of like growing a guy up. You give him a little responsibility, he does good with it, you give him a little more. We’ve got a lot of guys like that. It makes you pretty capable of spreading the ball around.

Q: How has the offensive line contributed to the offensive resurgence?

A: Everything we do starts up front. If we’re capable of effectively running the ball, then in a perfect world you’re run and play-action pass. And then the drop-back passing game is just a compliment to all of that, and the screen game.

In my ideal world, you’d like to rush the ball effectively. That’s where it all starts. Obviously they’re the biggest piece to that puzzle. Not to say it’s all on them.

One of the reasons we’ve been able to create a lot of big-chunk runs is because our guys at receiver are doing a great job on the second level. They’ve really amped up the energy and the effort. We feel like that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to break a lot of runs.

Q: What kind of challenges does Virginia’s 3-4 scheme present?

A: They’re the only team in our league that runs the scheme. It’s very unique. It’s different.

So it takes you a little more time on Sunday and Monday to get going because you’re really studying the defense. Obviously coach (Al) Groh has been running that scheme since he’s been in the league, and they do a great job on defense.

Their offense is statistically worse than the defense. But the defense — in terms of playing good defense, they’ve done a good job. Coach Groh is the coordinator of the defense, so he’s heavily involved. I really have a lot of respect for the scheme and the way they go about their business.

They have good players. They’re tall, long, rangy guys, and they’re pretty big across the board at outside ‘backer. The two ends are big, tall guys, and they’re big on the perimeter and tackle well. This will be a good challenge for our guys.

Q: Do you have to do anything special this week to keep guys from listening too much to outside influences for what Saturday could mean?

A: In our minds, hopefully our message has been consistent enough that it’s exactly like this game.

Obviously this will be our last ACC game on the schedule and with a win we can clinch the division. They know that, but it’s been the same each week. Again, the message on offense has been, when you get to the game hopefully you can look back on your week of preparation and be confident.

Guys are inconsistent when they’ve cut corners and not done what they’re supposed to do during the week.

Q: With Michael Palmer, is there a play you recall that exudes what he brings to the table in terms of toughness and consistency?

A: Mike, seems like I’ve been locked up in a meeting room with that guy for three years. Mike has a knack for being a great football mind. He’ll be a better coach than I’ll ever dream to be, that’s what kind of mind he’s got. That’s what makes him a good player.

He’s not the fastest guy. It’s all about anticipation. He knows everybody’s job. He knows the quarterback’s read, the defensive front, he knows protections. And one of the things, because he’s been so smart, we’ve been able to expand his role. He’s been all over the field.

He has a high, high retention rate. He can remember plays we ran three years ago.

So he’s a rarity in itself. He’ll make an NFL team because somebody will give him a chance and he’ll go in there and be coaching everybody on the field before it’s all said and done.

He’s a special kid, and I remember when he went in there and weighed 220 pounds when he was a freshman out there going blow for blow with Phillip Merling, who was an NFL second-round pick. So he’s a blue-collar, physical tough guy by nature. The thing he does so well is play with great fundamentals.

From coaching him in the past, you can tell him one little detailed thing he’s doing wrong and he can fix it like that. Now, he ain’t going to run a 4.5 40, but as far as controlling his body and understanding what he’s doing, the guy knows how to do that.

Great hands, great hand-to-eye coordination, really good basketball player. And mentally just on a whole other level, and anybody will tell you that. He’s a class act.

Q: Is Parker’s ability to see downfield despite his height something you saw immediately in him?

A: He moves really well. His knowledge of protections, I think, allows him to be confident in what’s going on schematically.

He knows when he has a problem. The term I use is, you’ve got to know your protection problem, if you’ve got one. Everything we do has an answer built-in if he’s in trouble.

The biggest thing is mentally, he’s continued to grow up. Our drop-back passes, he knows if there’s an issue because he’s playing the game within the game.

That fine line for when do I run and when do I hang in there, that’s what I think he’s gotten better at.

There were some really good plays the other day where he moved and used his eyes down the field. That one in particular to Mike on the sideline where he stepped up and moved to the left and got it out of his hand, that was pretty big-time. Guy’s got a knack for it. He’s 6-foot, but either you can see or can’t see.

Bowl babble

You know, I can’t recall a year in which I covered either USC or Clemson where there was so little conjecture about which bowls the teams were factors for.

Maybe it has something to do with the parity within a lot of conferences this year. Perhaps folks also aren’t as stoked about traveling because of the economy. And in Clemson’s case, all eyes have certainly remained fixed on the prize – an ACC title game appearance, which could lead to a BCS trip to the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Here’s how I roughly see it otherwise breaking down:

If Clemson reaches the ACC title game and loses, don’t think they fall any lower than the Chick-fil-A Bowl, assuming the Tigers didn’t lose their last two regular-season games and back into the Atlantic Division title. The Chick-fil-A folks always seem to love Clemson, and unless they’re nose-diving, the Tigers would be the ideal fit for what they are looking for economically (more attractive than Virginia Tech) and in terms of marketing starpower (C.J. Spiller, ‘nuff said.)

But if Clemson doesn’t make the ACC title game, it could get interesting.

If Georgia Tech then wins the title, the Chick-fil-A is left to select from Clemson and Virginia Tech (or Boston College, but let’s keep it real), and how the Tigers fare these next two games would play a role in how they’re perceived.

If Georgia Tech loses the title game to Boston College – well, the ACC might as well cut to the chase and self-impose a league-wide football death penalty before the general public and media do it for them.

But because the Jackets would be 7-1 in the ACC, the Chick-fil-A couldn’t take a 5-3 Clemson team (or any 5-3 team), per league rules. So the Chick-fil-A would be forced to take Georgia Tech for the second straight year or Virginia Tech.

Still think Chick-fil-A would snag GT, but guess it’s feasible the Jackets could fall to the Gator, which I think would be obligated to take them because of record.

Either way, I don’t feel the Gator would want to bring Clemson back for a second straight year … so that leaves the Tigers to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

Take that for what it’s worth or not worth.

My expectation is to be in Atlanta or Miami.

10 N.C. State things

Consider this one long mea culpa … except that in admitting a few wrongs, I coyly highlight some of my rights.

1. So much for my predicted 29-27 tight outcome, although when C.J. Spiller appeared to lose a fumble midway through the third quarter with the Tigers only ahead 24-14, I thought it was headed in that direction (the official ruling that Spiller didn’t fumble was upheld by replay).

