U Better Know an Opponent: Clemson Tigers
Plan for stopping C.J. Spiller: tripwire in backfield
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C.J. Spiller: waterbug: dragon slayer.
Ah, Clemson: the untoasted bagel of the ACC. Or maybe it's half-and-half: the Tigers own a 59% overall winning percentage, have won 15 of 30 bowl games, and feature an uncanny and constant failure to rise above that sort of marker with any regularity.
That said, they're good enough to cause 'Canes fans a little anxiety this Saturday at 3:30, so let's figure out how to tell them apart from the rest of the ACC backwash.
Coach: Dabo Swinney, a former Alabama staffer who worked in real estate development before replacing Tommy Bowden. His 7-6 overall record finds him floating somewhere between Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel and Dog in Orange Hat on the Dab-o-Meter.
Colors: bruised fruit.
Ranking: n/a
Record: 3-3. Imagine that.
Best win: 25-7 at Boston College.
Worst loss: 21-24 to Maryland (Alternate title: MaryLOLand)
Delicious underground scandal: Offensive guard Kenneth Page (allegedly!) magically appeared in a photo sporting an orange shirt and a Scarfacian amount of cash shortly after committing to Clemson. Signing bonus, or visit to out-of-state ATM-restocking relatives? You decide.
Mmmmm....Tiger bait.
Weakness: Inconsistency. They have yet to string together two wins, or manage a single one on the road. And their 1 and 2 quarterbacks, Kyle Parker and Willy Korn, are engaged in a slow-moving, meat-witted battle to the death (or transfer).
Defense: Clemson is much better here than their record implies. Discounting touchdowns given up by offense and special teams, the Tigers are only allowing 11 points per game and rank 7th in passing yards allowed. DeAndre McDaniel leads the nation with 5 interceptions, and the team averages 3 sacks.
Star: C.J. Spiller, senior running back, receiver, and return specialist; Heisman candidate. Spiller is fast, dangerous, and once killed a dragon with a smaller dragon, if rumors out of South Carolina can be believed.
He's yards from owning the ACC's all-time all-purpose yards title, and first among active ACC players in career rushing yards and career rushing touchdown -- 17 of which were 50 yards or more. Last week he gained over 100 rushing yards for the 11th time in the last 12 games.
Miami's best bet: set Allen Bailey to "ACL tear" and loose him on the field. It's not sporting, but it might be the only way.
Understudy: Jacoby Ford, senior wide receiver and very fast man. With Spiller, the best return duo in college football. (Memo to Corey Nelms: remember you're a track star, too.)
Chances: 40%. Miami's been able to get up for non-rainy big games, and with a BCS bowl to fight for, avoiding a stumble at home is as big as any. The 'Canes have the speed to match up with Spiller and Ford as well as anyone can, and as long as the offensive line can protect Jacory Harris all will be well. Still, beware.
Janie Campbell believes in ballpark hot dogs and the pro-set. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
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Posted Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 - 11:43 AM EST
