CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Bowden Hopes Extra Time Pays Dividends

Bowden Hopes Extra Time Pays Dividends


by - Correspondent -

CLEMSON - With 12 days between the Wake Forest loss and this Thursday's game

at N.C. State, Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden has tried to get as much

accomplished as possible.

There's been extra hitting and more work on fundamentals. Maybe an extra

meeting or two.

But the thing he wants his players to accomplish most during the break is a

greater recognition of the Wolfpack's formations on both sides of the ball.

Whether it happens or not, only game time will tell.

"That's what you hope for," Bowden said after Sunday's practice. "You know

right off this is their top run, this is their top pass. When they have three

receivers to one side, this is their top route. When they motion to it, this

is their top route. You're hoping for formation recognition, or route split

recognition."

Ditto for his offense vs. the State defense.

How are the linebackers stacked? What are the different levels and tilts of

the safeties? Can your quarterback and receivers quickly spot coverages? What

front is the defensive line in?

In years gone by, given 12 days to prepare, coaches might spend an

extraordinary amount of time with the team in the film room - breaking down the

opposition's tendencies over and over and over again. But with today's newer rules

and responsibilities, excessive film-watching isn't feasible.

"About 45 minutes is all you get for meeting time, so most of it

(recognition) has to come from practice," Bowden said. "With study hall, weights and

class you can't hardly get the old film time you used to. Back when I was

playing you had a easy class, don't go to class. Register for a class and drop it

late.

"You can't do that anymore, so we don't watch film as much as we used to."

***

Bowden said the Sunday practice was more like a Tuesday workout during a

regular week, though it came after the team had two days off.

Asked if the players seemed refreshed after the break, Bowden shrugged his

shoulders and laughed.

"You'd have to ask them," he said. "It's kind of unusual...and the team is

different every year so you see how they react. But with all the young guys

we've got playing, they did pretty good job today."

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