2. Will claim style points for accurately weaving two missed PATs into the prediction, though.

Dabo Swinney pinned one of Spencer Benton’s missed extra points on the hold of Michael Wade. I don’t know enough about the holder’s responsibilities to discount that by any means.

But from my distant viewpoint, the other two key figures to the place-kick – the snapper and the kicker – are the ones having issues. For whatever reason, this staff seems intent on shielding snapper Matt Skinner from public criticism. Of course, for all I know, maybe their standard is for Skinner to simply fling it within Wade’s reach.

3. Time to finally give props to Clemson’s offensive line.

It might not be pushing the opposing D-line 5 yards off the line of scrimmage, but when you run for 240 yards in three consecutive games – two against ACC opponents – then you’re getting the job done.

At least twice, they beautifully executed a play in which the running back takes a handoff to the right, then glides back in stride to the left. Guard Thomas Austin and left tackle Chris Hairston (on the second level) got outside leverage on their men and sealed them inside, and either a TE or FB Chad Diehl kicked out the lone outside defender, opening a huge seam.

4. After the Maryland debacle, you’d have been hard-pressed to find anyone outside the program who honestly believed Clemson’s offense would turn things around to such an extreme.

We have no idea how much, if any, Swinney was providing input into the specific plays called. Nor do we know how much he has now, although he certainly appears to be less prominent in the signal-calling, and he’s been caught on TV camera only telling OC Billy Napier to go for it on a fourth down.

But whoever made the decisions shifted who Clemson was getting the ball other than C.J. Spiller, and how everyone including Spiller was getting it.

The new paradigm has fueled five straight outbursts of 38 points or more. If the Tigers hadn’t started out throwing to the tight ends and using Chad Diehl in the I-formation after last year’s USC game, I didn’t think they’d be flexible enough to make the adjustment in-season. Wrong.

5. When Swinney’s five-year contract was released to the public last spring, I interpreted the contract to read that Swinney’s incentive clauses for reaching or winning the ACC title would be retroactive to the season in which they occurred.

Turns out that was incorrect.

The contract indeed reads that if Clemson reaches the title game or wins it, the incentives will be triggered during that contract year.

Therein lies the trick/technicality.

Every ACC title game will occur in December, this year’s being held Dec. 5.

Swinney’s contract years end Nov. 30.

So if and when the Tigers actually participate in this season’s title game, Swinney will already have moved into the second year of his contract.

Thus … if Clemson qualifies for the ACC title game, he stands to earn a bonus of either $75,000 or $100,000 bonus, the latter if the team meets an academic standard as expected. But that’s the only lump sum he earns for the accomplishment.

More pertinently, advancement would also trigger a clause that would nearly double Swinney’s $800,000 annual guaranteed compensation for the remaining four years of his contract. That would be reflected in Swinney bi-monthly checks.

Swinney would be guaranteed the median salary of ACC coaches, which would be nearly $1.79 million, according to recent contract figures compiled by USA Today. North Carolina’s Butch Davis is slated to make $1.702 million, while Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen is to earn $1,877,095, according to USA Today. By my calculation, that would put Swinney at $1,789,547. And 50 cents.

The precise figure is yet unknown because of a discrepancy or two with several reported and non-reported figures. I’ve heard it could be around $1.75 million when all is said and done, so we’ll see.

If Clemson wins the ACC title, Swinney is guaranteed the average of the ACC’s seven highest-paid coaches – somewhere between $2.05 and $2.1 million.

As for this year, Swinney can stockpile $100,000 bonuses for winning the ACC title, making a BCS bowl and winning a BCS bowl. He would net $50,000 for being named ACC Coach of the Year.

6. I surmised the switch from Vic Koenning’s zone coverage to Kevin Steele’s man would bring more benefit to senior corner Chris Chancellor than counterpart Crezdon Butler. Chancellor is the superior technician, and I thought Butler’s size fared better as a Cover-2 type.

But from what we’ve seen three of the last four games, Chancellor has been opponents’ prime target, and with relative success.

Playing inside coverage, as Clemson did for much of the N.C. State contest, exposes any corner to the risk of looking really bad. They have to have catch-up speed, stay in the hip pocket without making contact and turn and find the ball in the air.

Thus the Wolfpack executed the same double-move to set up both of their touchdown passes (one vs. Butler, the first vs. backup Coty Sensabaugh), and I’m not sure you could expect much more out of Butler. Russell Wilson made the perfect pass on that one.

Give me one receiver and an island, and I’d probably choose Butler to defend him. And I don’t know which Clemson corner I’d go with second – Chancellor, Marcus Gilchrist or Byron Maxwell (pictured). Probably would depend on whether the opponent was a big, physical type or a slot guy, but the other three have more apparent strengths and vulnerabilities.

7. Didn’t believe Clemson would handle prosperity as well as it has since staking claim to the Atlantic Division driver’s seat.

This weekend, IMO, will determine the division winner, even if unofficially.

Still feasible the Tigers could back-door into the ACC title game if they lose to Virginia and Boston College beats North Carolina. But then Boston College would have to lose at Maryland next weekend, and I wouldn’t count on the Terps beating the College on John Belushi’s sweatshirt at this point.

8. Spiller is the team’s MVP. Hairston is probably the most indispensable player on the roster. Kyle Parker has keyed their second-half surge.

But there has to be some distinction to denote the importance of senior tight end Michael Palmer.

When the Tigers have needed a key catch, he’s the guy that’s made the play. When the Tigers need a run-block or a sure pass-block, he’s the guy they turn to. If you wanted an example of someone who embodies the toughness, grittiness and leadership you want your team to embody, Palmer’s the guy. And when we the media need an introspective quote or pulse of the locker room voice, he’s the stand-up guy we go to.

9. Don’t think the Elias Sports Bureau considers this an official stat, but I’m fairly confident DE Ricky Sapp is challenging the NCAA career record for plays almost made, for better and worse.

10. Couple of other random observations …

That was definitely Parker’s best game against a predominantly zone defense. Part of that has to include the context that N.C. State marked perhaps the worst zone defense he has faced, but Parker had been prone to mistakes in reading coverages in the middle of the field.

Two Parker plays stood out – the 22-yarder to Palmer on third-and-7 in the first half, where Parker adroitly angled the ball over the linebacker dropping the middle and hit Palmer in the chest with safeties converging (Palmer also did a nice job shielding the safety behind him).

The other was the 16-yarder on third down to Palmer (coincidence? I think not) in which Parker stepped up in a collapsing pocket, buying an extra second to find Palmer and released the ball just before getting nailed. That conversion sustained the nail-in-the-coffin scoring drive, if I’m not mistaken.

