Clemson Football Overview and Coaches

Ok Ladies and Gentlemen,

The time has come for another glorious season of college football to start again. As Clemson is near and dear to my heart, I'm going to give my preview/opinion on this year's Clemson Tigers.

It's been 26 years since the last National Championship and 18 years since the last ACC Chamionship. Believe it or not, Clemson still has the most ACC Championships. Though, Flordia State is only one behind. Now, I'm not predicting that Clemson is going to win the National Championship or even the ACC Championship. So, after I break down all the positions, I'll give you my overall view and prediction for this year's squad.

Coaches:

Dabo Swinney starts his first full year as the head coach. At 39, their are big expectations for the young head coach. As one of the nation's best wide receiver coaches and recruiting coordinators, he built an impressive report among fellow coaches and among players. It was this reputation that helped land him the job as interim head coach. He was 4-3 last year wins over Boston College and South Carolina, which helped to solidify his job job as head coach. He brings a new vigor, or swagger to the team if you will, that Bowden just frankly didn't have. The players seem to like him better, and therefor, respond to his coaching style better. C.J. Spiller forwent the NFL draft last year to have one more year with Coach Dabo. Under this new, younger leader, we start anew.

Offensive Coaches:

With Billy Napier heading up the offensive side of the ball, Clemson has someone who is young and yet has experience. Napier, former stand-out Furman quarterback, has been with the Tigers for 4 years in numerous positions (quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator, and presently offensive coordinator). Not too long gone are the days of Rob Spence and the God-forsaken bubble screen. Napier is trying to use more of a spread offensive to utilize the speed and quickness of his offensive weapons.

Along with Napier, we had Brad Scott, former South Carolina Head Coach, who is coaching the offensive guards and the centers. Needless to say his experience as a former head coach and offensive coordinator makes him quite the asset to the Tigers.

Coaching the tight ends and tackles is Danny Pearman. Pearman is on his first year with the Tigers. Pearman was a three-time letterman as a tight end at Clemson. He comes through prestegious programs such as Alabama, Virgina Tech, and Maryland.

Jeff Scott, son of Coach Brad Scott, is the wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator. Jeff was a 3 year letterman as a wide receiver and holder at Clemson. It has been said by some that he has the poise, charisma, and knowledge to be an up-and-coming head coach. Though, that's still a few years down the road.

And finally on the offensive, we have Andre Powell. Coach Powell also serves as the Special Teams Coordinator. Powell recently came to Clemson by way of the University of North Carolina, where he had the same position(s). He has been a coach for 17 years, and therefore brings more valuable experience to this Tiger team.

Defensive Coaches:

(Just a side note...I'm super excited about this year's defensive staff. Now with that said, I'll continue)

Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele brings a new fire, passion, and most of all college and professional experience in the defensive world. In working with legendary coaches such as Tom Osborne, Dom Capers, Bobby Bowden, and Nick Saban. Those are some pretty big names. Last year, Coach Steele was the Associate Head Coach-Linebackers/Head Coach of Defense at Alabama. Coach Steele is going to continue to use the 4-3 look, using the Bandit End as more of a pass rushing linebacker. He's going to be more aggressive and use more blitzes and not just from the linebacker position, but from all over the field. Last year, Clemson was dismal in the area of sacks. With only 14 sacks last year, Steele is trying to drastically increase that number.

Co-defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach Charlie Harbison also brings prestigious college and professional experience to the Clemson coaching staff. As a former NFL player and professional coach, Coach Harbison comes from great defensive programs in the SEC such as Mississippi State, LSU, and Alabama. Working with a talented Secondary group, Harbison hopes to make opposing quarterbacks lives a nightmare.

Dan Brooks, the new Defensive Line coach is one of the legends of Defensive Line Coaches. As an intregal part of the Tennessee 1998 coaching staff, Coach Brooks knows how to get his players to the highest level of the college football world. He has coached in 17 bowl games, and hopes to make it 18 with a high-level bowl game for this year's Tigers.

How important are Clemson's Defensive Ends? They have their own coach, Coach Chris Rumph. Coach Rumph lettered 4 times as a linebacker at South Carolina. He brings that experience and gives his energy and great coaching to the great Tiger Defensive Ends

Summary for the Coaches:

In March, the entire Clemson Coaching Staff went down to the University of Texas to meet with and learn from Mack Brown and his coaching staff. In sort of a "pimp my coaching style" They studied what Mack Brown did in taking Texas from not winning a National Championship in 35 years to winning the National Championship in 2005 and being an elite contender for the Championship every year since then. The Clemson staff hopes to have the same or similar thing happen in TigerTown.

Overall, I think there is a good mixture of youth and experience. All of the coaches are fired up and ready to win. They all bring a new feel to Clemson, that we haven't seen in some years.