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Ballboy534
Resident Rehabilitator
Clemson, S.C.
As fall practice begins, the entirety of the Tiger Nation waits with bated breath to see what the 2011-2012 season will hold. With a new offensive coordinator and starting quarterback combination, the Tiger faithful are hopeful that the team can recapture the short-lived glory of the 2009 season that finally brought them oh-so-close to the ever elusive conference championship. Considering four of five starters from the offensive line return along with the top two pass catchers and considerable potential at the running back position, the Tigers have a fair chance of becoming a threat offensively. However, that ability all hinges on Tajh Boyd's ability to run Chad Morris' uptempo spread with the precision Morris expects.
On the flip side, Kevin Steele returns very little on the defensive side of the ball. With the loss of titanic tackle Jarvis Jenkins and the (finally!) productive monster that was DaQuan Bowers, not to mention three starting defensive backs to the NFL, the perennial top 25 defensive has some big shoes to fill. The arrival of Tony Steward, Stephone Anthony, and Lateek Townsend at the linebacker position may finally give Steele the play makers he relishes in the middle of the defense, and with Corey Crawford, Brandon Thompson, and Andre Branch on the front line the cupboard isn't totally bare. The youth and inexperience in the secondary may be a focus of opposing offenses, but there is a dearth of talented potential in Rashard Hall, Bashaud Breeland, Johnathon Meeks, and Xavier Brewer.
On paper, as usual, Clemson has the talent to push for supremacy in the Atlantic Division. The schedule is front loaded with the usual snoozers against Troy and FCS Wofford before playing #23 Auburn, #6 FSU, and then traveling to Lane Stadium to face off against #13 VT. Ending on Thanksgiving weekend with #12 SCar won't be easy, but never in the sordid history of the rivalry have the Tigers ever dropped three in a row to their in-state rivals.
Prediction: Clemson will finish 8-4 with losses to FSU, VT, GT, and the annual head-scratcher/d'oh loss to Textile Bowl rival NC State.
As fall practice begins, the entirety of the Tiger Nation waits with bated breath to see what the 2011-2012 season will hold. With a new offensive coordinator and starting quarterback combination, the Tiger faithful are hopeful that the team can recapture the short-lived glory of the 2009 season that finally brought them oh-so-close to the ever elusive conference championship. Considering four of five starters from the offensive line return along with the top two pass catchers and considerable potential at the running back position, the Tigers have a fair chance of becoming a threat offensively. However, that ability all hinges on Tajh Boyd's ability to run Chad Morris' uptempo spread with the precision Morris expects.
On the flip side, Kevin Steele returns very little on the defensive side of the ball. With the loss of titanic tackle Jarvis Jenkins and the (finally!) productive monster that was DaQuan Bowers, not to mention three starting defensive backs to the NFL, the perennial top 25 defensive has some big shoes to fill. The arrival of Tony Steward, Stephone Anthony, and Lateek Townsend at the linebacker position may finally give Steele the play makers he relishes in the middle of the defense, and with Corey Crawford, Brandon Thompson, and Andre Branch on the front line the cupboard isn't totally bare. The youth and inexperience in the secondary may be a focus of opposing offenses, but there is a dearth of talented potential in Rashard Hall, Bashaud Breeland, Johnathon Meeks, and Xavier Brewer.
On paper, as usual, Clemson has the talent to push for supremacy in the Atlantic Division. The schedule is front loaded with the usual snoozers against Troy and FCS Wofford before playing #23 Auburn, #6 FSU, and then traveling to Lane Stadium to face off against #13 VT. Ending on Thanksgiving weekend with #12 SCar won't be easy, but never in the sordid history of the rivalry have the Tigers ever dropped three in a row to their in-state rivals.
Prediction: Clemson will finish 8-4 with losses to FSU, VT, GT, and the annual head-scratcher/d'oh loss to Textile Bowl rival NC State.