The two most unheralded performers from the N.C. State game were DTs Jamie Cumbie and Miguel Chavis, IMO. Starters Brandon Thompson and Jarvis Jenkins logged more snaps, but I swear every key situation, it appeared Cumbie and Chavis were on the field.

Chavis (pictured) doesn’t make a lot of plays, but he pushes the pocket well, and teamed with the 6-7 Cumbie, I think that had a hand in forcing Wilson from making many timing-based throws.

If Clemson keeps scoring touchdowns on these short-field drives, someone’s gonna start kicking to Spiller again and take the chance they have the speed to cover. Curious to see what USC special teams coach Shane Beamer, son of special teams guru Frank Beamer, will have up his sleeve next eek.

N.C. State forecast: Kings of Queen

Buddy you’re an old man, poor man pleadin’ …
… with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place.

Know I’ve already referenced it once or twice this week, but I must admit (perhaps as a cry for help) that I have had Queen’s “We Will Rock You” stuck in my head the entire week. In case you weren’t there in Death Valley last week, a number of fans with YouTube uploading capabilities can shed light on why – here, here and here, among others. And video cannot do justice the amount the stadium shook.

Sports has always been my passion in as much for its strategy, preparation, execution and, of course, the feeling of validation in winning. Professionally, this job has afforded me the pleasure of gaining insight into the behind-the-scenes of the sports world and allows me to tell the stories of the people involved.

The one common denominator, though, that I’ve gotten from both playing (back in the day, of course) and covering sports now is getting to experience the outpouring of emotion that can involved in the process from start to finish.

To see entire communities rally around their high school football or basketball teams en route to a state title. To see that USC cast of recruiting afterthoughts — Phil Petty, Sheldon Brown, Ryan Brewer & Co. – lift the Gamecocks to unprecedented bowl victories.

To witness firsthand the sense of betrayal and anger some USC players were wrought with when they hauled off with items from the locker room once their postseason was taken away because of the infamous brawl. Then there’s the passion that flows through the majority of SEC stadiums before, during and after any given game.

To see James Davis crying the day Tommy Bowden resigned. To be on the field when Davis and then Dabo Swinney had their names thunderously chanted in Death Valley.

The “We Will Rock You” chant at the end of last week’s games figures to go down as one of those moments I’ll remember for a while. To know what Clemson fans have endured for at least this decade, it seemed like the ultimate cathartic release from all the anxiety that has built up with year after year of shortcomings in big games.

Um, er, uh, is now the time to interrupt the sappy interlude to point out the Tigers could still choke? Didn’t think so.

Or the time to wonder what Memorial Stadium will be like if Clemson secures the Atlantic Division title in defeating Virginia next week?

Nah, that neither – if for no other reason than what are the odds the Tigers get two night home games in a row?

Saturday’s N.C. State game is about preventing somebody from putting Clemson back into its place.

It is, in my estimation, a muy dangerous game for the Tigers.

That, despite the fact N.C. State’s defensive back seven could be worse than FSU’s, if that’s possible. And despite the fact FSU had better offensive coaching and more offensive players across the board.

N.C. State is still drawing close to capacity crowds (announced), and its fan base cares, so I don’t think their atmosphere will be lacking regardless of the team’s 4-5, 1-4 record.

The Wolfies can score through the air, especially via big-play potential. WR Jarvis Williams has had two big games in the last three contests and leads the ACC with seven TD catches. WR Owen Spencer leads the nation in yards per catch (25.6). Both are 6-3, which occasionally spells trouble for 5-, er, -8 corner Chris Chancellor.

Plus Clemson QB Kyle Parker could easily give the Pack some momentum if someone makes him pay for the 2-3 throws per game in which the defense has a pick-6 if they make the play.

N.C. State QB Russell Wilson tends to make good decisions – something, well, FSU’s Christian Ponder had been doing until making a few boneheaded throws last week. Cause or effect for Clemson’s defensive prowess? Probably some of both. You can bet the Tigers have taken note of Wilson’s relatively elongated wind-up and will also try to use his lack of height against him.

My gut says this one’s going down to the wire, too.

Before this stretch, I refused to pick Clemson in a close game because it had rarely, if ever, shown the fortitude to win them.

By the same rationale, I cannot pick against them in this situation because of the roll the Tigers are on. At least 38 points in each of the last 4 games – didn’t see that coming a month ago.

Barring an unlikely Boston College loss, Clemson is a week away from potentially playing the other side to that Queen 45: “We Are the Champions.”

PREDICTION: Clemson 29, N.C. State 27

Turning the wheel

A friend of mine from out-of-state who doesn’t follow Clemson on a regular basis e-mailed earlier this week with a two-pronged question:

1. Just how many times has C.J. Spiller burnt opposing defenses with a wheel route?

2. How in the world do opponents not know it’s coming and don’t seem prepared for it.

In particular, he wondered why opponents don’t always assign a defensive back to Spiller who at least has a chance to keep up with him.

• Against FSU, Spiller smoked LB Kendall Smith for a 58-yard score.
• At Miami, Spiller shot by a cemented LB Sean Spence for a 56-yard score.
• At Georgia Tech, he slipped S Cooper Taylor for a 63-yard TD.
• At Boston College last year, he went for a 45-yard catch that led to a touchdown.

And these were just the cases I can recall since Dabo Swinney took over as coach. Variations of this play have been in use since the Rob Spence tenure.

The latter two examples are most significant to me as the Tigers prep for Saturday’s noon game at N.C. State.

The last two times Clemson made the wheel work, it was against man coverage. Jacoby Ford is running a deep post, so the trick is getting the deep safety to follow him along with the corner – or else, well, Ford is the guy you throw deep to.

Georgia Tech, though, appeared to be in a zone blitz, with Taylor either having specific man responsibilities on Spiller (lined up at H-back, coincidentally) or simply recognizing someone oughtta turn and follow Spiller wherever he went.

Boston College is almost exclusively a zone principle team – as is N.C. State, no coincidence given the Tom O’Brien connection.

So long story short, it can be done again.

The more compelling question: How does it keep happening, especially when there are apparent tells in the formation?

The only common thread I can tell is that Clemson snaps the ball on a fairly quick count to try to keep the defense from audibling before it recognizes what’s about to occur.

One interesting aspect is that Spiller seems to typically run this route only when he’s on the short side of the field, which I assume is to increase the odds he’s facing a boundary linebacker who’s there because he’s more skilled in shorter spaces against the run.

Bobby Bowden intimated to reporters earlier this week that FSU certainly knew it was coming (everyone has film, so I’m sure all opponents have prepped for it).

