|
WR
Chansi Stuckey |
|
|
2005
Statistics
|
Coach:
Tommy Bowden
52-33,
7 years |
2005
Record: 8-4 |
|
TEXAS
A&M |
WON
25-24 |
at
Maryland |
WON
28-24 |
MIAMI
FL |
LOST
30-36 (3OT) |
BOSTON
COLLEGE |
LOST
13-16 (OT) |
at
Wake Forest |
LOST
27-31 |
at
NC State |
WON
31-10 |
TEMPLE |
WON
37-7 |
at
Georgia Tech |
LOST
9-10 |
DUKE |
WON
49-20 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
WON
35-14 |
at
South Carolina |
WON
13-9 |
CHAMPS
SPORTS BOWL |
vs.
Colorado |
WON
19-10 |
|
2005 Final Rankings
AP2-21, Coaches-21, BCS-UR
|
2006
Outlook |
Clemson
had a good season in 2005, finishing
with an 8-4 record. It was close to
being a great season, however. The
Tigers’ four losses came by
a combined 14 points. They will get
over that hump this season. Clemson
is already a much disciplined team
with only 15 turnovers and 57 penalties.
They simply need to make a few more
plays. The continued improvement in
their offensive line and backfield
will more than offset a slight dropoff
at quarterback. The Tigers scored
26 points per game last year, and
they should be well over 30 this year.
The defense should maintain their
success from last year when they held
opponents to 17.6 points and 316 yards
per game.
This
is a remarkable comeback for Coach
Tommy Bowden, who has appeared to
be on the verge of losing his job
a couple of times since coming to
Clemson. This year, his team will
finally be good enough to make long-time
fans stop whining about the good old
days when Danny Ford was the coach.
The Tigers will likely win the Atlantic
Division and have an excellent chance
to win the ACC and participate in
the BCS for the first time. The division
could be virtually decided by mid-September.
Clemson travels to Boston College
and Florida State on September 9th
and 16th, an unenviable start to their
conference schedule. A veteran team
like the Tigers should gain at least
a split in those two games. That would
leave Clemson in good shape, with
their trip to Virginia Tech being
the only other major challenge on
their schedule. Ten or even eleven
wins is possible this year providing
they can avoid stumbling in September.
Projected
2006 record: 9-3
|
|
CLEMSON
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 4 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Will Proctor, 31-18-0, 281 yds., 3
TD
Rushing: James Davis, 165 att.,
879 yds., 9 TD
Receiving: Chansi Stuckey,
64 rec., 770 yds., 4 TD
Scoring: Jad Dean, 24-31 FG,
34-35 PAT, 106 pts.
Punting: Cole Chason, 50 punts,
36.4 avg.
Kicking: Jad Dean, 24-31 FG,
34-35 PAT, 106 pts.
Tackles: Anthony Waters, 109
tot., 74 solo
Sacks: Gaines Adams, 9.5 sacks
Interceptions: C.J. Gaddis,
3 for 36 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Aaron Kelly,
10 ret., 26.6 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Chansi Stuckey,
22 ret., 7.4 avg., 1 TD
|
|
|
DE
Gaines Adams |
|
|
|
CLEMSON
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Charlie Whitehurst-QB, Cliff Harrell-FB,
Steven Jackson-FB, Curtis Baham-WR,
Bobby Williamson-TE, Chip Myrick-OG,
Kelvin Grant-WR (dismissed) |
DEFENSE:
Charles
Bennett-DE, Cory Groover-NG, Trey Tate-DT,
Tye Hill-CB, Jamaal Fudge-FS |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Fortunately
for the Tigers, Will Proctor is a patient
young man. Proctor, a fifth-year senior,
sat behind Clemson’s all-time leading
passer, Charlie Whitehurst, for four years,
but it is now his turn at the helm of the
Tigers’ offense. Proctor is smaller
than Whitehurst but still possesses a strong
arm. His sub-4.6 speed and athleticism are
a more natural fit for offensive coordinator
Rob Spence’s offense. Proctor put
up good numbers in his one career start
vs. Duke last year, but then again doesn’t
everyone? More impressive was the way he
came off the bench for an injured Whitehurst
in the ‘05 opener vs. Texas A&M
and led his team on a drive for the game-winning
field goal. The backups are two sophomores,
Cullen Harper and Tribble Reese who are
similar in style to Proctor. Neither has
even seen much action in scrimmages, much
less in a live game. Harper is considered
the more talented of the two, but both will
have a crack at the backup spot. The inexperience
behind him makes it critical that Proctor
produce and stay healthy.
