|
WR
Kevin Youngblood |
|
2002
Statistics
|
Coach:
Tommy Bowden
29-20,
4 years |
2002
Record: 7-6
|
|
at
Georgia |
LOST
28-31 |
LOUISIANA
TECH |
WON
33-13 |
GEORGIA
TECH |
WON
24-19 |
BALL
STATE |
WON
30-7 |
at
Florida State |
LOST
31-48 |
at
Virginia |
LOST
17-22 |
WAKE
FOREST |
WON
31-23 |
NC
STATE |
LOST
6-38 |
at
Duke |
WON
34-31 |
at
North Carolina |
WON
42-12 |
MARYLAND |
LOST
12-30 |
SOUTH
CAROLINA |
WON
27-20 |
TANGERINE
BOWL
|
Texas
Tech |
LOST
15-55 |
|
2002 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2003
Outlook
|
The
Clemson Tigers and Head Coach Tommy Bowden
face a pivotal season. Two mediocre records
in a row (7-5 in 2001, 7-6 in 2002) have
led to a growing level of frustration among
the Tiger faithful. That frustration turned
into anger and embarrassment following Clemson's
humiliating 55-15 loss to Texas Tech in
the 2002 Tangerine Bowl.
As
several football programs in the ACC have
shown marked improvement over the past few
seasons (Virginia, Maryland, NC State, Wake
Forest), Clemson has surprisingly slipped
back to the middle of the pack. Both trends
should continue this season, leaving the
possibility of slipping even lower than
their 2002 fourth place tie in the ACC.
With
their disinterest in the Tangerine Bowl
appearance, Clemson fans showed that a six-loss
season just won't cut it. Facing tough road
games at Maryland, NC State, and South Carolina,
and with visits from highly regarded Georgia,
Virginia, and Florida State, it is difficult
to see any less than six losses in the cards,
again.
Through
his time at Clemson, Bowden has often been
stand-offish, arrogant, and aloof to both
media and fans alike. That lands him squarely
on the hot seat for the upcoming season.
With a small frontline (which speaks of
recruiting lulls), and weaknesses on both
sides of the ball, Tommy will have to win
at least eight (or maybe nine) to stay.
Neither will happen.
Projected
2003 record: 6-6
|
|
|
CB
Justin Miller |
|
CLEMSON
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 2 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 4.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 2 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS
|
Passing:
Willie Simmons, 244-142-7, 1559 yds., 6
TD's
Rushing: Yusef Kelly, 125 att., 520
yds., 8 TD's
Receiving: Kevin Youngblood, 59 rec.,
591 yds., 2 TD's
Scoring: Aaron Hunt, 17-22 FG, 37-38
PAT, 88 pts.
Punting: none
Kicking: Aaron Hunt, 17-22 FG, 37-38
PAT, 88 pts.
Tackles: John Leake, 169 tot., 81
solo
Sacks: Khaleed Vaughn, 4 sacks
Interceptions: Justin Miller, 8 for
50 yds.
Kickoff returns: Derrick Hamilton,
32 ret., 21.8 avg.
Punt returns: Derrick Hamilton, 35
ret., 10.8 avg.
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 4
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Bernard Rambert-TB, Jackie Robinson-WR, J.J.
McKelvey-WR, Gary Byrd-OT, Nathan Gillespie-OG,
Willie Simmons-QB (transferred) |
DEFENSE:
Nick
Eason-DT, Bryant McNeal-DE, Rodney Thomas-MLB,
Brian Mance-CB, Altroy Bodrick-ROV, Eric Meekins-FS,
Wynn Kopp-P, Eric Sampson-WLB (dismissed) |
|
|
2003
OFFENSE
|
written
by James Johnson
Tiger
Coach Tommy Bowden is looking for significant
improvement in offensive production after watching
his team stagger to a finish among the bottom
third of the nation in both scoring and total
offense last season.
Much
of the Tigers' hope for improvement will center
on the performance of Charlie Whitehurst, the
sophomore quarterback who started the final five
games. He led the team to three wins, the second
most ever by a freshman starting quarterback at
Clemson.
Whitehurst,
the son of former NFL starting quarterback David
Whitehurst, possesses neither fleet feet nor a
cannon for an arm. What Coach Bowden feels will
enable him (to be at least a solid quarterback
in the ACC) is his maturity and decision making
ability. Whitehurst's predecessor, senior back-up
Willie Simmons, did not frequently demonstrate
these two traits. Now, Simmons has decided to
transfer, leaving the reigns solely in Charlie's
hands entering the fall.
Clemson's
receiving corps should be bolstered by the return
of Roscoe Crosby. After showing promise in his
freshman year (27 catches, 465 yards, 4 TD), he
sat out last season after undergoing "Tommy
John surgery". Crosby also plays baseball
in the Kansas City Royals' farm system, and will
resume that part of his career this spring.
Crosby's
speed, explosiveness, and maturity (having played
a professional sport) should help an offense that
showed little of these last season. Clemson's
top returning receivers, senior Kevin Youngblood
(59 catches, 591 yards, 2 TD) and junior Derrick
Hamilton (52 catches, 602 yards, 2 TD) will reach
their potential with steadier quarterback play
and Crosby's ability to stretch a defense.
Clemson's
ground game (as in ground
to a halt) needs
feature back Yusef Kelly (6'0", 225 lb. junior)
to develop into a consistent workhorse after sharing
the running load. Kelly averaged a solid 4.2 yards
per carry last season, but the team could manage
only a pitiful 3.6 yards per attempt. The days
of Woody Dantzler are a distant memory. The Tigers
will have to find a way to move the ball on the
ground in a more traditional manner despite lacking
a breakaway threat in the backfield.