But as the late ‘80s version of the G.I. Joe cartoon series used to remind us at the end of every episode — knowing’s half the battle.

Only half, in last Saturday’s case.

“ (Spiller’s) like a ticking bomb. It will tick, tick, tick, and then all of a sudden it goes off. How long can you contain him? Gosh, we contained him pretty good in the first half. I think he got loose for a 40-yard run. But we contained him pretty good.

But the second half, boy, he hit that little wheel route on us. We worked on that. I talked about it all week. We wanted to be in a certain defense when that thing came up. We were not in it, and it was just a physical mismatch.”

N.C. State has a veteran and pretty decent starting defensive line.

But the secondary is comprised of a senior, a redshirt freshman and two first-year freshmen. All three projected starting linebackers are sophomores, and redshirt freshman Terrell Manning plays a bunch, too.
With that lack of experience, I know I’d certainly be tempted to see if they recognize it coming. Then if they could stop it.

****

One tidbit I forgot to drop in today’s notebook …

Swinney wasn’t TOTALLY kidding after Saturday’s game when he said he should have tried S DeAndre McDaniel as the cure to the placekicking woes.

McDaniel made the “game-winning” 37-yard field goal at the end of Wednesday’s practice.

“It was phenomenal,” Swinney said with evident embellishment. “I was just trying to see what his range was. He said he wanted to get in there and have a shot at it, so I said all right. He nailed it.

“It wasn’t pretty. But it went through the uprights. Results are all that count, right?”
Swinney promised any defender with a return touchdown that they’d get a snap on offense, and McDaniel’s crack at receiver ended prematurely when Kyle Parker fell down dropping back before his planned fade throw to McDaniel.

So Swinney was then asked if being the kicker did or could count as the offensive play McDaniel didn’t really register against Coastal Carolina.

“Absolutely,” Swinney said. “I’d already told him in the Florida State game that if we had the game in control in the fourth quarter – this was going into the game – that I’d give him an extra point.

“But I wasn’t quite comfortable … heck, I might as well have put him out there.

“It wasn’t really quite to that point, but I’d love to let him in there and see him kick one through. He’s an all-around athlete.”

****

Saw the suddenly controversial video of DE Andre Branch (No. 40) earlier in the week, and quite honestly, I didn’t think twice about it being an issue after watching it.

Focusing strictly on Branch and FSU OL David Spurlock (No. 79) without watching the rest of the play, I probably would have flagged Branch for unsportsmanlike conduct.

But when you add in the context of the fumble and ensuing scrum, it appears much more likely that Branch got his hand caught under Spurlock’s helmet and basically gave him a little noogie as everyone got up.

But allegations of eye-gouging? Branch shouldn’t have given Spurlock’s head a final shove, but where in that video is there any evidence Branch’s fingers were doing anything inside Spurlock’s mask?

Florida LB Brandon Spikes gets caught poking someone’s eyes, and the witch hunt ensues.

****

I drew a 5-yard delay of game penalty for requiring an extra day to get ya the transcript of the media’s interview with DC Kevin Steele from Tuesday.

Hopefully I’m not too far behind the chains to get a forecast done by tomorrow.

Excited for basketball season … but not in the middle of football season, much less a stretch title run.

Q: Is N.C. State’s offense similar to FSU’s, not to mention they have another good quarterback who’s playing well?

A: He’s a very good quarterback. He’s put up big numbers. There are similarities in what they do. They’re multiple in their personnel groupings, same personnel groupings and multiple in some formations.

I don’t think we’ll see 19 of 37 quick throws, like we did last week. I don’t think. We may.

Q: Does Russell Wilson run as much this year?

A: He’s not running as much as I remember him doing. He’s capable of doing it. Against Duke, he did.

Q: He doesn’t seem to make a lot of mistakes or interceptions.

A: The other guy (Christian Ponder) had a lack of interceptions, too. (Steele smiles)

They do throw the ball down the field a good bit. That group we just played, they had thrown the ball down the field, but had thrown a lot of quicks and screens, too.

He’s well-coached. He’s got a quick release. I think that’s the biggest thing.

Q: Is it oversimplifying to say they like to go vertical with their receivers and use their tight ends and running backs as safety nets underneath?

A: They get a lot of catches. They check the ball down a good bit. They’ll throw it vertically down field to the tight end, too.

This is kind of, welcome to our world. We’ve played the TCU quarterback, he was in the top 25. (Wake Forest’s Riley) Skinner is in the top 25 and (Miami’s Jacory) Harris and Ponder. This guy is, too.

It’s what we do. It’s what we’ve seen.

Q: What’s been the key to producing so many interceptions?

A: I think the biggest thing is, No. 1, we’ve got very good players. We’ve got good pass-rushers and a lot of talent back there.

No. 2, they’ve been very receptive to coaching and have bought into the system. They’ve been coached very well bycoach (Charlie) Harbison and up front by coach (Chris) Rumph and coach (Dan) Brooks.

I’d say we’re pretty up there in terms of number of sacks. I have no doubt it’s probably the same number of quarterback pressures.

People get excited about sacks, but coaches get just as excited about knocking him to the ground and the ball going over our heads on the sideline. That’s just as important. There has been a lot of that.

Those guys are talented players. When you go from where Rashard (Hall) went the other night to where he got to in order to catch that ball – that’s good coaching, but you can coach one guy to do that and another guy to do that and get different results based on who’s doing it.

Q: LB Brandon Maye has more pressures than even Da’Quan Bowers. How much has Maye improved in that regard, and do you really blitz that much?

A: We’re about right. We blitz when we have to. We’re capable of doing it. I think about half and half – a four-man rush and pressure.

If you’re the middle linebacker in that scheme, you’ve got a chance to factor into the inside pressures and outside pressures to both sides. Your number of snaps to that is probably higher than anybody else’s in the system.

Q: Hall’s productivity – is that a result of scheme, studying or maturation?

A: First of all he’s got very good skill. Second, he’s been very well coached. The scheme is important, but it’s the least of that.

He’s like coaching a pro. He’s very football intelligent. He’s intelligent otherwise. But there are a lot of 3.5 (GPA) guys walking around that don’t know the difference between I-pro and I-slot. He’s got a jump on things right off the bat. He knows if he’s going to get this route or that route.

If you can deduct it that quick, as fast as he does, that’s good. He can recognize it in any environment – walk-throughs, practices, film room, the game. He just sees it. He knows what’s coming.

He’s at the point now where if you make a mistake in your verbiage in explaining something, he looks at you and catches you. And you need guys like that.

