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.