Texas A&M @ Clemson

[JDogg1777]

I kinda overlooked this one when I first put my card together, was wondering what most of you guys on here think about this game. When I first looked at this game I thought the spread would be A&M -3 or -4, I understand that Clemson is historically a tough place to play but I still don't see how this Clemson bunch will be able to pull this one out. The Aggies return 18 starters this year including 9 on offense , Clemson returns 7 on offense and 6 on the defensive side of the ball. The Aggies have QB Reggie Mcneal who appears to be ready for a breakout season, while the Tigers return QB Charlie Whitehurst who in my mind has been a disappointment after all the hype he has recieved over his career. The aggies beat Clemson last year at home 27-6, which was the first of three straight road loses at the beginning of last year for Clemson. With that said, A&M was only 2-4 both straight up and ATS on the road last year, including an embarrasing loss at Baylor. So what do you guys think about this one???

 

[ElIguana]

jdogg, I lean toward A&M, but it's a no-play for me. aTm appears to be ready to vie for the Big XII South title, but as you pointed out they did not travel well. Remember their arse kicking in Utah and Tennessee humidifying them in their bowl game?

Last September the home teams really showed up. I think aTm is the better team, but I would not be surprised at all to see Clemson win at home. GL

 

[DeathEatsaCracker]

When the spreads were first released, A&M was gettng 1 1/2, but now it's down to even. I suspect that it will be close to -3 by kickoff. This is definitely a play for me all the way to -6.

 

[PokerKingJim]

No play for me. Tough to get a read on Clemson and Whitehurst especially. I thought A&M along with McNeil was a little overvalued last year and I made some nice ching fading them in certain spots. I really could see this one going either way, will be a fun one to watch. :toast:

 

[JARBrigger]

Aggies

This is a very tough game to predict -- of course the first game of the year usually is! Everything I've read/heard says ATM is ready to contend for the B12 South, but I'm going to wait until I see them play before I'm willing to make that claim. I like what Coach Fran is doing and has definitely rejuvenated the program, but this is definitely a no bet game for me. These two teams seems to be a couple of the biggest mysteries -- you never know which team is going to show up!

FYI - ATM lost one of their starting WRs (L'Tydrick Riley) during their Saturday scrimmage. He's out for the year.

 

[ramdaddy]

Lean towards A&M, which is saying something since I absolutely hate them, but I am laying off. Too early for me. I think they win by 10+, but first game of the year, on the road, fairly tough place to play. I like the fact they have the experienced QB back and what should be a tough defense, but I will wait a game or two probably to feel them out.

 

[ramdaddy]

Who am I kidding? I will be betting it.

 

[Ego74]

Got some of this from the Ft. Worth newspaper

Offensive line

Improving depth on the Texas A&M offensive line has created some interesting battles, and one of them could unseat a returning senior starter for the Sept. 3 opener at Clemson.

"You bet. That's very real," said coach Dennis Franchione, who has been emphatic throughout the off-season and fall camp about developing a stronger, quicker and more physical front line to help improve the rushing attack.

While Franchione continues to experiment with several positions along the line -- mostly with young, up-and-coming players -- there are two returning senior starters.

Franchione praised senior guard Aldo De La Garza's efforts in fall camp, but he took issue with tackle Jami Hightower's weight increase. The Aggies' most experienced lineman with 29 career starts, Hightower is listed at 6-foot-4, 355 pounds.

After missing the 2003 season with a staph infection, Hightower started all 12 games and had a solid 2004. But, after off-season shoulder surgery, Franchione is imploring Hightower to shed some pounds.

"He's had some good days and he's had some up-and-down days," said Franchione, who would not specify if Hightower is in jeopardy of losing his starting job. "Jamie is a smart football player. He doesn't make mistakes and he moves amazingly well for his size."

Franchione said the coaching staff will begin to solidify starting positions later this week.

