...as football coaches--not as recruiters or pure program managers, but as football coaches. As coaches, (i.e. teachers and Xs and Os guys) they must rely on finding and utilizing top notch assistants to be successful. That wasn't working in Death Valley this year, and finally Tommy Bowden was forced out as head coach of the Clemson Tigers--although he reportedly "resigned"--prior to this game, and was replaced by former WR coach and rah-rah guy Dabo Sweeney. The Tigers program is a mess right now, and it started in preseason when the preseason prognosticators forgot you needed an offensive line in order to be successful at this level of college football, and named the Tigers 9th in the preseason polls because of their flashy offensive stars such as C.J. Spiller, James Davis, Cullen Harper and Jacoby Ford. When the losses started to mount, the players began to show their frustration, and Bowden kept just yelling at his senior stars to "be leaders" without doing anything to help them lead. The final straw came when Bowden benched preseason ACC Player of the Year, QB Cullen Harper. That led to a succession of events culminating in the announcement that Bowden had resigned. When Sweeney took over, Harper was still benched for this one--at least until the new starter, Willie Korn, got injured early in the contest. Harper had been quoted as saying that Bowden "got what he deserved," and that was splashed all over the papers. C.J. Spiller was out for this game with a "hamstring injury" but he was another of the high-profile stars who had some things to say about Bowden, and Spiller DID stay put on the sidelines throughout, so you have to wonder if the hammie was convenient cover for something else. Anyway, as a result of all the off-field issues, and Spiller and Harper's benching, the Tigers just did not have enough offensive continuity to overcome the Wreck in this one.


SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Georgia Tech Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin

Andrew Gardner 64 6' 5.6" 305 5.25 OT 2009: Not his best game today. Seemed to lose focus at times and was beaten soundly by Sapp a couple of times in pass pro. Still shows solid technique, but lacked aggression today. Kind of a Matt Light Light. Doesn't do that much in straight ahead run blocking, but does well sealing his man to the inside. Off game, but the talent is there. GRADE: Slightly negative

Vance Walker 99 6' 2.2" 293 0.00 DT 2009: Walker also did not play up to his usual form, but was OK. Did a good job stuffing the run and holding his ground, but was not the disruptive force in the backfield today that he is capable of being. GRADE: Neutral

Michael Johnson 93 6' 6.1" 255 4.85 DE 2009: Only Richard played up to his usual level along the star-studded GA Tech D-front today. Johnson was also kept in check throughout. He was slightly injured early on, came off the field, and back on, so maybe that was the reason, but there were no blocked kicks, or sacks, or flashy TFLs from Johnson today. He even got effectively blocked on the pass rush by a TE at least once that I saw...GRADE: Negative

Darryl Richard 95 6' 3.7" 290 4.96 DT 2009: Just a steady performer who does what you want your DT to do. Fills his lane. Gets out and after the ball carrier whene he bounces. Not easily deked or fooled. Dragged down James Davis for a loss by his shirt tails on one play, because Davis had his shirt untucked and that's what Richard could get ahold of--reminds me why I still tell my 5th graders to tuck their jerseys in...lol...Smart player, will never hurt you. GRADE: Positive

Jahi Word-Daniels 32 5' 9.0" 194 4.50 CB 2009: Looked good in pass defense early on. Shows good range and ups. Looks 6'0" out there. However, he was injured going up to stop a TD pass, and did not return (looked like a hammie) in the second quarter. GRADE: Incomplete

Sedric Griffin 54 5' 10.6" 239 4.65 LB 2010: For my money, this is the kid you hope will declare. Sneaky good. Needs only a patient LB coach to take some of the rough edges off, and you could have a pearl here. Nice size/speed combo. Compact. Hits you low, and you go down. Really fills his area. Very good penetrator and disruptor. 3rd round talent if he comes out...GRADE: Very positive

College: Clemson Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin

James Davis 1 5' 11.0" 205 4.48 HB 2009: We still have him rated as the #1 senior running back, and that is a testament to the weakness of the senior class. There are 7-8 junior and sophomores, who, if they declare, could and SHOULD go ahead of any of the seniors around. Davis just is not an explosive guy. He showed good hands today, and was pretty effective running the middle. Maybe it's those rookie linemen, but I would take a couple of our seniors ahead of him personally. Just no real special anything--blocking, running, breaking tackles, wiggle--I don't see any of it. GRADE: Negative

