May 19, 2013

2013 Returning Experience: Offensive Line

January 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Ryan Norton

Previously Posted Positions: Quarterback

Clemson is scheduled to return 4 of 5 starters on the offensive line in 2013, but the one loss is a major one.

Dalton Freeman takes his 3,361 career snaps (38% of the team’s OL experience) and looks forward to the NFL, leaving Brandon Thomas as the dean of the offensive line with 1,900 career snaps.

Tyler Shatley, Giff Timothy and David Beasley were all first year starters in 2012 and acquitted themselves fairly well over the course of the season.

Ryan Norton (277 snaps as a freshman) is the heir apparent to Freeman and the coaches rave about his play. The question is, will the coaches still rave about Norton’s play if he’s starting at center in 2013?


2012 Offensive Line Experience Final –

Some depth was built during the 2012 season with Shaq Anthony and Isaiah Battle, both freshmen, showing the potential to develop into solid offensive linemen.

The ability of the rest of the group that played in 2012 to contribute is more questionable, suspect or not expected, depending on the player.

Not listed here are 2012 redshirts Patrick Destefano and Jay Guillermo.

Also, tight end Eric Mac Clain is cross training and eventually the plan is for Mac Clain to add depth along the offensive line.

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Keep An Eye On…

October 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Giff Timothy

Giff Timothy

The offensive line.  It seems like yesterday that this group was being praised when Andre Ellington ran all over Auburn in the season opener.  Subsequent mediocre efforts against Ball State and Furman were pause for concern, but by then the defense took the forefront as the biggest issue for this team.

I suggested a couple of weeks ago that while the official stats showed that Clemson had given up 10 sacks in 6 games, the real number would approach 20, if not for Tajh Boyd’s new found escapability and Virginia Tech exposed several chinks in the armor last Saturday.

Wake comes in 73rd in total defense, 85th in rushing defense and 53rd in pass defense.  The Deacons do have 15 sacks, averaging 2.14 per game.

This is a team that the Clemson offensive line should dominate.  Ellington should have a huge game and Boyd should have time to pick and choose his options downfield.  Sacks or pressure on Boyd or clogged running lanes for Ellington will be a cause for concern going forward because better defenses await the Tigers.

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Updated Rushing, Passing and Receiving Stats & FSU Thoughts

September 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

One of the bigger questions in Saturday’s Clemson vs. Florida State match up is can Clemson run the ball against the talented FSU defensive line?

My question is will we see the Andre Ellington of Auburn (228 yards) or the Andre Ellington of Ball State and Furman (100 yards combined)?

Obviously, blocking matters and we’ve been told that the Clemson offensive line is healthy despite injuries to Giff Timothy, David Beasley and Tyler Shatley at one time or another. It remains to be seen if this group can stay healthy and that’s important considering the drop off that occurs from the 1s to the 2s, with the possible exception of Shaq Anthony.

Rushing-Game 3 –

Ellington ran hard against Auburn, something that seemed to be dialed back a notch or two in the last two games. Perhaps that was by design and, if so, this is the week to dial back up.

Clemson needs Ellington to approach 150 yards rushing and also a few timely, well-placed runs from Boyd to have a chance.

The receiving stats are obviously skewed by the absence of Sammy Watkins for the first two games coupled with only 38 snaps against Furman.

Still the numbers, particularly for Nuk Hopkins, are eye-popping. Boyd to Hopkins has a completion ratio of 89.66%. Hopkins 68.97% successful play rate is also outstanding. Most of the other wide receiver numbers are pedestrian.

Receivers-Game 3 –

Brandon Ford can make the spectacular catch from the tight end position as evidenced by his touchdown against Furman, but a 60% completion ratio and two drops in 15 chances gives pause to the thought of targeting Ford more than 3 or 4 times in a game where every play is likely to be important.

The running backs have been non-existent in the passing game with the exception of a lone pass to D.J. Howard in game 2. That means they’ve been targeted 1 time in 113 passes. Could we see that change Saturday? I think so. Maybe not a lot, but it’s one more wrinkle for Morris to offer up.

Boyd’s been close to spectacular through three games, completing 73.26% of his passes with only 1 interception. There have been some close calls though and one wonders if, for example, the pass that Martavis Bryant snatched for a touchdown against Furman, would be an interception against the Seminoles. Those are the split second decisions that Boyd will have to excel at on the road in raucous and unfriendly atmosphere this week for the Tigers to be successful.

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Passing Game 3 –

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Analyzing Clemson’s 2012 Offensive Line Experience

July 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Dalton Freeman (Greenvilleonline.com)

It’s not earth shattering news that Clemson faces life with a young and largely inexperienced offensive line in 2012.  Gone are the combined 9,230 career snaps of Antoine McClain, Mason Cloy, Phillip Price, David Smith and Landon Walker.  In fact, the Tigers lost 72% of their offensive line snaps when the 2011 season ended in Miami.

It’s not just that Clemson lost starters.  With the notable exception of Dalton Freeman and, to a lesser extent, Brandon Thomas the Tigers lost almost all of their offensive line experience.


Offensive Line Experience -

The Tigers experience outside of those two consists of a grand total of 157 plays. The dearth of experience is so bad that Dabo Swinney moved Tyler Shatley from defensive tackle (that has its own serious problems with experience) to offensive guard.  By all accounts the move is a promising development and Shatley performed well in the spring.  However, the odds are long that Shatley will develop into a serviceable to good guard in the near future.  Sure, the Tigers hit pay dirt when former walk-on tight end Phillip Price became the dependable blindside tackle for 918 snaps without much previous experience last season, but the odds of developing a dependable starting offensive lineman in that fashion in two consecutive years has to border on astronomical.

