Thursday July 22, 2010

Who Benefits?

Who Benefits?
In the aftermath of Kyle Parker’s decision, we now start to analyze what this really means and who benefits the most.

I believe there are several groups of people that benefit from Parker coming back. Here are just a few:

The Fans
Let’s face it, fans love winning and Kyle Parker gives Clemson a better chance to win. His experience in big games should benefit this team and this should mean more wins in 2010.

Also the fans benefit because of the excitement level. Parker is a gunslinger who is known for making big plays. Parker loves to get the ball downfield and his big-play capability is always a welcome sight to fans.

Dabo
Dabo recruited C.J. Spiller, DeAndre McDaniel and Kyle Parker out of high school and his personal relationship with each had to be a factor in their decisions to return to school.

In an industry where so many players leave school early to enter the NFL Draft, Dabo’s guys keep coming back. That may be a coincidence but if not, then it says something about their relationship they have with their coach.

This will also be a big recruiting pitch to future prospects. This staff will pound it into prospects minds. I can hear a Clemson assistant asking a prospect, “Why do our high profile guys come back and so many players at other players jump at the first opportunity to leave their school early?”

Billy Napier
Clemson’s quarterback coach and offensive coordinator lost Spiller, Jacoby Ford and Michael Palmer off of last year’s team. He did not need to lose one more weapon. Parker gives the offense some stability and his experience will be invaluable. Napier has told me on several occasions stories of how “Kyle just gets it.” Napier says Parker’s came from a great high school background and he understood the position because of his high school system. Parker knows the reads and understands what play to check to. He has instincts and is mature beyond his years.

Parker’s return to Clemson will allow him to bring Tajh Boyd along at a slower pace. Actually it is the preferred pace that Boyd will now encounter. Therefore Napier benefits this season and in 2011.

Tajh Boyd
I know Boyd has to be disappointed in the short term but this may be the best thing to happen in the long term. Maybe Boyd would have hit the ground running and maybe he would have had a huge freshman season. My guess is that he will get enough snaps as the number-two guy this season and will be much better prepared to take over the spot in September 2011. Hindsight is our only true answer but I maintain that Boyd will be a better player with more confidence as a result of having a little more time to prepare for the starting position.

The Other Offensive Players
Parker will be able to make others around him better this season. His arm strength is a major concern for defensive coordinators so the running game will benefit because defenses will not be able to load the box as effectively.

The receivers benefit because they have worked with Parker for an entire season and should see more production this season. Most of the receivers that will see a majority of the time this season played last year and are familiar with Parker and his decisions. There has to be more chemistry between Parker and the receivers in year two.

The offensive line should be better with Parker because the offense can be more balanced. Making offensives one-dimensional is a dream scenario for a defensive lineman but Clemson should be able to more unpredictable and balanced with an experienced quarterback back.

The SID Department
Tim Bourret and his team did their research and came up with the stats that Parker was the first player in NCAA history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 home runs in the same season. I am sure that kind of publicity will once again resurface now that Parker is returning.

Clemson’s Season
I have made the case that the two best ways to put together a championship team is to stop the run defensively and run the ball offensively. But another important part of the deal is an experienced quarterback. This is not paramount but Clemson has the luxury this season of having a quality defensive line, a quality offensive line and an experienced quarterback.

It will be interesting to see how this entire deal turns out. I am interested to see the short-term and long-term effects. Here are two scenarios:

The Best Case-Parker has an incredible season and Clemson wins the Atlantic Division. Dabo’s career continues down the right path and another big recruiting year follows. The Tigers are loaded in 2011 and Tajh Boyd is completely ready in his sophomore season. Clemson remains hot on the recruiting trail the program reaches championship levels.

The Worst Case-Parker struggles or is injured. His decision looks like a bad one and future players take notice. Clemson struggles to a 6-6 season and Dabo feels a little heat heading into 2011.

I am not sure which scenario is more likely but I do like my chances of entering a season with Kyle Parker back a lot more than I would have without him.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Richard Crawford, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, Steve Williams Jr, Steve Williams III, Kim Thomas, Reid Thomas, Sam Thomas, Linda Wiggs, Emily Claire Young, Dr. Wallace Honeycutt, Stacy Fowler, Kitty Bowers.