New Year’s Resolutions for TDP, Jimmy Barker FAIA, Tim Match, Bill D’Andrea, Katie Hill, Dori Helms and the Board of Trustees.

The AOC wants to wish everyone a Happy New Year and wants to congratulate Clemson on winning the Music City Bowl and CJ Spiller on the most amazing career we have ever seen. After losing those 2 games in diametrically opposed yet equally soul crushing fashions, there is no way Tommy would have stayed within 3 touchdowns of Kentucky, so props to Dabo for getting the guys out there and playing hard in an atmosphere that was 5:1 Kentucky fans, cold, and basically everything you DON’T want in a bowl game when you start the season.

So, where do we go from here? We have spent a siginificant amount of time discussing this and we have come up with some things that The Clemson Administration should commit to our football program and athletics department in general. Some of these things cost money. Some cost energy. Some will hurt feelings. Some will require the people charged with running Clemson to put their egos away, think beyond the 6 inches in front of them. We firmly believe that Clemson is wrought with potential. Potential to be one of the greatest academic and athletic institutions in America, but there are some areas that are underperforming, and there are areas for improvement.

Resolution #1 – Build our Student Athletes a Training Table.

-Do this yesterday. This is the biggest absurdity known to man. We can pretend that these kids are regular students, but it is beyond ridiculous to do so. What these 18-23 year olds do to their bodies, and require of their bodies are so far removed from what some accounting major from Sumter does to his body, they might as well exist in different worlds. Please understand, we are primarily talking about football here, but a training table would benefit every single sport program on campus.

All of these kids are in school at Clemson because of what they can do with their bodies. They represent Clemson on a national stage and bring recognition to Clemson. The fact that we do not have a training table to allow these students to put proper fuel in their bodies should be an felonious offense punishable by incarceration. 50% of weight training, conditioning and development of the body is nutrition. Our athletes will never be developed at their peak without proper nutrition.




The AOC suggests building an institute of nutrition headed by Dr. Jackson that will be the southeast’s leader in nutrition and health. It is time for Clemson to put their best foot forward here. Be innovative. Be daring. Tell your athletes that you are going to put the best fuels in their body as possible and you are going to lead the nation in research and development. Make it a major. Make it an academic program. Whatever you want to do with it – DO IT.

Resolution #2 – Give Dabo the support staff you promised to him

When Dabo was hired, he was alleged to have been promised 6 full time support staff positions. The bottom line is our coaching staff is forced to waste their time doing things that coaches at Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc do not do. Nick Saban has over 30 support personnel to help in off-season workouts, nutrition, recruiting, high school relations, game day management, advanced scouting of opponents, etc.

When Tommy Bowden was hired, he was promised facility upgrades that took 6 years to even break ground on, and 11 years to complete. This is unacceptable. Clemson’s coaching staff is limited by NCAA regulations on how much off-season contact they can have with their players, so support staff for the strength and conditioning department is vital. Players at places like Alabama and Florida have former NFL players working with them in the off-season refining their skills.

Clemson is a special place. It would not take a huge financial commitment to bring in guys like Levon Kirkland, Woodrow Dantzler, Raymond Priester, Rod Gardner, Anthony Simmons, Dustin Fry, etc to come back and mentor younger athletes in the off-season. The creation of a culture where Tiger greats come back to Clemson in the off-season and work with younger Clemson players is something that can only help us move forward.



#44 was ready to work for $66,000 per year, but TDP said "NO" after originally saying "YES"

Resolution #3 – Come up with a plan to continue moving facilities forward.

The Arms Race in College Football is undeniable. Create a long-term and short-term plan. The long-term plan should include moving all the practice facilities for football to Lot 5, directly behind the West End Zone. 1.5 practice fields and an indoor facility right behind Death Valley would show an dramatic commitment to Clemson Football. We know some fuddy duddies will likely be upset about their parking spaces being moved, but when Clemson is winning 10+ games a year, there will be thousands of fans willing to take their seats. The short term plan should be shown to all recruits. The long-term plan should be on the official Clemson Athletics Website and should look professionally done.



Even South Carolina Has An Indoor Practice Facility

Resolution #4 – Let Clemson’s coaches stand on their own merits

Clemson’s coaches should be permitted to recruit any NCAA elegible student athlete in America. If the athlete is not NCAA elegible, then they should be permitted to sign and place them in an appropriate junior college or prepatory school of their choosing. If this ruffles your feathers or upsets you, then you have zero interest in winning football games, or looking at facts.