The unknowns are numerous and concerning: Kalon Davis, Ryan Norton, Spencer Region, David Beasley, Shaq Anthony, Joe Gore, Gifford Timothy and Reid Webster are mysteries at this point and the odds of any of the true freshmen contributing significantly, especially early in the season appear to be remote.

In addition to the experience factor, depth looms large for this group on any football team.  The offensive line is an area where injuries happen, you can count on it every year.  It’s not a question of if, but when.  Whether it’s one game, two or 5, someone (often multiple players) is going to get injured and miss time.  Therefore, it’s clear that even if the opening game starters develop nicely and perform adequately the Tigers are one twisted ankle or knee sprain away from real problems along the line.

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Sneak Peek: 2012 Offensive Line

January 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Dalton Freeman (Greenvilleonline.com)

The inconsistency of the 2011 Clemson offensive line may look like “the good old days” when the 2012 season rolls around.  The Tigers lose 72% of their experience (on a snap basis) across the offensive line in 2012.  And that’s not counting tight end Dewayne Allen’s 2,013 career snaps that are headed to the NFL.

Dalton Freeman (Greenvilleonline.com)

True freshmen rarely make an impact on the offensive line and redshirt freshmen also tend to have to learn the difference between the high school and college game.  Typically, a team is dependent on upper classmen along the offensive line, though there are some exceptions.  One could look at Phillip Price as an exception – a former walk-on,  with very little experience, playing blind side tackle and doing it pretty well.  The Tigers need about 3 of those to happen in the coming year.  But I’m here to tell you, that to expect a Sammy Watkins type impact (relative to the the offensive line) on the offensive line from a redshirt or true freshman is a once in a generation type occurrence.

Entering 2012, Senior Dalton Freeman is far and away the most experienced returning lineman with 2,402 career snaps. Brandon Thomas, often the target of coaches frustration, is next with 913 snaps of experience in his first two years.

Player 2011 Class Career Snaps
Cloy, Mason Senior 1,715
McClain, Antione Senior 2,438
Price, Phillip Senior 918
Smith, David Senior 1,329
Walker, Landon Senior 2,830
TOTAL 9,230

After those two the pickings get slim.  Matt Sanders was seldom used in his first three years with 131 total snaps and sophomores to be Kalon Davis, Reid Webster, Gifford Timothy and David Beasley have a total of 157 snaps between them.  157.  Total.

The Tigers have to hope that Davis, Webster, Timothy and Beasley and/or some of the 2011 red shirts or 2012 signees develop quickly.
Player 2012 Class Career Snaps
Beasley, David Sophomore 30
Davis, Kalon Sophomore 49
Freeman, Dalton Senior 2,402
Sanders, Matt Senior 131
Thomas, Brandon Junior 913
Timothy, Gifford Sophomore 45
Webster, Reid Sophomore 33
TOTAL 3,603

If Clemson had a history of solid line play and developing offensive lineman that would be one thing.  But it seems each year, no matter the coaches or how much experience the line has, there are holes and unfulfilled expectations, along with gaping examples of not being able to move the ball.  We also know injuries will occur, that’s the nature of the game with every offensive line, every year in big time college football.

Reid Webster (Greenvilleonline.com)

With that history in mind, asking the Tigers to fill the 9,230 departed snaps along the line is going to be very difficult to do and should be kept in mind when forecasting results for the 2012 Clemson Tigers.

Some will say I am setting the bar low and you typically get what you expect. I see it differently. The bar is the same, but I am being realistic about what the Tigers face on the offensive line in 2012.

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Position Outlook: Clemson Offensive Line

May 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Offensive Line
Normally when you have 4 of 5 starters returning on the offensive line you would be doing cartwheels. However, when the one missing piece is your blind side (left) tackle and the current leader on the depth chart is a former walk on tight end with minimal experience things can get dicey real quickly. There’s not enough film on Phillip Price to give a definitive opinion, but the odds appear stacked against him.

The left side of the line has to be considered the weakest link with Price at tackle and Brandon Thomas at tackle and David Smith and Kalon Davis at guard. Smith has been hit or miss and Davis is a redshirt freshman coming off a back injury.

Position # Player Hgt Weight Class
LT 79 PHILLIP PRICE 6’5 300 SR
LT 63 Brandon Thomas 6’4 300 SO
LG 73 DAVID SMITH 6’5 315 SR
LG 67 Kalon Davis 6’4 345 FR
C 55 DALTON FREEMAN 6’5 285 JR
C 62 Mason Cloy 6’3 295 SR
RG 74 ANTOINE MCCLAIN 6’5 330 SR
RG 54 Matt Sanders 6’6 320 JR
RT 72 LANDON WALKER 6’6 310 SR
RT 70 Gifford Timothy 6’6 335 FR

 

The center position appears strong and deep with Dalton Freeman and Mason Cloy entrenched.

On the right side Antoine McClain is officially backed up by Matt Sanders, but the guess is that Freeman would move to guard and Cloy would play center if necessary. Landon Walker is solid at right guard, but is backed up by redshirt freshman Gifford Timothy.

In an area where it’s not a question of if injuries occur but rather when will they occur the line appears to be paper-thin. While you have long time starters in Freeman and Walker along with experienced players Smith and Cloy, you also have the aforementioned former walk-on tight end as a starter and two players in Davis and Timothy who haven’t played a down of college football along with the seldom used Matt Sanders. Hoping that no one is injured is not a good strategy.

The Tigers signed 4 offensive linemen in February, but none enrolled early and none stand out as likely to play as a true freshman, though Spencer Region was offered by at least 5 SEC schools and has good size.

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