Q: Dabo said Toney Baker is one of the best, toughest backs you’ve faced this year.

A: Yeah, he’s the complete package. Of course, when he came out of high school, he was extremely fast. Some would argue after the knee injury he’s slower, but he’s still fast enough.

The thing he does, he runs into contact old-school. A lot of guys run the football, but they tail off here or there. He runs into contact, and when he runs into contact, you’d better wrap him up because he lowers his shoulder.

His yards after contact, I don’t know what it is, but I know somebody’s paying for it. ‘Cuz that’s on film.

Q: You have to be pleased with what Byron Maxwell and Coty Sensabaugh gave you in relief at cornerback.

A: Yes, Maxwell and Sensabaugh and (Xavier) Brewer. That’s the thing that hasn’t been talked about a whole lot. There’s a lot of depth.

The number of guys that we have, there are places that are struggling to find one.

Then you look up front and on the edge, you’ve got numbers. It’s a pretty good luxury. Not a lot of people have that.

There are people that if they lost Da’Quan, they’d be scrambling to figure out what they were going to do, changing defenses just to be able to set the edge. Everyone would come here (at that position). Well, come here and it’s Kevin Alexander.

Q: After that 16-play drive allowed in the third quarter, you and Dabo were able to reel them back in on the sidelines. What did you say?

A: The truth of the matter is, I thought we lost our composure in that drive. There’s a great lesson there, and we have learned from it. But the flip side of that is they got back on track, quick. I mean real quick.

Q: Was it just meeting with them that settled them down?

A: There’s leadership on the team. I think they’ve bought into the process of “the next play”. Everybody loses their composure at some point in time. We all do. You lose it. The key is, do you go to the edge or do you get back on track?

Q: The corners jokingly want us to ask when you’re going to blitz them more?

A: You want to know what I tell them? You learn to cover, we’ll blitz ya.

We have fun with that. The real joke to that is, I don’t know if you remember the play, but we designed a pressure where (Chris Chancellor) was going to come off the edge and sack Skinner because the protection was set up that way.

Well, he shows it too early. And this 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle sees it and bails out. So Chris runs right into him, smack. Well, Kavell (Conner, linebacker) was the second man through, so he gets the sack. Kavell was supposed to eat that block, and Chancellor was supposed to be free.

Chancellor let him read his mail, and he opened it and read it. So it’s like hey, we gave you one, you didn’t do it right. You had your sack. Kavell got it. You gave it to him. Kavell was gracious and thanked him for it. He knew he was going to have to run right in there and into that 6-6, 300-pound tackle. But Chris got a little hungry and ate it up for him.

Napier comes of age

Very interesting and insightful stuff Tuesday from both of Clemson’s coordinators — and, to my chagrin, an awful lot of tape to transcribe.

So it’ll take another day to give ya the full Kevin Steele interview. But OC Billy Napier gives us more than enough to chew on.

As you’ll see — particularly with his answer to a question about WR Xavier Dye — Napier tends to be frank.

Coaching is so ego-driven that you’ll rarely hear any coach admit to really questioning his own methodology. But as much as we’ve been fed that Clemson’s offensive improvement has hinged strictly on execution — which is certainly a factor, but hardly the lone one — it was awfully refreshing to hear the 30-year-old Napier humanize what he’s gone through in his first year as a full-fledged coordinator.

Q: Is N.C. State’s defense like FSU’s, only with zone coverage?

A: I’d say they’re more like Boston College, Wake Forest. You can see O’Brien’s footprint in the defense with how they’ve evolved the last couple of years, even though obviously they do a heck of a job. They’re more zone coverage, obviously, but they play a lot of fire zones, zone pressure type of stuff.

But all that’s irrelevant. It’s going to be about which team executes the best and has the best preparation and which team’s the most focused at 12 noon.

Q: To what do you owe the improved execution these last few games?

A: I think it’s just been an overall – I tell you guys every week, it’s our job to come to work every day and get better at what we do. I think it’s a matter of, as a staff, we’ve ironed out the wrinkles. You’re always looking for a better way for advantaging our time, our practices, our meetings, our game day. So it’s our first go-round as a staff, and I think we’ve continued to try to put our players in better position.

That being said, our players, obviously they didn’t like how that felt at Maryland. I think that was kind of an eye-opener for them. That hey, anybody can beat you on a given Saturday if you don’t have the type of preparation during the week that you need. And maybe if your sense of urgency and focus isn’t where it needs to be when you walk out there and play, you can be a very average football team.

Seeing it on tape helps. Seeing hey, you know, we get 12 opportunities to go out there and play. We just went out there and wasted that chance. I think they’ve lived and learned a little bit, and they’re just like us – we still have a lot of young players who’re figuring this thing out.

In particular, the quarterback position. Some would say that’s the most important position on our offense. If he plays well, obviously we play well. His experience, him learning how to prepare, him figuring out it wasn’t quite as easy as he thought it was going to be, mentally what he needs to do to get ready – a lot of people have gotten at their job.

Q: When do QBs typically have their greatest improvement?

A: I think it’s between their first and second year. I think that’s any football player’s – the improvement they’ll make between their first year of significant playing time and their second year. For example, Antoine McClain is a much better player than he was last year. Another example would be David Smith. Mason Cloy’s a better player. Landon Walker’s a better player.

They went out and maybe stumbled around a bit and got hit in the mouth a few times and said hey, this maybe isn’t as easy as I thought. And then they had that memory of what it took to be a good football team.

Q: In hindsight, would all this have fallen into place if not for the open date coming when it did?

A: It was very much a positive given this situation. That gave you some more time to reflect on things you could do better and where things went wrong, whatever the case may be. It was a huge blessing, for sure. That’s a good point.

Q: What has Xavier Dye done to get back in your good graces?

A: I think he’s just shut his mouth and showed up and worked every day, to be honest with you. He’s a great kid, but he stopped complaining, stopped blaming everybody else, stopped looking for an injury or excuse every time something went wrong. Finally realized, hey, if this thing’s going to happen, it’s because I get ready.

Just part of that growing up. First significant year of playing time, little bit bumpy, get coached really hard every day.
Thickening that skin up a little bit. His standard is higher than everybody’s elses, doesn’t care what others think, just showing up and going to work.

These guys are getting to Saturday and looking back on the week and saying, hey, I’m ready. I’m a product of my work, and they can play confident.

Q: Does the learning curve hold true for younger play-callers?

A: Absolutely. I’m no different than a Xavier Dye or Kyle Parker. However you want to look at it, that’s the facts.

I’m just like any of you guys. First year doing your jobs, you were probably better midseason than those first couple of articles. Not only myself, but managing the group.