Running
Back
Clemson’s
backfield is stocked with three very talented
backs. Sophomore James Davis, the 2005 ACC
rookie of the year, will emerge as the starter
again. Davis closed strong last season and
led the team with 879 rushing yards and
5.3 yards per carry, and was the leading
receiver out of the Tiger backfield. He
has excellent speed and busted 27 runs for
over 10 yards last season in only 165 attempts.
Senior Reggie Merriweather will also get
a healthy number of carries. Merriweather
is a good compliment to Davis, more of a
steady inside runner who will break tackles
that Davis might avoid entirely. He has
averaged 4.9 yards per attempt and scored
18 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Also vying for playing time will be true
freshman C. J. Spiller, who was considered
the #1 player in Florida last year. With
no proven fullback on the roster, the Tigers
will use more two running back sets, mixing
up pairings of Davis, Merriweather, and
Spiller. Clemson will take another step
toward reestablishing a strong ground attack
this season.
Receiver
When
breaking in a new quarterback, it’s
always nice to have veteran receivers on
hand. The Tigers have last season’s
top two, Chansi Stuckey and Aaron Kelly,
returning. Stuckey was a backup quarterback
as a freshman, but two years later came
into his own as a receiver and led the ACC.
He hasn’t seen a lot of deep balls,
but his quickness and elusiveness makes
him a threat to break the short stuff for
big gains. Kelly was one of the top freshman
receivers in the nation last year. His 6’4”
frame should make him a dangerous target
in the red zone. Look for him to increase
his touchdown catches several fold from
the two he grabbed last year. True freshman
Jacoby Ford, who has been clocked at an
amazing 4.2 in the 40-yard dash, could step
in and become the deep threat this offense
needs. Clemson had only 14 touchdown passes
last season, a number which needs to increase
significantly.
Offensive
Line
Clemson’s
offensive line won’t have to waste
any time on introductions since all five
starters from 2005 return. The line could
be the key area where coach Tommy Bowden
has transformed his team from relying on
quickness and finesse to one more “old-school”—strong
and physical. You don’t need to look
beyond the guy who snaps the ball, center
Dustin Fry, to see this in practice. Fry
is a mountain of a young man, tipping the
scales at 315 pounds. He is flanked by the
starting guards, Roman Fry and Nathan Bennett,
who weigh in at 315 and 295 pounds respectively.
The returning tackles, Marion Dukes and
Barry Richardson, go 315 and 337 pounds.
They aren’t just beefy, though. Through
experience (Richardson is a junior, the
others are all seniors), they have polished
their individual footwork and cohesiveness
as a unit. They can clear our room for ball
carriers and are quick enough to be effective
pass blockers and handle assignments on
reverses. This will be one of the best offensive
lines in the ACC and perhaps among the better
ones in the nation, if everyone stays healthy.
There’s not a lot of depth behind
the starters.
Tight
End
Senior
Thomas Hunter enters spring practice as
the first-string tight end, but expect sophomore
Durrell Barry to move ahead of him at some
point during the season. Hunter is a former
walk-on who spent his first two seasons
primarily on special teams. He had 13 receptions
last season and averaged only 9.2 yards
per catch. Barry is an athletic 6’5”,
240 pound receiver who is a better fit for
the Tigers’ new emphasis on throwing
to the tight end. Clemson had more catches
from tight ends last season, a total of
28, than in any year since 1984. That will
go higher if Barry steps in.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Clemson
returns two 700-yard rushers and a 700-yard
receiver for the first time in school history.