The
improvement of Clemson's offensive line will be
a key factor in what level of success the team
as a whole enjoys this year. Coach Bowden came
to regret red-shirting all of his freshman linemen
in 2002 (after losing two starters to season ending
leg injuries). Returning starters Cedric Johnson,
Tommy Sharpe, and Gregory Walker give Clemson
an experienced interior line. Johnson's (318 lbs.)
and Walker's (330 lbs.) size enables the Tigers
to focus on a strong inside running game and control
the ball (better than last season). Those red-shirted
freshmen will add valuable depth.
|
|
WR/KR
Derrick Hamilton
|
CLEMSON
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
OFFENSE
|
QB |
Charlie
Whitehurst-So |
.. |
TB |
Yusef
Kelly-Jr |
Kyle
Browning-So / Chad Jasmin-Sr (FB) |
WR |
Kevin
Youngblood-Sr |
Michael
Collins-So |
WR |
Derrick
Hamilton-Jr |
Kelvin
Grant-Fr |
WR |
Airese
Currie-Jr |
Ronnie
Thomas-Jr |
TE |
Bobby
Williamson-So |
Kevin
Burnette-Sr |
OT |
William
Henry-Sr |
Roman
Fry-Fr |
OG |
Cedric
Johnson-Jr |
Jermyn
Chester-Sr |
C |
Tommy
Sharpe-Jr |
Dustin
Fry-Fr |
OG |
Chip
Myrick-So |
Nathan
Bennett-Fr |
OT |
Gregory
Walker-Sr |
Brad
Lee-Fr |
K |
Aaron
Hunt-Sr |
.. |
|
|
2003
DEFENSE
|
written
by James Johnson
The
Tigers' defense ended last season like a train
wreck in their 55-15 Tangerine Bowl loss to Texas
Tech. Despite that embarrassment, Clemson's defense
did show improvement in their first year under
defensive coordinator John Lovett.
Lovett
installed a different scheme, employing more zone
packages than man-to-man defense. This resulted
in improved pass coverage (17th in the nation
before the Bowl) and fewer big plays by the opposition.
The
unquestioned star of this Tiger defense is CB
Justin Miller, one of the most exciting players
to enter the program in several years. Miller,
a true freshman, set a school record and led the
ACC with eight INTs last year despite starting
only the last eight games. Miller does more than
cover receivers (team high 12 tackles against
NC State.)
The
secondary (21 INTs, 10th in I-A) should again
be the strength of the defense next season, particularly
once CB Toure Francis and SS Ronny Delusme recover
from ACL injuries.
Teams
were able to push the undersized Clemson defense
around the field with some regularity last season,
particularly offenses featuring a big running
back. The Tigers gave up 158.2 yds/game (60th
in I-A) on the ground and recovered only nine
fumbles in 13 games. Clemson did, however, play
strong red-zone defense. This shows that in a
condensed field, this unit exhibits potential.
Clemson
enters next season with only one defensive end
listed at over 240 pounds, senior Khaleed Vaughn
(260 lbs.). Vaughn led the team with 18 quarterback
pressures and recorded four sacks. None of the
returning linebackers on the two-deep depth chart
are listed at more than 225 pounds. Despite a
size disadvantage, returning senior John Leake
(6'1", 225 lbs.) finished seventh in the
nation last season with an impressive total of
169 tackles. A boost to the defensive effort will
be recently hired assistant coach David Blackwell.
As assistant at Pittsburgh, he worked with Walt
Harris to help mold one of the nation's tougher
units. His duties have not yet been defined, but
Coach Bowden is eagerly anticipating a positive
contribution.
Beyond
John Leake, there does not appear to be many playmakers
in the Tigers' front seven. With a lack of pass
rushers or linebackers to stuff the run, Clemson's
secondary will be overwhelmed as they try to cover
receivers while being essential to stopping the
opponent's ground attack.
|
|
LB
John Leake
|
CLEMSON
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
DEFENSE
|
DE |
Khaleed
Vaughn-Sr |
Vontrell
Jamison-Jr |
DT |
Donnell
Washington-Jr |
Eric
Coleman-Jr |
DT |
DeJuan
Polk-Sr |
Todd
McClinton-Sr |
DE |
J.J.
Howard-Sr |
Maurice
Fountain-Jr |
SLB |
John
Leake-Sr |
Anthony
Waters-Fr |
MLB |
Leroy
Hill-Jr |
Roosevelt
Nelson-So |
WLB |
Kelvin
Morris-Sr |
Brian
Carr-Jr |
CB |
Justin
Miller-So |
Ryan
Hemby-Sr |
CB |
Tye
Hill-So |
Buddy
Williams-Fr |
ROV |
Jamaal
Fudge-So |
Gerald
McCloud-Fr |
FS |
Travis
Pugh-So |
Tavaughn
Monts-Jr |
P |
Cole
Chason-Fr |
.. |
|
|
|
2003
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Special
teams have been something of a mixed bag for the Tigers
under Bobby Bowden. Last season, Justin Miller led the
ACC in kickoff returns, averaging 35 yards on 13 attempts.
Derrick Hamilton led the ACC in all-purpose yardage
(10 yds/punt return, 21.6 yd/KO return). Both will pick
up right where they left off in December.
Place
kicker Aaron Hunt, a returning senior, connected on
17-21 FGAs last season and missed only one PAT. The
punting game, however, was one of the worst in the nation
(net 30 yds/punt). A new punter will take over the kicking
duties this season. Improved kick distance and return
coverage will take pressure off the defense. Since Bowden
continues his refusal to hire a special teams coach,
any failure in this area lands squarely at his feet.
|
|
|
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|