Young Clemson linebackers have to step up

By Bob Wilson  |   Friday, September 08, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Clemson Tigers
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Prior to the start of the season, linebacker was thought to one of the strengths of the Clemson Tigers. Now, after only one game played, two of the three starters are injured and the position has become muddied.

Anthony Waters joined Tramaine Billie on the sidelines after tearing his ACL in the victory over Florida Atlantic, marring an otherwise nice start to the season. Now, junior Nick Watkins, the least heralded of the original starting 'backers, is suddenly the veteran presence. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound weakside linebacker played well last week and has proved his worth as a steady performer last season. However, the Tigers have lost two of their top three playmakers on defense (Gaines Adams being the other) in Waters and Billie. The other defenders will all have to step up their play a notch or two to try and make up for the losses.

Antonio Clay was slotted to replace Billie last week in the starting lineup, but missed practice time to attend the funeral of his sister. Junior Maurice Nelson saw a lot of action as the strongside linebacker in his place, although both played. Nelson's increased playing time against FAU could be very important for his confidence if Clay moves back to middle linebacker. If that ends up being the case, Nelson would become a starter.

Coach Tommy Bowden is being very coy about who will start against Boston College this week. The school released a depth chart that shows Clay moving back to middle linebacker as the new starter there and Nelson stepping up on the strong side. However, reports out of practice have been conflicting. There are rumors that redshirt freshman Kavell Conner and sophomore Cortney Vincent are taking the majority of the snaps in the middle, with Conner looking like the probable starter. Clay has made no secret that he sees himself as a middle linebacker, but Bowden is being very tight-lipped with the media.

Wherever Clay plays, it is clear that untested defenders will be getting a lot of playing time in the road opener. True freshman Jeremy Campbell is listed as second string on the strong side. Sophomore Josh Miller is next in line behind Watkins. Miller was considered a recruiting coup for Clemson and a lot is expected of him, but he has primarily played on special teams and has seen limited work at linebacker so far in his young career. While the Tiger linebackers are young and a little wet behind the ears, they are athletic.

Waters' enthusiasm will be missed on the field, but the senior is making the trip to B.C. and will be on the sideline cheering on his teammates. While the offense has the ball, he will likely be counseling his young replacements and firing up his fellow linebackers.

The defensive line will need to step up, too. Last year the Tiger defense was pushed around by the more physical B.C. offensive line. The group played well last week, but must show that it can do it on the road against a quality opponent. Fortunately, the main issue with the line was depth at the end positions. True freshman Ricky Sapp and Jaime Cumbie both looked like seasoned veterans in Week 1 and demonstrated why they were so highly recruited.

If the front seven can elevate its play and do so within the system, Clemson should be just fine this week. Waters will be missed and probably is irreplaceable, but the defense has enough young players that it can shuffle in and out of the lineup to hold B.C. in check.

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