2011 Pre Orange Bowl Linebacker Participation
by FIGUREFOUR on Dec 27, 2011 7:00 AM EST
in FUTBAW
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PrintThe linebacker position is one that has been under scrutiny all season. Today we look at participation numbers for the Tigers at this position prior to the '12 Orange Bowl. All statistics were found at www.clemsontigers.com. You'll notice through the tables and figure below that Clemson had a very limited linebacker rotation this season, as only four (4) players logged a reasonably high number of snaps on the year. These players (Hawk, Tig, Christian, and Anthony) accounted for almost 93% of the snaps taken by this group. The good news is that all of these players should return for the 2012 campaign. The bad news is that there is little experience behind these four players.
|
# |
Player |
POS |
Cl. |
Total |
|
42 |
LB |
Jr. |
653 |
|
|
46 |
Jonathan Willard |
LB |
*Jr. |
614 |
|
34 |
LB |
*So. |
402 |
|
|
12 |
LB |
Fr. |
247 |
|
|
33 |
LB |
*So. |
48 |
|
|
7 |
LB |
Fr. |
36 |
|
|
8 |
Justin Parker |
LB |
So. |
33 |
|
41 |
LB |
Sr. |
28 |
|
|
39 |
LB |
Sr. |
3 |
|
|
20 |
LB |
Fr. |
3 |
We discussed our thoughts on Steward and Townsend in a previous article, saying that Townsend definitely should have redshirted and the coaches expected Steward to play early but wasn't ready then was injured halfway through the season. Stephone Anthony came on as the season progressed and will start consistently next season.
The biggest shocker of the group was Parker. JP came to Clemson with big, big expectations that have not panned out to date. He should have redshirted last season and is now halfway through his CU career with very few snaps to his credit. Further, Parker's participation was limited to Troy (4 snaps), Wofford (12 snaps), UNC (7 snaps), SC (6 snaps), and the second Va Tech (4 snaps) contest.
Clemson loses Andres and Memaras through graduation, leaving the Tigers with four experienced players, three highly sought after high school backers, and utility man Spencer Shuey. Clemson should have the talent to be successful as a group next season assuming some of the current freshman players and/or Parker can prove to add quality depth behind the big four.
Below is a class by class breakdown of how this season's snap count has played out.
|
Class |
Snaps |
% of Snaps |
|
Fr. |
286 |
13.84% |
|
So. |
483 |
23.37% |
|
Jr. |
1267 |
61.30% |
|
Sr./Gr. |
31 |
1.50% |
|
Total |
2067 |
100.00% |
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Comments
Seems to be one position that we are safe from the graduation bug
I look for Anthony to continue and improve and start next year. Hopefully Steward comes back fully healthy physically and mentally. Townsend and BJ Goodson should be helpful for us as well.
Based on production, all had terrible years
And Steele is directly responsible at this position. He has Parker two years and he had just 100 snaps or so total? Hawkins leads the snap total again? Christian regresses? All on him and he should see his scheme is too much when youngsters get worse the more they play.
by DrB on Dec 27, 2011 9:36 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I thought that Anthony got better as the year grew
based on him starting more games and being a factor in them. Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t he the only LB that recorded a scak this year?
Any Flight Risks here?
Outside looking in one would think Parker would certainly consider moving on where PT is available…
"Just because you've had 2 or 3 good games doesn't mean anything right now. It's not the first 3 games you're going to be remembered by." - The Chad
Never even heard of Demaras
Walk on?
Also, is there any chance we slap a redshirt on Steward to get him all the way healthy next year? I think we did something similar with Kourtnei Brown.
by PenthouseTiger on Dec 27, 2011 10:22 AM EST reply actions
We are
but “Medical Hardships” and actual redshirts are mutually exclusive, you still have the ability to redshirt any player who hasn’t taken one yet.
by PenthouseTiger on Dec 27, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
Ahh didn't know that
I too think we should bring it up to him if he’s still not 100 percent.
I wonder if next year's LBs and DBs can make up for the DL losses
Granted LB play hasn’t been a strength of late, but there is some talent there. It’ll be good to return virtually all of the secondary plus Blanks and Davis. I hope that they can pick up the slack but I’m worried about our run defense next year. Shatley is going to have to man up big-time.
by judge jeff davis on Dec 27, 2011 11:33 AM EST reply actions
You see Shatley starting next year?
I think he gets passed by by a younger player and continues to provide servicable snaps at the two deep. He’s too slow in my opinon.
I agree with this assessment. I dont see shatley as ever being a starter
just a serviceable backup
He definitely may get passed
I just assumed since he had the most snaps of any returning player he’d start, but I’d love for someone better to emerge. I hope Watkins is ready to start as a true freshman, and I hope we can land Bullard so we might could move some people inside (i.e. Goodman). It’ll be interesting to see if Dodd can come in and contribute or if the light bulb will ever come on for Josh Watson. I have my doubts about Watson, though. DeShawn Williams and Grady Jarrett are probably going to get alot of reps, and I’m excited to see how good Jarrett can become.
I’d also like to see Tavaris Barnes find his way into the rotation somewhere, too.
by judge jeff davis on Dec 27, 2011 12:30 PM EST reply actions
Williams and Jarrett look like better run stoppers
Not really seeing a lot of speed from them but at least in the ACCCG I liked what I saw from both. Williams stayed in his lanes, occupied the OG/C and made tackles by getting off blocks. I remember one time when Jarrett was right in Thomas’s face and would have got a sack if Thomas didn’t throw it away. I too look for Wakins and hopefully Bullard to come in prepared but I like what I’ve seen and heard about Lawson and Akien. Le’t also not forget about Crawford, he’s going to be a very very good DE very soon. I remember against UNC he could have had back to back sacks.TFL but couldn’t finish the tackle.
I know we have some stud linebackers, but I honestly think we are going to see 5 DB's on the field more and more.
It just seems as though we see a lot of teams who play with 3 and 4 receivers, and that seems to necessitate taking out a LB, and inserting another DB.
"Clemson is coming!" - Stephone Anthony
by Tigerplowboy on Dec 27, 2011 1:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions
We don't have to do we?
I thought that we still have the option of leaving three LBs on the field but Steele doens’t trust them in pass coverage on the TE/WR that we may see.
We don't have to, but we might be better off with more DB's if the other team is going 3 or 4 wide.
Just don’t think there are many LB’s who will be able to cover a WR. Maybe someone like Lateek? Heard some thought he was more suited to safety.
"Clemson is coming!" - Stephone Anthony
by Tigerplowboy on Dec 27, 2011 2:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't know about that
Unless we’re playing a team with fast WR I think our LBs are athletic enough to hang with them. Look at VT. We played press coverage because we simply weren’t afraid of their WRs. They’re good, but not fast enough to get away from our secondary. Not saying that our LBs are as good as our DBs but I do think that Teek might do well in coverage and he likes to lay the wood. He’s too reckless right now though and he would proably get burned a bit.
We wouldnt if we played more zone coverage
Man coverage, gotta go nickel
by DrB on Dec 27, 2011 3:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
%
what would you suspect is the % MTM vs Zone we play under Steele? He seems to be playing more MTM the past two years or am I mistaken?
So Lorenzo Ward is in as DC at SCAR
Any thoughts? This can’t be seen as anything other than a step down IMO.
by judge jeff davis on Dec 27, 2011 5:55 PM EST reply actions
Agreed
He used to be the secondary coach and they pulled him off of safeties this year so that he could focus on cornerbacks, which to me shows a lack of confidence. Just proves that there weren’t any good options out there that could be gotten for an affordable price.
by PenthouseTiger on Dec 27, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
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