They have all five starters back on the
offensive line. Although they have a new
starting quarterback, he is a fifth-year
senior. Now you see why we rank them as
we do. The Tigers are in the second season
under coordinator Rob Spence’s offensive
schemes and all the pieces are in place
for them to bust loose. Since Will Proctor
is not likely to complete 67% of his passes
like Charlie Whitehurst did, look for Clemson
to throw the ball downfield more than they
did last year. The Tigers will also increase
their average per rushing attempt from the
4.1 they averaged in 2005. They didn’t
make mistakes last season, committing only
14 turnovers (eighth fewest in the nation),
but they had to settle for field goals 16
times when they entered the red zone. Decreasing
that number along with increasing their
big plays should be two points of emphasis
for the coaches. If they succeed, Clemson
will have an outstanding offense in 2006.
|
|
OG
Roman Fry
|
|
|
CLEMSON
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Will
Proctor-Sr (6-2, 205) |
Cullen
Harper-So (6-3, 215) |
FB |
Alex
Pearson-So (6-2, 250) |
Brent
Smith-Sr (6-0, 220) |
RB |
James
Davis-So (5-11, 210) |
Reggie
Merriweather-Sr (5-8, 210) |
WR |
Aaron
Kelly-So (6-5, 180) |
Andrew
Diomande-So (6-1, 200) |
WR |
Chansi
Stuckey-Sr (6-0, 185) |
La'Donte
Harris-Jr (5-11, 185) |
WR |
Rendrick
Taylor-So (6-1, 225) |
Tyler
Grisham-So (5-10, 180) |
TE |
Thomas
Hunter-Sr (6-4, 250) |
Akeem
Robinson-So (6-5, 260) |
OT |
Barry
Richardson-Jr (6-7, 335) |
Tim
DeBeer-Sr (6-6, 285) |
OG |
Roman
Fry-Sr (6-4, 295) |
Chris
McDuffie-Jr (6-5, 315) |
C |
Dustin
Fry-Sr (6-3, 315) |
Bobby
Hutchinson-So (6-3, 290) |
OG |
Nathan
Bennett-Sr (6-5, 300) |
Brandon
Pilgrim-Jr (6-6, 290) |
OT |
Marion
Dukes-Sr (6-4, 315) |
Christian
Capote-Jr (6-4, 300) |
K |
Jad
Dean-Sr (5-11, 205) |
.. |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
End
Gaines Adams, a senior, will break out as
one of the best in the country. Last season,
he set a school record with 9 pass deflections,
and posted team highs with 15 tackles for
loss, 9.5 sacks, and an impressive 29 quarterback
hurries. To divert opponents’ attention
away from Adams, the Tigers need defensive
tackle Donnell Clark, also a senior, to
bounce back from a torn ACL suffered vs.
Temple last year. He is a bit light for
a tackle at 266 pounds, but Clark is a strong
and athletic playmaker. The other end will
be sophomore Phillip Merling, one of the
best freshmen defensive linemen in the nation
last season. He is big enough to play inside
but has enough speed to come around the
edge. Lining him up creatively will work
well. Merling has been compared to former
Clemson star Chester McGlockton. The other
tackle will be Jock McKissic. Like Merling,
he is a sophomore and a converted-TE. Besides
Adams, this is a very inexperienced unit
that could get pushed around by big, physical
offensive lines, but one that will also
have the speed and quickness to spend time
in opponents’ backfields. In other
words, inconsistency will be their main
component to overcome.
Linebacker
Defensive
coordinator Vic Koenning’s defensive
scheme is designed to put the linebackers
in position to make tackles. This worked
well for Clemson’s defense last season—the
top three tacklers were the starting linebackers,
and they’re all back. The best of
the bunch is middle linebacker Anthony Waters.
The senior was the Tigers’ leading
tackler despite missing a game, and he also
led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss.
Waters showed his range by breaking up seven
passes, the most for a Clemson linebacker
in 14 years. The other members of the unit
are weak-side linebacker Nick Watkins, a
junior, and strong-side ‘backer Tramaine
Billie, a senior. Watkins was also the Tigers’
leading special-teams tackler last season.
He is not the playmaker that Waters is,
but uses his strength to stuff the run very
well. Billie is also a special teams coverage
star and uses his 4.4 speed (he is believed
to now be the fastest linebacker in the
ACC) to make up for his lack of size (6’
½”, 200 pounds). Sophomore
Antonio Clay will be the primary backup.
All four players are considered NFL prospects
and give the Tigers one of the best linebacking
units in the nation.
Defensive
Back
Clemson’s
secondary will have a new look after losing
their top cover men. Junior C. J. Gaddis
started the first five games at safety last
season, then moved into the nickel role.