We had staff devotion the other day and I had to give the devotion. I talked about a couple of things football-related and a couple things related to my faith.

What’s relevant right now? There’s only so much time between that last snap we played against Florida State and the first snap of the N.C. State game. So what are you spending your time doing? What’s going to impact on how you play?

Where are we wasting time, what can we do to get more out of our work? You try to get efficient at it, you try to motivate better, you try to discipline better. It’s like any other profession. You’re constantly trying to get better.

Q: Did your self-confidence ever waver early in the season?

A: I don’t think there’s any question that – I wouldn’t say your self-confidence, but maybe your confidence in how you’re doing things wavers. I think you’re looking for answers. You’re trying to remove yourself and looking at things objectively.

It’s not a matter of whether I think I can do it. It’s a matter of how am I going to get this thing done? That’s where your question marks are.

Q: Like Dabo says, you’re good enough with what’s available to you. But it’s how to get the most out of it.

A: No doubt. It’s like building a house. You’re trying to build it the best you can with what you’ve got.

Ultimately it comes down to first downs, points, not turning it over, capitalizing on red-zone opportunities, creating explosive plays. You’ve got so many players and your scheme, they have their defense, and every week it’s a battle to see how we can make this thing fit. And it starts over every week.

Q: Can you give an example where, no matter how hard you prepare during the offseason, that you’re only going to learn on the job and have learned this season?

A: Probably the biggest thing is you get where you don’t give a crap what anybody thinks. You could care less. You get kind of like you were when you were a player. Oh great, he’s yelling at me, that’s great. I don’t really care. Let’s go play the next play.

Going into it, I probably felt man, this is a big-time deal here. It’s my first go-round and all that. You work hard at it and really want to do good.

Ultimately you learn that who gives a crap, let’s go play. You get where you don’t really care what everybody says. Ultimately you know you’ve got to get them ready, and if you don’t, it’s your fault. It’s your job to jab all those other people and make sure they’re ready to play.

Q: When did you get to that point?

A: A couple games in, you start figuring out it’s happening all over the country. Teams are playing good, teams are playing bad.

So you want to get rid of all that, you get them ready to play.

Q: Was your role different enough last year to where you couldn’t experience those growing pains then as the coordinator those final six or seven games?

A: That was completely different. That was just like being on the show Survivor every week. You’re just trying to impress and advance, win the game.

This is completely different. You’re on the front end of the deal. Now it’s about the future, building this thing the right way from the ground up. It’s got your name on it.

Q: What do you think of what Andre Ellington’s done the last few weeks?

A: Andre’s one of my favorite players. He just shows up and works every day. Jamie (Harper) as well. They’re really good people. They’re blue-collar guys, don’t talk a lot. C.J. was obviously gassed late in that game and Jamie was beat up. For Andre to go in there, he’s shown he can do that. That didn’t surprise anybody on our staff. He’s capable as a receiver as well.

Obviously he’s got some special talents. He’s a very good zone runner. He goes vertical, makes good decisions and commits to it. He’s a physical kid, even though he’s not quite the biggest guy.

Q: Would it be reasonable to expect Parker to make a jump in his second year like Christian Ponder or Jacory Harris?

A: All that stuff don’t matter. He’s got to get ready to play this week, then we’ll go to the next one.

Obviously he’s proven he has the physical ability to be a good player. Whether he plays well has a lot to do with how he prepares. Got to make good decisions and manage the game and quit throwing pick-6s and fumbling the ball. He’s got to improve.

He’s close. He’s right there where he could be … but we’ll see. This game is a week-to-week game.

Q: You say he’s close. Where is he relative to his upside?

A: You look at his stats, he’s playing better. People around him are playing better. He’s getting coached better. So he’s a product of a lot of people’s learning curve.

He’s serious about it. He works. He’s a freshman, but I think he’s figuring it all out. We’ll see how he does as we wind this thing down. I’m proud of the kid. He’s shown he’s a competitor. That’s the most important thing he’s done – he’s figured out, I’ve got to work.

Q: Is it scheme-related or circumstantial that he doesn’t seem to have problems seeing down the field despite his height?

A: I think either kids have that or they don’t. Just the ability to block out the rush and the knack – there’s a lot of 6-3 guys who have trouble sitting in there and seeing it.

He’s capable of reading defenses. He’s obviously a coach’s son, so he has a background in doing that. Think that’s a product more of what’s going to determine his decision-making on the back end.

I think he’s fully aware of his protection, the schematics of his protection and knowing where to go with the ball when we’re overloaded in protection. I think he’s got a good feel for that.

Sometimes you think, man, he needs to run the ball. But I’d rather have one that way than the other way.

Q: For you personally, what were the wrinkles you ironed out?

A: Just allowing myself time to come up with ideas and prepare for my meetings. Delegate, that was probably the biggest thing. Delegate to the staff. Just throughout the week, things that I was doing that maybe weren’t relevant.
Just goes back to ultimately what’s relevant to getting it done on Saturday, alleviating some of those duties that maybe I shouldn’t have been doing to graduate assistants and student assistants.

On offense in particular, we have two new GAs, so they’ve grown up too.

Q: What could you afford to delegate?

A: Carding up practice, scripting practice, certain periods in practice. You have to train new GAs. Sunday was a longer day back then because they weren’t exactly up to date, maybe, with what we called certain things. So I had to come in early and help those guys with that. First-year deal, typical things you go through. And now the routine’s grooved in.

Don’t call it a comeback … yet

Cleaning out the notebook of observations and anecdotes, both regarding football and basketball.

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As you might have seen by now, Ed McGranahan of the Greenville News quotes S DeAndre McDaniel as saying he plans to return for his senior season.

By absolutely no means am I questioning the credibility of the report. McDaniel said it.

But there is absolutely no reason to believe that McDaniel has reached that decision.

Within the last few weeks, McDaniel has met with coach Dabo Swinney regarding his NFL future, and Swinney told him he would help McDaniel gather as much feedback from pro personnel as possible after the regular season.

The only thing Swinney asked, I’ve heard, is that McDaniel be careful whom he listens to. Because McDaniel already has a ton of outside influences trying to be a part of the decision-making process, and if you remember anything about his background from last week’s story, not all of the people he has grown up with are beyond reproach.

McDaniel’s saying the proper thing. Just like C.J. Spiller did before he went back and forth with his decision. Just like departuree Phillip Merling did. Just like Gaines Adams did before he see-sawed.

****

One player I failed to mention in Monday’s 10 things was junior defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins.

