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Clemson players offer thoughts on Auburn

September 14, 2010 By

We were able to catch up with a few of the Clemson players at Death Valley Tuesday as we continue to preview the Tigers upcoming game at #15 Auburn Saturday night.  Even though Clemson has played two games there are still a lot of questions about what kind of team they have.  The first string offense has barely played three full quarters together over the first two games.  This Clemson team has yet to be tested, but that will change Saturday night in Auburn.

Quarterback Kyle Parker is excited to be heading back to Auburn.  Just a few months ago Parker was playing in an NCAA baseball regional there.  He helped Clemson advance to a Super Regional and was drafted in the first round by the Rockies during his last trip on The Plains.

AUDIO: QB Kyle Parker on Auburn

Offensive lineman Chris Hairston made his first career start in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl against Auburn.  He remembers how physical the Tigers were in that game and expects more of the same from them this weekend.

AUDIO: OL Chris Hairston breaks down Auburn

One of the subplots in this weekend’s game is the ACC’s early struggles early this season.  If Clemson can get the win Saturday it will be the biggest non-conference victory for the ACC this season.  Tight end Dwayne Allen told us that the players do want to make a statement for the team and the ACC this weekend.

AUDIO: TE Dwayne Allen talks about Auburn

We snagged Tigers defensive coordinator Kevin Steele too.  Steele has the task of slowing down Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s tricky scheme.  Malzahn’s unit is lead by talented quarterback Cam Newton, who presents a lot of issues with his size (6-6, 250) and ability to run the football effectively.

AUDIO: Tigers D.C. Kevin Steele breaks down Auburn

 Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:00 EST Saturday night on ESPN.

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Swinney says Tigers ready for opener

August 31, 2010 By

Swinney ready for opener

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney held his first regular season news conference Tuesday in the team meeting room of the West Zone at Memorial Stadium and proclaimed his team ready for the opener Saturday afternoon against North Texas State at Death Valley.  Swinney said the Tigers had a good practice Monday night and would have a physical practice Tuesday.  The Tigers are better than three touchdown favortes to defeat the Mean Green which has won just five games in four years under Todd Dodge.

Swinney did not make any major news during his 35 minute briefing.  He said he expected someone to emerge from his receiver group as someone has always done in recent years.  He expects Marcus Gilchrist will be a fine replacement in the return game for CJ Spiller and Jacoby Ford.  And he said the team is not looking past the first two games, North Texas and Presbyterian, to the truly first big game which is at Auburn in week three.

  • North Texas QB Riley Dodge is the coach’s son.  He completed 67% of his passes as a freshman two seasons ago.  But a shoulder injury last season forced him to give up quarterbacking duties and he moved to receiver.
  • North Texas running back Lance Dunbar rushed for 1378 yards last season, 15th best in the country.
  • North Texas returns six of its top eight tacklers from last season.  Eight junior college players have joined the defense this season.
  • Clemson has won 20 of its last 26 season openers.

AUDIO: Dabo Swinney news conference
AUDIO: Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele
AUDIO: Tight end Dwayne Allen
AUDIO:Defensive end Da’Quan Bowers
AUDIO: Free safety Rashard Hall
AUDIO: Running back Andre Ellington

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Clemson’s Allen, USC’s Saunders on Mackey list

August 16, 2010 By

The 2010 John Mackey Award preseason watch list has been released by the Nassau County Sports Commission. Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2010 John Mackey winner will be announced on December 9, 2010.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, lists nine NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark (’01) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (’02) of the Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow II (’03) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller (’04) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis (’05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Matt Spaeth (’06) of the of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Fred Davis (’07) of the Washington Redskins, Chase Coffman (’08) of the Cincinnati Bengals and the 2009 John Mackey Award recipient Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots.

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Filed Under: Clemson Tigers, USC Gamecocks Tagged With: ,

Clemson football: five burning questions

August 3, 2010 By

Five questions for Clemson as the Tigers begin fall camp today:

How will the team survive post C.J. Spiller?

C.J. Spiller isn’t the kind of guy you replace.  He’s one of those guys that can do things not many other people on the field can.  That being said, Andre Ellington and  Jamie Harper are both very good backs and should be able to handle the load.  What Ellington and Harper don’t have is Spiller’s “homerun” ability.  Every time Spiller had the ball he was a threat to score.  That big play ability, especially on special teams, will be missed.

How good is the Clemson defense?

I think this defense it going to be very, very good.  Kevin Steele is in his second year running the unit and he has a lot of really good players to work with.  DeAndre McDaniel is one of the top defensive backs in the conference, Da’Quan Bowers could have a breakout type season and I also like guys like Rashard Hall, Brandon Maye, Jarvis Jenkins and Marcus Gilchrist a lot.  You never know how a unit is going to gel, but I would guess this Tiger defense finishes the season ranked as one of the best in the ACC.

Who is going to be the go-to wide receiver?

This is actually a really tough one.  We talked about losing C.J. Spiller, which is a huge loss for sure, but we also need not forget Jacoby Ford.  Ford’s speed enabled him to get behind defenses and make a lot of big catches for the Tigers.  Like Spiller, there really isn’t anyone on the roster that can duplicate the things he did.  Xavier Dye will have a chance to catch a lot of passes.  Terrence Ashe should get a lot of looks too.  My wildcard is redshirt freshman Bryce McNeal.  The word is the kid can really play. I know this is cheating since the question was about reciever, but I suspect tight end Dwayne Allen is going to be a big part of the offense this year.

What should we expect from Kyle Parker?

Kyle Parker told Dabo Swinney he didn’t come back to Clemson to lose.  He turned down a lot of cash to play another year of football, that’s for sure.  Parker did lose his two biggest weapons in Spiller and Ford and that is going to make life tougher.  He does have another year of experience under his belt and an offensive line that should be pretty darn good.   Outside of Florida State’s Christian Ponder I don’t think there is a better quarterback in the ACC.  Nothing seems to rattle Parker and his poise and raw talent combined with the year of experience should set him up for a solid season.

Will the Tigers repeat as Coastal Division champions?

Obviously getting Kyle Parker back enables us to even ask this question.  That salty defense is enough to make one give it serious thought too.  That being said, I am still taking Florida State.  The Seminoles are starting to resemble some of those really fast and athletic teams they used to have.  Clemson has what it takes to make another run, but the Noles are the team to beat.

CLEMSON KEY GAMES:

9/18 @ Auburn, 10/2 Miami, 10/9 @ UNC, 10/23 Georgia Tech, 11/13 @ FSU, 11/27 USC

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