Tuesday July 27, 2010

Hot Rod

Hot Rod
Coaches say all of the time they want to get their best 11 players on the field but often times are reluctant to make changes. I was sitting around this weekend looking at the Clemson depth chart and saw an opportunity for a position change that may allow the Tigers to get better personnel on the field in 2010 and beyond.

College football teams need depth and one of the positions where teams get banged up more often than not is at running back. But I think this team may be better if we see Rod McDowell play slot receiver, at least a few snaps per game.

Here is the logic:
1-McDowell is an open field talent. His style is suited for handling the ball in the open field.
2-Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper are more experienced and most likely ahead of McDowell at this time.
3-The wide receiver corps is the biggest question mark on offense and could use a boast.
4-This offense needs to find some big play capability due to the departure of C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford.

There are potential snags to this move becoming permanent. First, if Ellington or Harper gets injured, McDowell's role as a running back has to increase. Also, McDowell is just a red-shirt freshmen and is just learning all of his assignments at running back. Another may be his ability as a receiver because I am not sure how well McDowell catches the football at this point.

If the move does not happen this year, it could happen in the spring or next fall. Clemson has commitments from two of the top eight running backs in the country according to rivals.com. Marlin Lane is a 6-1, 205-pound back from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, FL. He is rated as the eighth best back in the country, the 42nd best player in the country and the 11th best player in Florida according to rivals.com

Mike Bellamy is also committed to the Tigers. He is a 5-10, 175-pound speedster from Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, FL. Bellamy is rated as the nation's number three running back, the 13th best player in the nation and the third best player in Florida according to rivals.com.

Jamie Harper will be a senior next season and Andre Ellington will be a junior. Add Lane and Bellamy to the equation and you have four four-star backs according to rivals.com and one of the most talented backfields in the nation.

Another factor in a potential move of McDowell to receiver would be the development of the two incoming freshmen this year. Clemson signed D.J. Howard (6-0, 195) of Lincoln, AL and Demont Buice (6-2, 205) of Gaston, AL in last year's class and if either could prove they could handle the position of a third-team tailback this season, then this may allow McDowell to play more receiver.

I fully expect McDowell to be a guy that could help in the return game and a guy that will help fill some of the void left by Spiller in terms of catching the ball out of the backfield. McDowell looks like a very good third down back. He might even be a guy that could excel in the Jet sweeps or as the motion guy in the Wildcat formation.

The point is that if Clemson wants to get their best 11 on the field then maybe we could see McDowell in different roles than just a tradition running back in this season and in his remaining three seasons after this year.

I saw McDowell in the state title game in Death Valley when he was a senior at Sumter High School two seasons ago and liked his potential. Maybe he is a natural running back that could not adjust to the slot position. Maybe his body is not suited for the position switch either.

But something tells me we could see McDowell in the slot in an attempt to get the best athletes on the field. This offense will need play makers and my guess is that McDowell is one of those that could help spring the big play.

The wide receiver corps should also benefit from a couple of other options as well. Bryce McNeal is a highly touted receiver that red-shirted last season. In the spring I thought he looked like the most complete receiver on scholarship. Also the two incoming freshmen, DeAndre Hopkins and Joe Craig, will get a look in camp.

I would also look for Dwayne Allen to play a little flex tight end and move outside a little to help give Kyle Parker and the quarterbacks more options down field.

There is also hope that the returning wide outs have picked up their game. Xavier Dye, Terrence Ashe and Brandon Clear give the Tigers size at the position but I am hoping the light comes on for Marquan Jones and Jaron Brown because of their upside and athletic ability.

I also expect the wide out situation to be a fluid one as the season progresses. It would be nice to have the luxury of having three wide receivers you can count on like the Tigers had with Aaron Kelly, Tyler Grisham and Jacoby Ford but that is not the case again this season. There has been an upgrade in talent with the additions of McNeal and Hopkins but maybe the addition of McDowell could help also.

This may be the final season of question marks at this position too. Clemson should get Martavious Bryant back next season and already have a commitment from top-100 wide receiver Charon Peake of Dorman High School next season. Also the Tigers are in the top two for future super star Sammy Watkins of Fort Myers, FL so this may turn from a weakness to a strength as soon as next season.

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Those who need our prayers include:
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