Jacoby Ford 6 5' 9.0" 175 4.25 WR 2010: Jacoby is still Jacoby. Looks likes his hands may be improving. Did a couple nice things in the return game, but a guy with his talent and speed should break SOMETHING big in each and every game. Clemson needs to be more creative in getting him the ball. GRADE: Neutral

Aaron Kelly 80 6' 4.1" 190 4.50 WR 2009: best game I've seen from Kelly this season. Really flashed that long-strider speed on his first of two second-half TD catches from Harper. A big sidelines and red-zone guy. Nothing special elsewhere really. Average hands, but great size/speed combo. Could develop into a better pro than college WR, but he is no second-coming of any pro bowler you might care to mention...GRADE: Slightly positive

Ricky Sapp 7 6' 3.0" 240 4.57 DE 2010: Uh oh...Ricky seems to be getting healthy. Really looked explosive off the line today, and looks like he is ready to be a force down the stretch. Had a sack and several pressures. I think he can transition to 4-3 OLB, and that is where I'd put him in Indy and make sure, then I'd put him at my SAM and forget about him for the next 10 years. He's ready for the NFL...GRADE: Positive

Chris Clemons 22 6' 0.2" 210 4.55 S 2009: Clemons always seems to outplay Hamlin whenever I watch Clemson, but Hamlin does get the nod because of the superior size, and the benefit of the doubt that the opposition just avoids him more than Clemons. Clemons has more than enough skills in his own right to compete for a starting NFL safety job (on a team with no more than one pro bowl caliber safety) in the future. Plays hard. Relentless when chasing. Has enough pass defense skills to not be a liability there, but can hit you and bring you down too. Not a blow up hitter. Not a "wow" physical specimen. Just a solid football player. GRADE: Positive

C.J. Spiller 28 5' 10.0" 195 4.40 HB 2010: DNP, announced as a ham string injury, but...

Cullen Harper 10 6' 3.0" 225 4.90 QB 2009: DNS, but was right off the bench when Korn suffered an apparently very minor injury (hmmmm...) Anyway, Harper looked better than the last couple of games, and showed the talent we've all heard about in stretches, but he just isn't a finisher. Brought Clemson back from a 14-3 half time deficit to a 17-14 lead after two TD passes to Harper in the third quarter, but then faded in the 4th quarter. Lacks big-league mental toughness and maturity. The NFL may shy away if more info comes out about his role in Bowden's dismissal/resignation, even though (and that's unfair, but it's just the way it is in football) it WAS well-deserved. Harper's physical tools are 3rd roundish, but his mental side may take him right off some team's boards. Not accurate at all deep, and he should be better then he is with the deep ball. Doesn't seem to trust himself. GRADE: Slightly negative

Michael Hamlin 25 6' 2.5" 205 4.60 S 2009: Big league hitter and run defender who is ready right now. Has the tools to step in and start for just about anybody. Not a lights out pass defender, but he doesn't need to be to be effective at the next level. Very good blitzer. Not as football smart as some top-notch safeties have been. Can be deked and fooled. GRADE: Neutral

Dorell Scott 97 6' 2.8" 310 5.00 DT 2009: A career game for Scott. It seemed like he picked up the leadership mantle this week, and put the Clemson defense on his broad shoulders. Constant pressure on josh Nesbitt. Ate Jonathan Dwyer's lunch a few times. I had him for 9 tackles, a sack, a FF and 3 QBHs on the afternoon. Bigger and nastier when the fire is lit than either Walker or Richard. The question is, who knows where the fuse is, and how long does it STAY lit? GRADE: Very positive

Rashaad Jackson 91 6' 1.4" 290 5.00 DT 2009: He was there and did some OK things, but is nowhere near the force the other DT PPs in this game were. Steady and relaible collegiate DT who may be somebody's camp guy. GRADE: Neutral

OTHER NOTES:

GA Tech: Sophomore DE Derrick Morgan actually outplayed Michael Johnson today, and is definitely a name to remember for the 2010 draft. I can see him as a first rounder, if he plays like this over the next 14 months.

Freshman WR Damarius Thomas had a HUGE drop of a sure TD pass in the early 4th quarter, but redeemed himself with a big first down grab on third and long, and the game-winning TD grab, later on. A future all pro and first round pick.

Clemson: #20 Brandon May was a defensive star for them today as was #1 Morgan Burnett and #33 Kavell Connor.