Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers Are Ready to Take the Next Step.

A manageable home schedule and fourteen returning starters have the Clemson Tigers thinking BCS bowl and an ACC Championship.

Last season is a season that Clemson fans would much rather forget. The disappointment surrounding Dabo Swinney's third year was almost more than the Clemson faithful could handle. Clemson is a program that expects greatness but has fallen into a long line of disappointing seasons following preseason hype. With nine starters returning on offense, five talented players returning on defense, and an tremendous recruiting class, expectations are once again high for the Tigers. If Clemson suffers through another year like the previous, Dabo will kindly be shown the door and the Tigers will be rebuilding from the top, once again.

Quarterbacks

The quarterback position is now Tajh Boyd's and he must produce. Boyd was one of the most highly regarded recruits in the country coming out of high school, and the fans are expecting the play to live up to the hype. In limited action last season Boyd showed an inaccurate arm, but an ability to scramble and make plays. If Boyd does not play well, Swinney has two more excellent freshmen, Tony McNeal and Cole Stoudt, waiting in the wings. Swinney will not hesitate to pull the trigger and place one of the young guns in the flames, his job depends on it.

Running Backs

The loss of Jamie Harper and his 800 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns could be looked upon as a negative. However, this situation appears to be addition by subtraction. Andre Ellington will earn the majority of the carries this season and that has the Tiger faithful jumping for joy. Ellington averaged nearly 6 yards a carry last season and scored ten touchdowns on limited carries. With the bulk of the load coming in his direction, he has the opportunity to produce a 1,000 yard season and 15 touchdowns. Mike Bellamy, another part of Swinney's outstanding recruiting class, will start the season as the backup and has the ability to be an All-American before it is said and done. Bellamy was labeled by many as one of the top 5 running backs in the country last season and hopes are high about his talent and athletic ability.

Wide Receivers

Tajh Boyd will have plenty of options to throw the ball to this coming season. The Tigers return their top three leading receivers, DeAndre Hopkins, Jaron Brown and Dwyane Allen, and also add Sammy Watkins to the fold. Watkins is an absolute stud who will crack the starting lineup the moment the whistle is blown. This talented group of receivers should produce at a very high level and be one of the best groups in the ACC. Swinney will also have the option of placing red-shirt freshman burner Joe Craig in the line-up to provide an immediate deep threat. Craig possesses sub 4.3 speed and has the talent to make an immediate impact.

Offensive Line

The loss of C.J. Spiller had a major effect on the running game last season. The line still produced holes and allowed the offense to reach the 4.0 yard per carry mark while allowing only 18 sacks, but even better production is expected this season. They will be replacing the departed Chris Hairston, but they return nine of their top ten in the rotation from 2010. Andre Ellington should have plenty of room to run with the likes of Landon Walker and Dalton Freeman opening up holes. Freeman is an All-ACC talent and is the workhorse and general of this offensive line. Tiger fans should expect much better production from the line this season.

Defensive Line

Clemson possessed a solid defensive line last season that allowed only 3.5 yards per carry, but they return only two starters. With the losses of Da'Quan Bowers and Javis Jenkins this season, there is expected to be a bit of drop off with this unit. Brandon Thompson and Andre Branch return and will be joined by Malliciah Goodman and Rennie Moore. Goodman is a natural talent and has the ability to step in nicely for the loss of Bowers, but he is not ready to produce at the level of a 1st team All-American.

Linebackers

Dabo Swinney absolutely dominated the recruiting trail this past year, and the linebacker position shows the fruits of his labor. Swinney reeled in the #2, #3 and #18 ranked linebackers in the country and that talent will be implemented nicely with five of the top six from a year ago returning. Corico Hawkins is the leading returning tackler for the unit, and he will be joined by freshmen, Tony Steward, Stephone Anthony, and Lateek Townsend in forming one of the deepest and most talented groups of linebackers in the entire country. The future is bright for the Tiger defense.

Defensive Backs

Last season the Tigers contained the pass fairly well and held teams to under 200 yards per game passing. This season they must replace the talents of DeAndre McDaniel and Marcus Gilchrist in the deep four, and that will be no easy task. They return Xavier Brewer and Rashard Hall, who both started last season, and have the talent to come close to reproducing last season's success, but Coty Sensabaugh and Jonathan Meeks must play at a high level. This unit could be the one worrisome area on the entire roster.

Final Synopsis

Jobs are on the line, fans are restless and it is time for the Clemson Tigers to produce. Dabo Swinney, although he is killing it on the recruiting trail, has yet to translate that success to the playing field. He has the talent needed this season to push for nine or ten wins and a more serious bowl bid. If not, then Dabo will kindly be shown the door. I expect much improvement this season and for Clemson to be a mainstay in the top 25 throughout the season. If Swinney survives this season, the future is very, very bright for the Clemson Tigers.

Last Year's Record: 6-7

Projected 2011 Record:9-3