Archive for September, 2008

Sounds like more changes on the O-line

Wasn’t out at practice Tuesday night — well before the Maryland debacle, my bosses afforded me the chance to take today off for daddy duty, so I snatched it — but I’ve heard there could be an interesting move developing on the offensive line.
Cory Lambert, who opened the season as the starting right tackle, is [...]

Bowden: No major changes coming (at least by his choice)

Bowden’s comments from after the Maryland game
Clemson fans hoping for swift, rampant change won’t get any instant gratification – at least from coach Tommy Bowden’s end.
Bowden held his weekly follow-up teleconference Monday afternoon – a day later than usual because the Tigers are on their bye week.
In short – Bowden said he is not making [...]

Maryland game balls, recap

GAME BALLS
The linebacker corps
As bad as this group looked through four games, it is hard to image they could have collectively played better than they did Saturday. They were physical and aggressive, led by starting middle linebacker Brandon Maye and second-string weak-side backer Jeremy Campbell.
DE Ricky Sapp
So that is what the Tigers had been [...]

Grading the keys; injury report

How Clemson fared in the keys to the game against Maryland.
1. Stand firm up front
All of defensive coordinator Vic Koenning’s grumbling about lack of toughness paid off in this respect; Clemson obliterated Maryland at the line of scrimmage, suffocating tailback Da’Rel Scott to 39 yards on 23 carries. But that aggression and pursuit came at [...]

Maryland forecast

I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat down to write a blog the last two weeks on all the chatter about whether backup QB Willy Korn should have gotten meaningful snaps … only to end up with Faulkneresque chapters that still didn’t say everything that I felt needed covering.
In the end, I’m [...]

Davis makes guarantees of a different nature

Here is our gameday “Five questions with …” segment for this week.
Thought we’d go with senior running back James Davis, who guaranteed a win at Maryland last year, then got a game ball from Tommy Bowden after the Tigers followed his challenge with a 37-20 romp.
Davis, who needs two more rushing touchdowns to become Clemson’s [...]

Wednesday night injury update

A quick update on the injuries Tommy Bowden alluded to earlier.
Doesn’t sound like either are that serious, to be honest.
The one of some concern would be to junior lineman Jamarcus Grant, who sprained the AC joint in a shoulder during Tuesday’s practice.
Because of the rash of injuries besetting Clemson’s offensive line, the Tigers did not [...]

Bowden says two more injured

On the ACC teleconference this morning, Tommy Bowden said Clemson had added two more injuries of note yesterday, although he declined to identify specific players and said he didn’t know their status for Saturday’s Maryland game.
The only player wearing a green or yellow jersey yesterday who is not listed on Clemson’s injury report is linebacker [...]

LG Smith probably out awhile, plus a TP issue

Couple of quick hits from Monday morning interviews with players:
Sounds like redshirt freshman left guard David Smith might miss multiple games. Smith was in a walking boot after spraining an ankle Saturday, and center Thomas Austin said that after seeing Smith getting treatment Sunday, it looks as if Smith could be out for awhile.
That is [...]

S.C. State game balls, recap

This didn’t make the Web edition this morning, so thought it might be nice to share with the whole class.
GAME BALLS
S Michael Hamlin
Quite frankly, there cannot be many players who look bad in a 54-0 mauling. So Hamlin is the sentimental pick, winning bragging rights in Clemson’s first game pitting brothers since 1981.
LB Kavell Conner
Despite [...]