Fact #1 – South Carolina is a state that is ranked low in all academic categories in regards to their public schools. So not only do our coaches have a smaller population to work with then their neighbors to the north and south, they have to recruit from a public school system that is ranked anywhere from 45 to 49 depending on what study one looks at.

Fact #2 – Ian Williams, Dwight Jones, Jakar Hamilton, Jarrius Wynn, Toquavios Gilchrist, Jonathan Abbatte, Tydreke Powell, Brandon Paul, Ryan Houston, Wesleye Saunders were all athletes that our coaches were not allowed to recruit. These student athletes were admitted to places like North Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. All but South Carolina are considered superior institutions to Clemson and rank above us in The US News and World Report Rankings.



Clemson said "NO" to me, so I said "YES" to UGA

If our coaches feel like an athlete can succeed at Clemson University given the support structure we have in place, they should be allowed to recruit and sign them. Period. We do not think Clemson’s coaches will go mustang and recruit a bunch of gun wielding crips from Compton, nor do we think Clemson is attractive to thugs and gangbangers. There are a lot of great kids that are great football players who come from academically disadvantageous situations that can play football. If Clemson’s coaches go Ron Prince and sign a bunch of JUCOs, then you can do what Kansas State did – fire them. The bottom line is our coaches should not be penalized by academic restrictions that elite universities like UNC and Wake Forest do not even follow. If you hired the guy you think can lead your football program, then let him have total autonomy on the players in his program. If you think he is the type of guy that will bring in the wrong kids, fire him or do not hire him in the first place.

Fact #3 – Excellent athletics HELP, not hinder Academic Performance. This point cannot be argued. There is too much research on it that proves it. When your football and basketball programs are in the national spotlight, are winning bowl games and advancing deep into the NCAA Basketball tournament in March, your applications always go up. Alabama’s applicant pool is bigger than ever. Boston College attributes the “Flutie Factor” into a spike in the average test score of their freshman class in the 1980s. George Mason saw a 25% gain in the numbers of their applicants after the basketball team advanced to The Final Four. If James Barker wants to promote Clemson’s Academics? Get a 3 hour commercial on National Television that will turn a 15.5 rating across the country courtesy of your football program.

The Avenue of Champions can be reached at aoc.clemson@gmail.com

Defending Paul Johnson's Triple Option

When GT's offense is most dangerous, the midline is really hitting. The outside veer, rocket sweeps, and other things are devastating, but Tech hits with the force of an ICBM when the midline is humming. Basically, Dwyer will run through A gap, and if the 3T squeezes him, Nesbitt will pull it, and be running vertically and chewing acreage while he is doing it. Check these 2 clips against Miami in 2008.

*In this example the C does a great job cutting the NG, the 3T gets caught in the wash, the MLB gets slammed into by the PSG and the OLB over pursues opening up a huge cutback lane. The thing that is scary is even if the OLB didn't over pursue, he is blocked, so the play is there anyway.


Dwyer's 1st TD (UM v GT 2008)

In this clip, GT runs the play to the weakside, and use the motion man (Jones) to block down on the support player (the free), the DT hammers Dwyer, and there is no one for Nesbitt and its off to the races.


Josh Nesbitt's Long Run (UM v GT 08)

Your standard meatball announcer or tailgating pop warner coach will say, play an 8 man front with the CBs manned up and 1 S in the middle of the field. Well as someone who has a love affair with all sorts of double slot formation, you are going to get a 4 vert or a vertical switch concept where you have 2 guys going vertical up the numbers and 2 up the hash which means somewhere you have Kavell Connor chasing a cat. Not good. You can also get the old run and shoot choice route shoved down your throat. One slot motions and runs a fat post, while the other slot runs a shallow cross. The backside WR runs a smash while the frontside WR runs a go. This is a cover 3 and man killer.

When GT is mashing your defense with the midline, GT is really effective at turning on their outside game. PJ is very patient and does not panic if you get up a score or two. Once the inside stuff started hitting against UGA in 2008, they Dawgs manned up the corners, ran a 4-4, and tried to overload the box. PJ will mix up blocking schemes and really get after you good. Here in the Miami game, the 3T took Dwyer, the S got cut by the playside back, and the OLB took the QB leaving no one for the pitchman.


Roddy Jones' 40 yard run against Miami

Here in the 2008 UGA game, UGA's answer was man coverage. The S screamed downhill, but because the CB was manned up, when the WR went inside to crack, the CB went with him, and there was no one on the perimeter.


Roddy Jones - Long Run - GT v UGA 2008

The final nail in UGA's coffin was a defense that had been on the field entirely too long that was no longer tackling, but rather hitting.


Roddy Jones TD - GT v UGA 2008

SO HOW THEN SHOULD STEELE ATTACK?