WR Riley out for the year

Senior wide receiver L'Tydrick Riley suffered a season-ending knee injury during Saturday's practice, Dennis Franchione reported Monday. Franchione said he is still awaiting final word from team doctors, but he is near certain that Riley tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Riley, 6-2, 228, had a career-high 20 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown last season.

"That's a loss for our football team. He does a lot for us," Franchione said. "He plays on a lot of special teams, he's a good leader, a good worker. You can't help but miss L'Tydrick."

Position battles

riefly Sophomore junior-college transfer Marquis Carpenter is challenging for a starting spot at cornerback where the Aggies must replace two starters.

Carpenter is also in the mix for returning punts, along with redshirt freshman Jordan Chambless. Receivers DeQawn Mobley, Jason Carter, Kerry Franks and tailback Courtney Lewis are in the mix for kickoff returns.

True freshman running back Jorvorskie Lane, a compact 235-pounder, is battling to open the season as the backup tailback.

 

[Ego74]

Clemson Notes

D-Line

With each passing day, there seems to be more and more talk about how some members of the Clemson football coaching staff is disappointed with the depth and play on the defensive line.

Bowden said that the defense did not tackle well, an area he cited as needing improvement.

On another note of interest, defensive lineman Chris McDuffie has been moved from defensive tackle to offensive tackle, due to a lack of depth at the offensive tackle position.

Special Teams

Bowden talked about the state of his special teams with the media after the second practice. "Nic Riddle has done a good job as a snapper. He and Colin Leonard have both been consistent. We feel comfortable with both. Cole Chason has done a good job as the holder and I think we have found a backup with Tyler Grisham. He has good hands and he gives us more options from a fake standpoint. But those kickers are like a clan, they hang around with each other and have faith in each other." Chason serves as the holder in addition to serving as Clemson's starting punter.

The kickoff return job is up for grabs. This has been an area of extreme success for Clemson the last few years thanks to the athletic ability of Justin Miller and Derrick Hamilton. Clemson has ranked in the top 10 in the nation in kickoff returns each of the last four years, including a top five ranking each of the last three years.

Notes from Saturday's scrimmage

Five Clemson tailbacks combined for 209 yards rushing and Charlie Whitehurst was 13 of 23 passing for 86 yards in the Tigers' scrimmage Saturday afternoon.

Clemson's defense allowed just one touchdown, and the offense, which gained 558 yards, didn't turn the ball over.

"There were positives on either side of the ball," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "We didn't lose a turnover for the second straight scrimmage and that was a plus. We came close to a couple of turnovers on defense and we obviously need to create turnovers."

Bowden said Clemson was last in the nation in turnover margin when the Tigers started 1-4 last season.

New coordinators on both sides of the balll

So far, Bowden has been pleased with the input of the new systems that is being orchestrated by new coordinators Rob Spence (offense) and Vic Koenning (defense).

Spence is "very businesslike and that can never be a bad thing," redshirt senior quarterback Charlie Whitehurst said. The veteran signal caller said he thinks the new offense will work out better.

"If we trust what's going on, good things will happen," Whitehurst offered. He also complimented highly publicized wide receiver recruits Tyler Grisham and Rendrick Taylor, saying, "Guys in the past that have played as true freshmen were not near as mentally into it and I think they#,re on the right track." Both Grisham and Taylor have been projected to avoid a redshirt.

Bowden said there are no clear-cut starters at cornerback, linebacker or defensive line. "Guys need to surface and separate," he said, "and they haven't."

Chris Clemons and Sergio Gilliam are the two main contenders for the starting cornerback spot opposite St George native Tye Hill.

Bowden said his team is gearing its focus toward the Sept. 3 opener at home with Texas A&M.

He listed his goals for the game as "minimizing turnovers, tackling their quarterback better than we did last year, not dropping some of the balls last year that we did against them and a high level of execution and effort. If we do that, then we'll have a very good chance of being successful."

 

[AlwaysKeen]

a no play for me as well, but it should be a fun one to watch...

