Following the dismissal of Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden this week, the Tigers will be disorganized and reeling when they host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
We were all set to attach a higher rating to the Yellow Jackets in this one before the Tommy Bowden departure caused that Monday market stir, but in this range it still holds up, particularly since Bowden’s dismissal adds an element of disorganization to a struggling Tiger team that did not need such a distraction.
The Clemson problem was really one of expectations that were set too high, which we focused on in turning that Alabama ticket against them in the opener (in retrospect, isn’t it shocking to have been able to take an underdog price on a neutral field between the teams?) and our NCAA ”Verities and Balderdash” column back on September 2nd. There were some decent skill players in the offensive backfield but the line in front of them was woefully inexperienced. Because of this they have never been able to get untracked on that side of the ball, and there is little reason to expect anything to get better – they have used five different OL combinations in six games, without a senior in the main mix, and only C Thomas Austin has started every game at the same position.
Now Cory Lambert, who has started at two different positions already, looks like he will not be able to start this week, forcing freshman Antoine McClain, formerly the back-up at RT, to start at RG, where his 6-5/325 frame does not make him a natural fit. You can not build chemistry through all of these changes, and an aggressive Georgia Tech defense front can dominate the line of scrimmage throughout in this one.
The OL is only the beginning of the problems on offense this week. After the dismal offensive showing in the loss at Wake Forest, Bowden announced that he was benching veteran Cullen Harper in favor of the inexperienced but more mobile Willy Korn, and then the fireworks began. The comments from Harper on Monday afternoon were most blunt.
"It's what he deserved. I'd call it karma. I thought it needed to be done. I think anytime a head coach or someone in a leadership position starts to place blame on his coaches and players, it weakens their respect on the team. His past experiences have shown he's done that."
When a veteran team leader is benched it not only causes that reaction, but a ripple effect through the other players as well, but new head man Dabo Swinney has indicated that it will still be Korn at QB. Not only does the freshman have that struggling OL in front of him, but there will also not be the comfort of having C. J. Spiller to carry the ball either. With both Bowden and offensive coordinator Rob Spence gone it is a most muddled situation, with even the stances of the linemen being changed this week by position coach Brad Scott. It is a recipe for major struggles vs. this class of defense.
Meawnhile we also focused on the Georgia Tech ground game in another ”Verities and Balderdash” column, as Paul Johnson’s schemes have worked quite well based on having mobile QB’s in Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw, talented runners in Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones, and a big and physical WR corps that has done an excellent job of down-field blocking, and in the case of 6-3/229 Demaryius Thomas of catching the ball as well (18 receptions for 359 yards).
There is no reason to be concerned with last week’s sluggish showing vs. Gardner-Webb, when Nesbitt and Shaw were both held out to cure minor ailments (each had practiced during the week), and a team that has produced the season-high in rush yards allowed vs. every lined opponent so far this season has a chance to do it again, in a game in which their own defense should provide them with plenty of field position.
Free Pick: Georgia Tech -2 (-110)