Clemson Football Q&A Part II With Trey Harper

1) The Clemson offensive line gave up 36 sacks in 2007 ranking them near the bottom of Division 1 Football.  Tommy Bowden called the line the most reserved line he ever coached. Given the offensive line struggles what does Rob Spence have to do offensively to get this offense rolling?

 

 The O-line wasn't good last year, but did enough to give Harper time to throw and open some holes in the run game.  Considering there will be 4 new starters on the O-line, I am weary of the line even being capable of performing up to par of last years O-line.

 

 

2) Is Cullen Harper a legitimate Heisman candidate?

 

If Cullen Harper puts up comprable numbers to what he did last year he should be a Heisman Candidate.  27 TD's and only 6 Int's was impressive last year.

 

 

3) The Tigers pass defense was ranked 13 in the country in 2008. All four starters in the secondary are returning. With the senior leadership at safety in Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons and the athleticism of cornerbacks Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler is there a better defensive backfield in the country?

 

In the secondary, Michale Hamlin is good, but Clemons is a liability at times.  Butler is coming along and Gilchrist should be a contributor.  They should easily handle shutting down the weaker teams in the ACC. However, I am not convinced that the Clemson secondary would shut down a good passing team.

 

 

4) Is Ricky Sapp going to be a better player then Phillip Merling and Gaines Adams?

 

I think Ricky Sapp is athletic enough to put similar kinds of pressure on QB's the way Merling and Gaines Adams did, but I don't think he is as strong as those two in terms of playing against the run and clogging up lanes.  Speed Rush is something that he can do well, though.

 

 

5) What teams on the schedule bring concern for the 2008 Tigers?

 

- Alabama should give an early indication as to whether or not the O-line will be better

    - Wake Forest in Winston-Salem always gives the Tigers fits for some reason.

    - South Carolina should give the secondary their toughest test all year.