 

[mws]

Clemson's inconsistency is a reflection of the head coach. He can't inspire the players. He seems to have difficulty connecting with them. Bowden needs coordinators like Rodriguez who can light a fire under the team. This team has more talent on offense than the 2000 team that tore it up (averaging 42 points per game during an 8-0 start until Dantzler got hurt), so it's really going to come down to the difference that Spence makes, if any. Surely, he can't be as milquetoast as O'Cain, but I'm not sure he has the right personality, either. Clemson could win this one by 30 if they come out ready to play. Or Bowden's team could come out flat and lose by 30. This one is pretty unpredictable, but I am making a small play on the home team with the better defense.

 

[Proman]

Agree with the other "No Play" Posts. These 2 teams are very inconsistent.

To close to call.

 

[Budworth22]

No Play

NO PLAY

 

[funkyc]

A&M dominated the lines last year in their matchup. Since they return 4 of 5 on offense and 3 of 4 on defense, I would assume they will do the same again this year. Clemson has also been talking up their lack of defensive depth though A&M has lost two receivers so far.

Whitehurst may bounce back this year but if, like last year, A&M doesn't have to blitz to get pressure, he will be unable to take advantage of a vulnerable secondary. Clemson's offense will go as far as their line will take them. I'm not sure how improved it will be but a new offense may also bring growing pains. A&M can be beat through the air for sure though.

McNeal had a much easier time last year. Clemson's undersized line may also have trouble stopping the Aggie running attack which was simply brutal last year. But word is Courtney Lewis is healthy again. With Clemson's lack of depth in the secondary, they will need to put pressure on McNeal and I'm not sure their d-line can do that.

Clemson is just depending too heavily on true freshmen and new systems on both sides of the ball. A&M is a program on the rise. The question is can Fran bring them ready to play like at OSU last year or if they come out like the UT game. I think a lot of their key players are older though so I'd vote for the latter. Really, after looking at this game, I'd be surprised if its close.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

mws...good post...

 

[mws]

FunkyC - A&M did dominate at the LOS last year vs. Clemson, and Clemson's OL has been a weakness during the whole Bowden era. That could repeat itself this year. There were extenuating circumstances for the defensive line last year, however, and the chances of the Aggies running successfully this year are slim to none. Don't forget that Clemson played A&M the week after Clemson's most traumatic loss since the puntrooski game in '88. One year's game does not necessarily predict the next, as Aggies should know better than anyone after that 30-26 win over OU was followed by a 77-0 loss the next year.

 

[Mjllomb]

Clemson. Fran is 2-9 in road games. Fran is overrated. Aggy sucks bad bad on the road. They lost 4 of their last 5 ending the season. Where is the momentum coming into this year? Clemson on the other hand is 11-12 at home in their last 12 games. Clemson ended up playing the 2nd half of the season very well. Whithurst had a great year 2 years ago. Last year, he had little time to operate behind an inconsistent line and little to no running game. Everyone keeps pointing at how aggy beat them last year, but playing @ Kyle is a different thing. Plus, RB Merriweather didn't play very much early on. Once he started to get his carries, the team started playing much better (see OT victory over Miami game last year) and he became a star. The line should be more consistent, and it all starts there. Aggy secondary is very young, as the oldest starter is a sophmore I believe (off the top of my head). Now that the line and merrieweather can take pressure off of whitehurst, I think he will have another great year. Aggy is very outmatched if and when Clemson decides to spread the offense out with 4 receivers, which they will probably do as OC Rob Spence comes in from Toledo. In a supposed coin flip game, go with the home team and the home field advantage. You may be forgetting the aggy homefield advantage and the big factor it was, and now don't disregard Death Valley and the potential factor it is. I personally don't think its a coin flip, as I see A&M losing by 10. Then again, I am not betting this game.


:drink:

 

[AlwaysKeen]

Mjlomb, excellent analysis...agree this is a coin-flip game...

 

[kbhirsch]

I like A&M. McNeal is one of the best QBs in college and doesn't get nearly enough pub. Not sure what the line is right now but I like A&M to win by a TD.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

really kbhirsch?...it will be a good game to watch...