10 thingies

1. The most interesting thing I saw at the Coastal Carolina game – the pre-game montage of the Miami highlights on the scoreboard video screen.

One specific clip lasted but a meager few seconds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the file was deleted thereafter. But it showed S DeAndre McDaniel in front of a green locker at Land Shark Stadium afterward, flashing Miami’s trademark “U” sign with his hands.

McDaniel grinned as he flipped it upside down.

Wonder if he’ll be practicing the Tomahawk chop for his hometown followers this week.

2. Yes, I did once question whether freshman Malliciah Goodman out to redshirt because of the available depth at the defensive end position. The jury needs to be aware that was before Swinney righted a previous wrong and elected to redshirt junior Kourtnei Brown, too.

The move could well pay off this week, seeing as Da’Quan Bowers appears out with a sprained MCL and PCL.

If the decision had gone the other way around, the strong-side end spot would probably be shared by Kevin Alexander and Andre Branch. Branch has quietly flashed some promise since as far back as the spring, but Goodman quickly developed into the top backup at Bowers’ strong-side position and has comparably held his own in running situations.

Witnessing Goodman laterally hawk down Coastal Carolina’s return man on one kickoff was all one needed to know about his athletic range.

3. Why do the Tigers even still list strong-side linebacker as a starting position on the depth chart?

Is there any doubt their nickel package, with Marcus Gilchrist as slot corner, is their base defense?

I’d be very interested to know what percentage of plays Gilchrist has spent at corner versus safety this season.

4. Just when you think the offensive line might be making some progress in terms of generating a little push in the running game, it appeared as if the front was largely stonewalled against Coastal Carolina’s line for much of the relevant action Saturday.

Now, C.J. Spiller went untouched on his 6-yard TD run, when LG Thomas Austin consumed a 210-pound linebacker and LT Chris Hairston guided his man about 15 yards wide.

But the middle and right side of the line still have a good bit of work to do before anyone will label this group “physical.”

They have, however, done a commendable job in pass protection of late.

5. This ties in to a compelling match-up with FSU.

The Noles’ defensive front, by comparison, appears to be the worst it has been in a long time. There’s no pass-rush from the ends, the interior folks haven’t wreaked typical havoc by splitting the seam upfield either, and pursuit from the front seven looks FCS-level slow.

Something has to give in this slowdown, er, I mean, showdown this week.

You know, Bowden Bowl had such a nice, clean, marketable ring to it in hindsight.

This year’s “Elder Bowden’s potentially last game against the school that his son preemptively jumped ship before being pushed off the plank” Bowl doesn’t quite carry the same panache.

6. C.J. Spiller may be meriting the Heisman buzz, but he’s got some stiff competition for just the ACC’s player of the year honors.

I’m not so sure FSU QB Christian Ponder doesn’t have as strong a case for that award right now, although the same thing could arguably be said for Georgia Tech QB Josh Nesbitt, too.

Ponder is averaging a robust 306.6 yards per game passing this season and has thrown 13 TDs to just 3 INTs.

In my opinion, it’s splitting hairs whether this is the most dynamic offense Clemson will face this year – Miami’s is the most diverse and hardest to schematically defend; TCU’s was the most physical and balanced, and Georgia Tech’s required the most attention to detail.

FSU’s, though, possesses the greatest threat in taking advantage of Clemson’s weakest spots. The Tigers have struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, and Ponder has gained the fourth-most yards of ACC quarterbacks (304 yards) behind the designated rusher Nesbitt, N.C. State’s Russell Wilson (397) and VT’s Tyrod Taylor (311).

7. The ACC might not profile as being any better this year than in recent seasons because it again lacks an apparent national contender. An outsiders aren’t going to give the league any credibility when Duke is 3-1 in conference play, regardless of the job David Cutcliffe has done in making the Blue Devils a formidable foe on a weekly basis.

But I’ll be darned if ACC games haven’t proven vastly more entertaining this year.

And it comes down to the fact/opinion that there are actually/finally some legit offenses in this conference. Part of it has to do with an infusion of improved coaching, and part of it has to do with the ACC finally signing and developing talent at the quarterback position.

This QB crop includes more collective playmakers than this conference has seen in quite a few years, I’d surmise.

8. Disregard the previous statement if Boston College manages to win the Atlantic for a second year in a row without a legit quarterback. Zzzz ….

9. The longer the season goes, the more those late losses to No. 6 TCU and No. 10 Georgia Tech don’t look so shabby on the resume.

Still question just how many folks appreciate how good the Horned Frogs are. I would take them over No. 4 Cincinnati or No. 5 Boise State on a neutral field in a heartbeat. And they have at least four guys whom I believe are going to be decent NFL draft picks come April.

10. Other observations from the Coastal Carolina game and musings …

Appreciated the subtle move by special teams coach Andre’ Powell to, right before the opening kickoff, invert Spiller with the next two up-guys, expecting the Chants to boot a sky kick short. They kicked one even shorter, but Powell has done an impressive job with special teams scouting.

If RB Andre Ellington can rectify an apparent penchant for fumbling, he can open some regional eyes in 2010.

I want a redo on freshman weak-side linebacker Corico Hawkins’ listed height (5-10). Because we are going to be referring to his lack of it a lot next year when he’s deservedly starting alongside Brandon Maye.

Jaron Brown’s nifty TD off a screen pass, during which he made at least five defenders miss, is why he garnered so much preseason hype. The 6-2 Brown’s inability to get proper positioning and/or mis-time his jump on a deep ball from Parker, culminating in an interception, is why the staff appears content to stick with the steady-eddy types in contests where there isn’t such a margin for error.

To be a fly on the wall when Tommy Bowden is watching this one Saturday night ….