Clemson passing attack still needs improving

By Bob Wilson  |   Thursday, October 12, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Clemson Tigers
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The Clemson Tigers need to get their passing game clicking this week against Temple. Sure, they have been winning behind a bruising run game and suffocating defense, but the team may need to throw the ball down the field to win a game late at some point this season.

Will Proctor had looked great coming into the game with Wake Forest. He had shown poise in the pocket, an accurate arm and the smarts to know when to tuck the ball and run with it. However, he did not play well against the Demon Deacons.

The first-year starter looked like a player with only a handful of games under his belt for the opening three quarters. He had two awful interceptions where he seemingly didn't see the defenders and just lobbed the ball right to them. A third interception was the result of a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. Proctor pulled it together in the fourth quarter, however, and hit Aaron Kelly in stride for a nice scoring play to help pull Clemson back in the game.

The Tigers also lost another starting wide receiver in last week's game. After losing Chansi Stuckey in practice last week, Rendrick Taylor went down mid-game, possibly for the year. Kelly played well in their absence and will need to continue picking up his game. Fellow sophomore Tyler Grisham will also be called upon to make more of a contribution.

Bowden has hinted at the possibility of putting super-frosh running back C.J. Spiller in at the slot receiver position in the coming games -- in an effort to get the best 11 players on the field at once. Jacoby Ford will also get more time at the receiver position in the coming weeks. The freshman played well against the Demon Deacons and will only get better with more work. The two Florida natives would allow the offense to really stretch the field if they are both in the lineup.

Getting the tight ends more involved would be another wise decision. Thomas Hunter has looked like a capable receiver when given opportunities. Hunter could become a real weapon on third-down plays if the Tigers were to look his way more often.

Although Bowden's crew could probably win this week's game without attempting any passes, it might behoove them to work on the passing attack some. It would be nice for the inexperienced receivers to get some work in and allow Proctor to shake off last week's performance.

Clemson wants a confident quarterback going into its tilts with Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Original Clemson Tigers analysis, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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