Stupid and costly personal foul penalty for clubbing an FSU player, and that’s not excusable.

But otherwise, he might have been the most disruptive defender on the field for either side.

FSU left guard Rodney Hudson is a hoss, and there were at least two instances where I saw Jenkins bulldoze Hudson into the backfield. Jenkins was credited with eight tackles, one off the team high – and a rather large amount for an interior lineman when he’s not facing an option offense.

****

Today’s story is on the re-release party of WR Xavier Dye, whose second start to the season has gone much better than the initial go-round.

One anecdote that didn’t make the writing cut was an example from WRs coach Jeff Scott on Dye’s improved attention to detail (warning, it might be difficult to picture).

“On his touchdown catch, that is what we call a climb route. He’s not just going to take off at an angle to the other hash. He actually is going to build (the route).

“One of the finer coaching points is, against man coverage – which we felt were going to get there – he could not just take off because that guy would just run with him at his hip. (So) whenever he got over the ball, he stemmed it back for about two steps, put his foot in the ground and separated.

“As opposed to running straight there, he straightened the guy up, took a pressure step and separated. If you look back on film, that gave him about a 3-foot cushion to make the catch. And those are the little details it takes.

“Those details are the things it takes the younger players in my room a little bit longer to understand. You can teach them and practice them, but until you go out there and it’s third down – they have to be able to carry that over. It’s about focus.”

****

As promised, some hoops observations, most from their exhibition victory against Francis Marion Middle (also saw some of the freshmen in summer league play):

Right now, 6-9 frosh Milton Jennings is exclusively working as a 4 forward. In a year or two, I think he gets a look as a 3 in a big lineup, but right now his value is as the pick-and-pop 4 whom Oliver Purnell has always coveted.

Jennings plays smooth and calculated, but he’s not explosive off the dribble, per se. Neither is 6-6 frosh wing Noel Johnson, for that matter (Johnson will need to tighten his handle). But both already play under control, a rare asset for good prep scorers.

Johnson, IMO, is the most ready to contribute immediately. Funky shot – releases it from on top of his head, basically – but he’s a good shooter. And he’s as much a scorer as a shooter; he has some crafty moves to set up a mid-range game.

Clemson’s early starting lineup: PG Demontez Stitt, SG Tanner Smith, SF David Potter, PF Trevor Booker, C Jerai Grant.
Am very interested in monitoring if and how this lineup takes shape over the course of the year.

Not sure I believe that’s a starting lineup that’s going to send the Tigers to a third-place ACC finish, as predicted by some media voting. That lineup also leaves all four freshmen coming off the bench, and that presents some substitution and rotation dilemmas for Purnell. He doesn’t want more than three freshmen on the floor at once, and you’d have to think in order to balance growing pains with tapping potential, there will eventually be a medium ground where, say, at least two of the freshmen are in starting lineup.

It appears that sophomore swingman Bryan Narcisse has earned a spot in Purnell’s planned rotation for his energy and defense.

It appears that 7-2 center Bobo Baciu, a fan favorite, is low man on the totem pole – perhaps even behind C Karolis Petrukonis.

PG Demontez Stitt looks to have added some strength and bulk in his upper body, especially arms. Whether that helps Stitt improve his ability to finish at the rim is the question.

Devin Booker was limited to 4 minutes vs. Francis Marion because he had sat out about a week to rest a shin injury Clemson hopes doesn’t develop into a stress fracture. He’s more of a power play than Trevor was at this stage, but less refined. Nice turnaround from the left block. But like Trevor at that age, he has to improve his conditioning and consistent intensity level.

The final frosh, Donte Hill, will be a valuable defender as time goes on, too. Don’t have any idea how his shooting will develop, but he’s not quite as raw a scorer as, say, Sam Perry or Cliff Hammonds appeared at this stage in their careers.

This team has plenty of folks who can shoot and make 3s: Potter, Young, Jennings, Johnson, Smith, even T. Booker. But the big question, in the absence of K.C. Rivers and Terrence Oglesby, is whether anyone can get an open look or shoot a decent percentage against athletic defenders.

Its greatest weakness – passing and ball movement. Not sure that anyone’s a creater, much less a closer. Once again, it’s gonna be difficult for Trevor Booker to get the ball if the people on the perimeter aren’t adept at setting up and recognizing entry pass opportunities.

Its greatest asset – versatility and defense range. Lots of interchangeable parts, Purnell can mix and match lineups to match up with the opponent, and I’d expect to even see a lot of Stitt and 5-9 Young playing in the same backcourt.

10 FSU things

1. Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything quite like S DeAndre McDaniel pointing to FSU QB Christian Ponder after that INT with under 4 minutes to go, basically issuing a mano-y-mano challenge as their paths converged down the sideline.

McDaniel is a bad mutha.

Sure, McDaniel doesn’t do it if Clemson is down 9 instead of up 9. But I don’t begrudge him for getting caught up in the moment, and it’s not as if Ponder couldn’t have tried other means of tackling McDaniel than lowering his throwing shoulder, for goodness’ sake.

As I wrote for my Monday column, I thought the play embodies the spirit Dabo Swinney has instilled in these Tigers.

Before, they feebly braced for their big-game collisions and played not to lose in big games (although to be fair, not nearly as much in the 2007 game w/ Boston College). Now they may get punched, but they counter-punch right back, and if they lose, so be it.

The question isn’t whether McDaniel will play on Sundays. It’s how soon.

Enter the NFL Draft this year and probably be a second-round pick – you usually see just 1-2 safeties go in the first round, and Tennessee’s Eric Berry has top dog locked up, with USC’s Taylor Mays living on his rep thereafter.

If you’re McDaniel, do you take the prize and go pro, or wait to see what’s behind door No. 2 …

Because there’s no reason to believe McDaniel isn’t in the same league as Berry. But he wouldn’t be perceived as a comparable pro prospect because Berry has carried the profile of being an elite guy for more than a year now, which is a major factor in the staying power of his draft status.

If Berry would have come out last year, he’d probably have been a late-first rounder to early 2nd, too.

If McDaniel returns, he puts himself in position to be a top-15 draftee.

Or he could get hurt and have his stock plummet. There’s no definitely correct answer.

I think McDaniel turns pro, in as much because he will feel lots of external pressure to do so. We shall see.

2. What an incredibly fickle industry, this athletics.

AD Terry Don Phillips was grilled on message boards earlier this season for his penny-pinching decision to promote the receivers coach.

Now there isn’t a peep, and Swinney’s smelling like roses for the manner in which he has given the Tigers an attitude adjustment.

