Clemson Football in 2008—ACC Report

Here we go again....This is the year Clemson puts it all together to remind their fans of the good ole' days when the Tigers ran roughshod year in and year out over a bunch of basketball schools--that is, until Florida State showed up.

While opinions vary, it's tough not to like Clemson's chances. 

A look at the Preseason Top 25 polls shows that the only other ACC team consistently appearing in the preseason projection is Virginia Tech--and Clemson is not even slated to play them during the regular season. 

So, why shouldn't Clemson at least make it to the ACC Championship? 

They by all means can, but it certainly seems like a recurring theme for Clemson every few years, and at the end of the season people are left watching them play in the Champs Sports Bowl or the Humanitarian Bowl.

With the exception of All-Conference defensive end Philip Merling leaving early for the NFL Draft, Clemson had a very positive off-season:

1) Tommy Bowden parlayed an interview for the Arkansas job into more money annually and a contract extension through 2014.  Impressive move by Bowden considering he has been on and off the hot seat every six months since he has been there.

2) James Davis (RB), Aaron Kelly (WR), and Cullen Harper (QB) all remained in school after hinting at declaring for the draft.  In fact, Davis actually did declare, but apparently did not sign with an agent and was able to return.

3) Clemson's recruiting class was one of the best in the country, with monster defensive end DaQuan Bowers and running back Jamie Harper headlining the class.

Heading into the 2008 season, Clemson's biggest strength is clearly its backfield.

Cullen Harper burst on the scene in 2007 by breaking the school record for passing TD's with 27, although the Tigers have traditionally been more of a run-oriented team.  

Harper also threw for right at 3,000 yards and had an unbelievable 27/6 touchdown to interception ratio. 

But can Harper put up these type numbers again in 2008? 

Fortunately for Tiger fans, it might not matter, as running backs James Davis and CJ Spiller are both gearing up for great seasons.  As mentioned, James Davis returns, but is that necessarily a good thing? 

For example, in the 2007 Peach Bowl against Auburn, Davis allegedly said prior to the game that he would make his decision on whether to return to school based on how the coaches used him. 

23 carries later, Davis was ready to return.  However, Davis' carries only produced 72 yards (3.1 yards/carry) while CJ Spiller rippped off 112 yards on only eight carries.

One of Spiller's carries was an electric 83-yard scamper that made Auburn's defense look like something out of the Big 10 in terms of team speed. 

So Davis' decision to come back may actually take carries away from a guy in CJ Spiller that can break loose for a touchdown from anywhere on the field.  Spiller is flat out scary fast and scary for opposing defensive coordinators.

However, James Davis is a sports writer's dream, because the guy will say anything to the media. 

Recently, when Bowden dismissed Rae Rae McElrathbey (the CFB feel good story of 2006) due to his inability "to balance football and academics," despite Rae Rae making the Dean's List last semester, Davis thrashed out with some harsh criticism of the Tiger coaching staff.

Bowden may consider a muzzle for Davis before the season starts.

As if the backfield ins't enough, the Tigers are also loaded at wide receiver. 

With senior WR Aaron Kelly returning after receiving for over 1,000 yards and 11 TD's in 2007, add sure-handed senior WR Tyler Grisham back in the mix, and after a season-ending injury in 2007 Clemson also returns one of the fastest players in college football, Jacoby Ford, to stretch the field.

No doubt about it, the Clemson passing game has weapons.

The only weakness for Clemson, which could completely hold back this high-powered offense is the fact they only return one week-in and week-out starter on the offensive line.

This is what led Mark May to recently say the Tigers will not even compete for the Atlantic Division title.

Defensively, Clemson is searching for a leader at linebacker after losing all three starters from last season.

Most recently, linebacker, Courtney Vincent, was kicked off the team following a violation of team rules, this coming just 4 months after he was already in hot water following a DUI arrest prior to the Peach Bowl.   Meanwhile, former WR Rendrick Taylor is running with the second team at linebacker.  That's right, he was a wide receiver last year.

On the defensive line the Tigers should definitely be more than adequate with junior defensvie end Ricky Sapp and senior tackle Dorell Scott.  Both Sapp and Scott should end up playing on Sundays. 

Also, I mentioned him earlier, but remember the name DaQuan Bowers. 

A monster recruit for Clemson, Bowers should follow in the footsteps of recent Clemson defensive ends now in the NFL--most recently, Gaines Adams and Philip Merling.  Bowers has an amazing combination of size and speed.

In the secondary, senior safety Michael Hamlin leads a group that was one of best in the country in passing defense in 2007. 

Then again, with the exception of Boston College's Matt Ryan and Clemson's Cullen Harper, what other quarterback in the ACC last year was able to make life difficult for opposing secondaries?

In conference, Clemson's most important game could likely be their matchup in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest.  Wake has recently given Clemson problems, especially when they play in Winston. 

If Clemson wins that game, the division should be theirs. 

Out of conference, Clemson should have a good early test against an Alabama team that will be trying to make a statement in Nick Saban's second season.  A traditionally fast-starting team, I think Clemson wins this game.

If the match-up were later in the season, however, that prediction would likely go Bama's way.

Lastly, the Tigers get their arch-rival South Carolina in Death Valley, but remember:  The Ole' Ball Coach is 1-0 with the Gamecocks in Death Valley (not the one in the Bayou). 

Last season, Clemson used a couple blocked punts and a last-second field goal to upend South Carolina in Columbia.

Interestingly enough, since Spurrier has been at South Carolina, the game has been won or lost on the last drive.  This year it will be the Gamecocks' turn to prevail on a final drive over the 2008 ACC Atlantic Division Champion Clemson Tigers.

2008 final record projection: 10-2 and Atlantic Division Champs--with a loss to Virginia Tech in ACC title game, bringing them to 10-3.