Coaches will give him a look at corner this
spring, a position where he saw some action
in 2004. He has the speed to handle single
coverage duties on wideouts. Duane Coleman
will handle the other corner if he graduates
by August and earns back his fourth year
of eligibility. He was originally a partial
qualifier academically, and just moved over
to defense before last season after playing
at running back his first two years. Senor
Sergio Gilliam will also be in the mix,
but look for sophomore Ray Ray Elrathbey
to make a bid for playing time. Sophomore
Chris Clemons will move into the starting
free safety role, and his 4.4 speed will
make him one of the faster safeties in the
ACC. Michael Hamlin, one of the best freshman
safeties in the nation last season, will
return at strong safety. This is a young
but very fast secondary. If the line gets
enough pressure on the quarterback, they
should have enough speed to make up for
mistakes made due to inexperience.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Clemson
ranked in the top 25 nationally in all four
major defensive categories last season for
first time since 1990, and they will be
strong again this year. Like the offense,
the defense successfully emphasized a more
physical approach and often dictated to
offenses. The front seven, led by end Gaines
Adams, could be dominant. The linebacker
corps has no apparent weakness. They can
stuff the run, drop into pass coverage,
and make plays all over the field. The inexperience
of the secondary will put additional pressure
on the line and linebackers. A lack of a
pass rush or missed tackles by the linebackers
could expose the defensive backfield, especially
the new cornerbacks. They will be tested
early, but the defense will overall remain
among the better ones in the nation.
|
|
LB
Anthony Waters
|
|
|
CLEMSON
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Phillip
Merling-So (6-5, 275) |
Brandon
Cannon-Sr (6-3, 245) |
NG |
Donnell
Clark-Sr (6-3, 265) |
Dorell
Scott-So (6-3, 305) |
DT |
Rashaad
Jackson-So (6-3, 270) |
Jock
McKissic-So (6-6, 290) |
DE |
Gaines
Adams-Sr (6-5, 265) |
Kwam
Williams-Jr (6-3, 245) |
SLB |
Tramaine
Billie-Sr (6-1, 205) |
Antonio
Clay-So (6-0, 225) |
MLB |
Anthony
Waters-Sr (6-3, 240) |
Kavell
Conner-Fr (6-2, 215) |
WLB |
Nick
Watkins-Jr (6-2, 220) |
Josh
Miller-So (6-0, 215) |
CB |
C.J.
Gaddis-Jr (6-0, 205) |
Haydrian
Lewis-So (5-11, 170) |
CB |
Duane
Coleman-Sr (5-10, 195) |
Sergio
Gilliam-Sr (6-3, 180) |
CAT |
Michael
Hamlin-So (6-3, 195) |
Roy
Walker-Jr (6-3, 205) |
FS |
Chris
Clemons-So (6-1, 200) |
Chris
Russell-Jr (6-2, 210) |
P |
Cole
Chason-Sr (6-0, 165) |
.. |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Senior
Jad Dean excelled as the Tigers’ placekicker
in 2005. His 24 field goals set a school record
and ranked third in nation. It was also the 2nd
best single season total in ACC history. The highlight
came vs. Texas A&M, when Dean knocked through
six, the final one a 42-yard game winner. He has
good range, making 9-of-17 beyond 40 yards during
his career. Dean will be in the mix for all-American
honors, although coach Tommy Bowden would like
to see him kicking more extra points and fewer
field goals. He would also like Dean to get his
kickoffs deeper—36 of 62 were returned,
an unacceptably high number.
Punter
Excitement
in a team’s punting game is bad. Clemson’s
punting in 2005 was an adventure. Cole Chasson
ranked 99th in the nation and had five blocked.
The Tigers’ net average of 29.42 was the
third worst in Division 1-A. Freshman Richard
Jackson, considered to have one of the strongest
legs in the country, will challenge Chasson for
the job this year. There will also be some desperately
needed new protection schemes.
Return
Game
Aaron
Kelly and Duane Coleman will again be sharing
the kickoff return duties. Besides one 81-yard
return by Kelly, the Tigers were not particularly
strong here last season. C. J. Spiller and fellow
freshman Jacoby Ford will also get a look. Ford
may also join Chansi Stuckey on punt returns.
Despite his elusiveness, Stuckey averaged a mediocre
7.4 yards per, and the Tigers ranked only 86th
in the nation. The return game overall needs some
significant improvement.
|
|