Reminds me of all the questions I received after the Maryland loss on whether Swinney would be fired at season’s end.
You’ve gotta let things play out.

Right now, Swinney & staff are geniuses. By the same token, the ashes on that fire could be stoked if the Tigers go in the tank these next three games.

Winning cures an awful lot of ills. Losing invariably leads to scrutiny of the methodology. And the truth probably lies somewhere in between – things are never as good or bad as they may seem.

Not sure why I just went all Phil Jackson there …

3. Maybe because it’s rather bizarre to witness a coach chest-bumping a kicker when he connects on the first of his five kicks, a simple extra point?

Don’t know what percentage, but some of the blame for Clemson’s five missed point-afters and field goals has to be laid on redshirt freshman snapper Matt Skinner.

Skinner has been saved on a number of occasions by punter Dawson Zimmerman and holder Michael Wade. But Skinner’s fastball wasn’t catching much of the plate Saturday night, sailing high and outside for Wade on placekicks.

4. That said, this is one of the reasons why Richard Jackson had so much ground to make up to gain the staff’s trust in the preseason.

Jackson responded to adversity well early in the season, but in recent weeks we’ve started seeing the mental side of the game get the best of him. And that was always viewed has his greatest weakness as a player – he beats himself up over a failure.

A bad kick sticks with him. Whereas if Kyle Parker throws a pick-6, he shrugs it off and doesn’t appear to let a mistake bother him again.

It’s gonna be real interesting to see whether Jackson or redshirt freshman Spencer Benton wins this week’s competition to start at N.C. State.

5. It’s about time to become resigned to the fact that this year’s offensive line just isn’t going to generate much of a push against anyone. If they couldn’t bulldoze Coastal Carolina, Maryland or FSU, it ain’t gonna happen.

But they also deserve credit for carrying out the proper assignments and having the right positioning/technique to create the lanes C.J. Spiller and Andre Ellington exploited in the fourth quarter.

LT Chris Hairston has his worst pass-blocking performance in recent memory, RG Antoine McClain has a boneheaded, drive-killing false start in the red zone – and the Tigers rush for 241 yards.

They haven’t impeded Clemson’s offense, and have generally given Parker sufficient time in the pocket. I think OC Billy Napier would have accepted those terms in the preseason.

6. The 2006 Georgia Tech atmosphere was pretty electric. It was a powerful scene to be on the sidelines at the end of last year’s USC beatdown to here the crowd thunderously chanting the names of Swinney and James Davis.

This is just my fourth season covering the Tigers, but I’m not sure I’ve experienced a scene that typified what Clemson wants its football product to be than when Death Valley rocked to the tune of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” during the timeout before the team’s final kickoff.

The Tigers had just rammed its running game down FSU’s throats in the fourth quarter, exhibiting the character and toughness folks relate to a Danny Ford team. (So it was fitting the crowd responded to a song from 1977, however catchy and macho the anthem).

Look at those hands — would Freddie Mercury have gotten a look as Clemson’s X receiver earlier this season?

Could feel Memorial Stadium shaking.

7. N.C. State won’t be a cakewalk. QB Russell Wilson is the latest in the long line of pass-run threats the Tigers have dealt with.

TE George Bryan has more catches than any tight end in the league, I believe, and WR Owen Spencer is accomplished as a deep-ball threat.

Also not sure which secondary has been the bigger sieve – the Wolfpack’s or FSU’s.

8. If you recall, Clemson’s odd connection with frosh WR Bryce McNeal of Minnesota began when Swinney, then the receivers coach, had a grad assistant phone one recruiting service’s top-10 national WR prospects to gauge their interest in the Tigers.

With the way the tight ends have FINALLY become a focal part of the passing game – they had two of four touchdown catches vs. FSU – I’d be back on the phones, working to lure next year’s No. 2 TE behind Dwayne Allen (although maybe that’s their bait to try and retain sorta commit Victor Beasley).

Also makes me wonder what Napier could do if he had one-time Clemson target Rob Gronkowski at his disposal.

9. Clemson men’s hoops – likewise ranked No. 24 – tips off Friday night, and it figures to largely fly under the local radar so long as football remains legalized.

Took in the exhibition against Francis Marion, and will pass on some observations in an entry later this week.

What I took is that this isn’t another one of those 17-0 start teams – perhaps for better more than worse.

Those were veteran teams where you already had a feel for where there their strengths and weaknesses lied. There were benefits to exploding out of the blocks – confidence and public recognition chief among them – but the Tigers generally leveled off as others’ superior or comparable talent matured to negate Clemson’s experience advantage.

There are going to be growing pains and offensive lapses this season, and I’m not sure that at third in the ACC, the Tigers aren’t overrated (although if UNC and Duke are predicted favorites, then it’s all about precedent. For my money, Florida State is the surest commodity this season).

But I’d argue they have a much higher ceiling potential than they did a year ago, and all that hinges on how much the four freshmen develop as the season progresses.

Wanted to pass along that there’s one injury worth monitoring – F/C Devin Booker has been experiencing a “hot spot” on the front of one of his lower legs, and Oliver Purnell said they have been taking precautions in hope that it does not grow into a stress fracture.

D. Booker didn’t really practice last week, which is why he got all of about 4 minutes in the exhibition.

10. This ACC football race is a reminder for why Clemson has to overcome an obstacle that its recent competitors have not.

Since 2006, the Tigers have been reminded on a weekly basis where they stand in their quest to win the Atlantic Division title. It’s the standard their seasons have been defined by, so it’s all they hear from classmates, family, media, etc.

Half of what you’ve read or heard in the media about Clemson has regarded its title hopes, and there will be no shortage of discussion these next two weeks.

The other horse in the race is Boston College.

Try finding stories about the Eagles’ division prospects in their media outlets. There aren’t even daily stories from Boston College practice, whereas here, there are more than twice as many outlets that produce a feature, notebook and blog on a daily basis.

The last three Atlantic titlists (Wake Forest in ’06, B.C. in ’07 and ’08) largely could go about their business without much external pressure.

Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but I find it an interesting one.

Which leads me to this question for the masses …

As much build-up as the Tigers will have endured, how could they not have a cathartic sigh of relief if they take care of business these next two weeks – which could spell Letdown City for their game at rival USC.

As long as some of you have waited for Clemson to vie for the ACC title, would you, right now, sacrifice a loss to USC for an ACC title game berth (and presumed rematch with Georgia Tech)?

I don’t see how you couldn’t, or wouldn’t on a yearly basis – conference ramifications trump rivalry game in my book. Then again, I’m neither a fan nor a paying customer.