Road to ACC crown just got tougher for Clemson

By Stephen Jerdan  |   Tuesday, September 12, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Clemson Tigers
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In Tommy Bowden's first six years as the head coach for the Clemson Tigers, he held a 6-0 record in games that extended into overtime. Now, in his eighth year at the helm, Bowden has fallen to 6-3, and the preseason hype surrounding the Tigers has been drastically muffled.

Expectations for the Tigers were sky high when they made the trip to Chestnut Hill this past weekend. After all, Boston College had delivered Clemson a devastating 13-10 overtime loss in Death Valley last year, and this was supposed to be the year that Bowden's bunch finally returned to the upper echelon of the ACC for the first time in 15 years.

Boston College had other ideas, however.

In a game loaded with offense, Clemson compiled an outstanding 479 offensive yards, while BC managed 322. Senior QB Will Proctor went 24-for-40 for 343 yards and two touchdowns in his first ever away-game start, and wideout Chansi Stuckey was undoubtedly the most consistent player of the game with 11 receptions for 124 yards.

Clemson's sophomore receivers had big days, as well. Tyler Grisham pulled down four passes for 51 yards and a score, and Aaron Kelly and Rendrick Taylor each had two receptions for 43 and 33 yards, respectively.

Running back James Davis had an outstanding day and rushed for 93 yards with two scores. His fellow back, freshman C.J. Spiller, proved invaluable, however. Spiller not only rushed for 31 yards on five carries, but he also had 82 receiving yards, 58 return yards and touchdown reception, and has swiftly become the Tigers' most valuable all-purpose player.

Despite Clemson's offensive attack that was indisputably giving Boston College's defense a laundry list of problems, the Tigers made numerous coaching and fundamental errors.

In several instances, including a situation where the Tigers had first-and-goal on the Eagles' three-yard line, Clemson was in place to add some points to the board, but failed to follow through. The Tigers also allowed Boston College to convert several third-and-long situations.

The biggest problem for the Tigers was not the inability to score points or stop the Eagles' offense, however. Clemson's special teams play proved abysmal throughout the day, and BC quickly took advantage of it.

The Eagles' freshman speedster, Jeff Smith, managed an absurd amount of kick return yards in his collegiate debut. Smith not only had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but he finished with 213 yards on only five returns - a 42.6-yard average.

Smith's outstanding performance as a kick returner didn't prove to be the only special teams woes for Clemson, however. In a dramatic play that proved to be the deciding factor of the game, Boston College blocked Tiger placekicker Jad Dean's extra point attempt in double overtime. The Eagles went on to tie the game with a touchdown, and then BC converted on the PAT to win the game.

To pour salt on the Tigers' wounds, Clemson also lost its third starting defender this season due to injury. Starting FS Michael Hamlin was lost for 6-8 weeks with a broken foot, and joins linebackers Anthony Waters, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear, and Tramaine Billie, who is out until midseason with a broken ankle, on Clemson's list of starters lost to injury.

Although this is only one ACC loss for Clemson, the shoddy special teams play and the injury to Hamlin have drastically shrunk the Tigers' chances at making an ACC Championship run. Florida State's conference schedule is about as easy as a conference schedule can get, and the Tigers will have to hope that Boston College can drop two games to ACC conference foes.

Even though Clemson must face Florida State this week, Tiger fans are still optimistic that their team can return home with a 2-1 record and remain an ACC Championship contender. Not only does Florida State appear weaker than average this year, but Clemson has also taken two of the last three games from Papa Bowden's Seminoles.

The road to the ACC crown just got tougher for Bowden and his Tigers, but all is not lost. With a continued effort from the Tigers' dominant offense and a positive response from the depth at defense, Clemson can still be very much in the race for an ACC Championship.

Get more Clemson Tigers insight at Realfootball365.com
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