In the first match-up our DT and Maye took away the midline stuff, while Clemson lateral speed on the outside helped us take away the outside. Steele will have to continue to mix-up looks to try to keep PJ off balance because PJ will find and exploit weaknesses in a defense that is predictable of the course of the game.

Nesbitt is the guy that drives Georgia Tech's offense not Dwyer and if Nesbitt can keep and follow Dwyer up the middle for 4 to 6 yards like in 4th quarter of the Clemson game then we are in trouble. The QB keepers have given Clemson fits all year, so finding the answer prior to the GT game should be priority number one for Steele.

Another key will be limiting Tech's passing game, which Clemson did well in the first game; however, GT passing attack has improved as the season has progressed. Nesbitt is throwing the ball better and overall the passing game is much more fluid. Of course All-ACC WR, Bay-Bay Thomas, is the key weapon when Nesbitt drops back to throw. Clemson needs to make sure Thomas is matched-up with a taller, physical corner on every snap. Chancellor on Thomas is a match-up asking for big plays against us.

Georgia Tech's offense isn't a ball control offense, it is a big play offense, so Clemson has to score TDs, all while allowing our defense to rest and be coached up.

Not Sure If TDP Is Serious

In a recent Post and Courier article, Terry Don Phillips was asked about moving the Clemson-South Carolina game to the start of the season.

"That might be a good idea," Phillips said."



I hate this idea and hope TDP is not being serious.

Why mess with an established tradition especially an established tradition that has worked out in Clemson's favor for over 50 years?

Who cares if the ACCGC is the next week? This doesn't stop Alabama and Florida from playing a rivalry game the week before the SECGC. It also would mean that Clemson would likely have a pivotal ACC clash the week before the ACCGC, which is still two pivotal games in back-to-back weeks.

Clemson-South Carolina is a rivalry and should be played at the end of the season just like Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Florida State and Army-Navy.

I don't see a single positive aspect of this lame idea and can't believe that it would ever be seriously considered by Clemson's Athletic Department.

Share your thoughts on this idea and vote in the poll question on the top right.

Steele Puts Pepper In Clemson's Grits

Clemson was ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense in 2008 under Vic Koenning, but the defense tended to struggle in the 2nd half after limiting the opposing team's offense in the 1st half.

Insert Kevin Steele.



The biggest difference between Koenning's defense and Steele's defense is that Steele makes superb halftime adjustments and develops a scheme that produces a lot of big plays even though their stats in terms of Scoring Defense and Total Defense are virtually the same.

Below is a breakdown of offensive points allowed versus Division I teams in 2008 versus 2009 broken down by quarter.





Koenning's defense actually outperformed Steele's defense by 26 points in the 1st half, but Steele's defense outperformed Koenning's defense by 22 points in the 2nd half. Steele's defense makes adjustments while Koenning's defense had adjustments made against it.

The next most important defensive stat to pure "Scoring Defense" is "Turnover Forced" and Steele's defense is forcing 2.45 per game compared to 2.15 per game under Koenning last year.

I am not knocking Vic Koenning because Koenning didn't have the advantage of working under a competent offensive coordinator or have as good of assistant coaches or quite as much talent defensively, but Steele is on another level in terms of making adjustments and developing a scheme that results in momentum changing plays like turnovers and sacks.

Simple put Steele puts pepper in his player's grits.

Hats off to all the coaches and players for winning the Atlantic!

Clemson - Virginia Preview

Offense

Virginia

Virginia switched to a spread option offense under Urban Meyer protégé Greg Brandon, but the offense resembles more of the 4 WR spread with option running plays rather than Florida’s single-wing spread option under Urban Meyer.

The offense is directed by Jamelle Sewell, who is nursing a tender shoulder and may not be able to play on Saturday. Back-up QB Mark Verica is out with a concussion suffered in the Miami game, which may force Groh to turn to freshman Riko Small.

Sewell is completing 53% of his passes for 6 TDs and 7 INTs this year, and his favorite targets are Kris Burd and Vic Hall who have combined for 46 catches and 2 TDs. The running game is a mix of Sewell, who leads the team in carries with 109, and running backs Rashawn Jackson and Mikell Simpson, who have combined for 135 carries and 706 yards.

The offensive line, which is usually pretty stout under Groh, has allowed an ACC high 32 sacks. Mainboarder Luke Bowanko (#70) is redshirting this season.



Clemson

The Tigers run a pro-style offense under Dabo Swinney and Billy Napier and like to get the ball in the hands of their tight ends and running backs over their wide receivers. Clemson's offense is balanced (55% to 45% run to pass) and leans heavily on Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Spiller and emerging playmaker Andre Ellington to grind out yards on the ground.

