2009 Clemson College Football Predictions

Written June 25, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Clemson College Football Predictions Clemson has the talent to win the ACC this season, but the same was the case the last three years, and the Tigers certainly didn’t cash in. C.J. Spiller’s decision to return for his senior season was huge and makes offensive coordinator Bill Napier’s job a lot easier. But will the Tigers get consistent play at quarterback? They also need to fill in holes at receiver and linebacker. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this team advanced to the ACC title game, but past disappointments make it very hard to predict the outcome. The college football lines show the Tigers listed at +10000 to capture the 2010 BCS National Championship.

Offense: Looking at last year’s numbers, it’s hard to believe Clemson’s quarterback and running backs finished 1-2-3 in ACC preseason Player of the Year voting. The Tigers put up 250 yards or less in five games. They gave up 34 sacks on the season. They averaged just 111 rushing yards/game despite having C.J. Spiller and James Davis toting the rock. The struggles demonstrated that all the star power in the world means little without an offensive line, and the boys up front better improve this season. Center Bobby Hutchinson is the only lost starter.

The O-line is led by left tackle Chris Hairston and left guard Thomas Austin, and they’re growing up and should be getting more physical. The line isn’t a great strength, but it’s certainly not the lone weakness on offense this time around. At quarterback, red shirt freshman Kyle Parker turned some heads during the spring while juggling football and baseball, and he seems to have a slight edge over third-year sophomore Willy Korn. The losses of Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham at receiver really hurt. Beyond senior Jacoby Ford, there’s not much there. Incoming freshman Bryce McNeal will be given every opportunity to contribute right away. Spiller, a do-it-all lighting-quick tailback, will help out the passing game by motioning out wide.

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Defense: This unit has carried the Clemson Tigers the past few years, which makes it seem odd that a new coordinator will be calling all the shots this season. Vic Koenning didn’t see eye-to-eye with new coach Dabo Swinney and elected to depart after four productive years. Swinney made a big splash by luring Kevin Steele from Alabama, and early reviews on Steele are favorable. Senior corners Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler are good fits for his press-man style, but the secondary has issues after the departure of two starting safeties.

Steele is a big fan of DeAndre McDaniel, who played strongside linebacker last season but has moved to strong safety this year. The other safety spot is a big question mark, but backup corner Marcus Gilchrist might just be the answer. The line lost a lot on the interior, though Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson are a solid combo. Sophomore end Da’Quan Bowers is primed for a breakout season. Senior end Ricky Sapp had ACL surgery last December, which kept him out of spring practice. There are major issues at linebacker as well, where there isn’t much beyond Kavell Conner and Brandon Maye in the talent pool.

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