Kyle Parker comes in to the game completing 54% of his passes, but the redshirt freshmen has looked much sharper in recent weeks, culminating in his best game of the season last week against NCSU.

Clemson's WR are still a liability outside of speedster Jacoby Ford, but both Xavier Dye and Terrence Ashe have improved their level of play in recent weeks - especially Dye, who has become Ford and Spiller’s favorite target in Halfback and WR-pass plays after hauling in a TD pass from each this season.

Thomas Austin is nursing a sprained ankle and is listed as probable for Saturday’s game. Austin will definitely give it a go in his final home game, but expect Mason Cloy to see a lot of playing time at OG as well.



QB - Advantage Clemson
OL –Advantage Clemson
RB - Advantage Clemson
TE/WR – Advantage Clemson

Overall Offense - Advantage Clemson

Defense

Virginia

The Hoos use a base 3-4 defense under head coach and defensive coordinator Al Groh, but Groh doesn’t bring as much pressure as is typically seen out of a 3-4 system.

The front-three is led by a legitimate werewolf at DE, Nate Collins, who is the most talented defensive lineman the Tigers have faced since seeing Derrick Morgan and Jerry Hughes. The line features a lot of beef but isn’t to be feared outside of Collins.

The linebackers are also big with the OLBers tipping the scales at 255 pounds, but again isn’t a unit that is going to strike fear into an opposing offensive coordinator otherwise.

Virginia’s secondary is the best unit on the entire team and is led by Ras-I Dowling, who many scouts consider to be a potential 1st Round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Chris Cook and Brandon Woods are also very solid players in the Cavalier secondary.

Clemson

Clemson uses a 4-3 with a base 1-Robber Man or base Cover-2 Man, but Kevin Steele likes to mix in more fronts and bring a variety of pressure.

Clemson is stacked on the defensive line, led up the middle by DTs Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson and also DE Ricky Sapp, who tops the Tigers with 4 sacks. DaQuan Bowers is listed as probable for Saturday’s game after missing the last 2 contests with a sprained knee.

Clemson's weakest spot defensively is at linebacker, but against a team that features 4 WR like UVa you can expect Steele to play a lot of nickel. Kavell Conner and Kevin Alexander have both quietly had impressive seasons, and the impact that Alexander has had as a hybrid DE/LB, especially with Cooper’s inconsistent play and Bower’s injury, should be applauded.

The defensive backs are led by safety DeAndre McDaniel, who is first in the nation in interceptions with 8. Crezdon Butler has prospered in the switch from zone to man defense under Steele, and Byron Maxwell has come on extremely strong and is playing better than Chris Chancellor, in my opinion.



DL - Advantage Clemson
LB - Advantage Clemson
DB - Advantage Clemson

Overall Defense - Big Advantage Clemson

Special Teams

Virginia

The Cavaliers are last in the ACC in kickoff returns. Punter Jimmy Howell nets an average of 40.5 yards per kick, while kicker Robert Randolph is having an All-ACC caliber season, connecting on all but 2 kicks this season.

Clemson

Clemson has returned 5 kicks for TDs, including 3 KOs and 1 PR by the best return man in the nation in C.J. Spiller. Most teams have started kicking away from Spiller, giving Clemson excellent field position as a result.

Punter Dawson Zimmerman nets an average of 39.7 yards per kick, while the Clemson kicking game is currently in complete shambles after imploding the last 2 games.

Kick Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punt Return - Big Advantage Clemson
Punting – Slight Advantage UVA
Kicking – Big Advantage UVA

Overall Special Teams - Advantage Clemson

Closing Thoughts

Virginia has a solid defense, in fact in the same league with Miami and Wake Forest and perhaps slightly better, but the offense has been a train wreck this season, and overall UVA is the 2nd worst team in the ACC behind Maryland.

The only way that this game is an upset in my opinion is if Clemson starts uncharacteristically coughing up the ball in its own territory, giving the Hoos easy scoring chances.

I expect the Clemson defense to limit their offense to less than 2 TDs, and our offense to benefit from a bunch of three and outs by the defense and to cash in on the resulting great field position.

I expect that Tigers to be jacked on Senior Day and to collect their 1st Atlantic Division crown in runaway fashion.



Shout-out to CJ Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Michael Palmer, Thomas Austin, Ricky Sapp, Karvell Conner, Kevin Alexander, Chris Chancellor, Crezdon Butler, Sadat Chambers, Corey Lambert and all the other Tigers running down the hill for the final time. Thanks for the memories!

Clemson 34 - Virginia 10