Coach Speak 101

By: Roy Philpott

With the start of fall practice just 48 hours away, it's time to take a closer look at what really matters most ... you know ... "coach speak."

"Coach speak" is the generic answer to a question that is likely asked 10,000 times over the course of a coaching year. For example, the following questions would be a good example of what would prompt "coach speak."

"Coach, your schedule sets up for you very nicely this year. Would you rather open with a nationally ranked opponent or a team that's not expected to be very good?"

"Coach, how important is senior leadership to this year's team?"

"Coach, what are your goals for two-a-days?

Don't get me wrong, coach speak is absolutely necessary. There are only so many different ways you can ask a coach how the second team right tackle is doing against the third team defensive end. At some point, a coach has to be able to dip into his bag of generic answers and cliches to provide the media with something worth-while to print.

"Coach speak" is also something that is heard all the time. From press conferences to offseason booster club meetings, every coach has his own style of delivering coach speak.

Some do it with complete seriousness. (N.C. State's Tom O'Brien)

Some do it with humor. (Tommy Bowden)

Others do it by being uncomfortably abrupt. (Steve Spurrier)

"Coach speak" is nothing short of coach speak. Some times it has meaning. Most of the time, however, it doesn't.

With that being said, here are the top 10 things you can expect to hear during the first week of fall practice. Not just at Clemson. Not just at South Carolina. Not just in the ACC ... everywhere:

10. COACH SPEAK ON CONDITIONING: "This is the best condition we've ever been in as a football team. Our offseason workouts have gone as well as they've ever had. Our strength and conditioning coaches have really done an outstanding job."

9. COACH SPEAK ON DEFENSE: "Right now our defense is a little ahead of the offense, which is what you expect this time of year. We had guys flying around the ball out there today. Of course, that's what you want to see during the first week of practice. It's what you expect."

8. COACH SPEAK ON ONE GAME AT A TIME: "We can't go looking ahead to our conference schedule. We can't take [INSERT TYPICAL SEASON-OPENER-CREAM-PUFF HERE] for granted. They return a lot of experienced starters this year. We absolutely have to take it one game at a time."

7. COACH SPEAK ON THE RUNNING GAME: "We have to be able to run the ball better this year and we have to be able to stop the run. That's going to be one of our biggest keys if we want to win the conference."

6. COACH SPEAK ON TURNOVERS: "We've really put an emphasis on creating more turnovers this year. We need to gang tackle and fly around the football."

5. COACH SPEAK ON SPECIAL TEAMS: "We've got to get better on special teams. Last season that really hurt us in a couple of games and we can do better. We've put in some new schemes and personnel which will hopefully make a difference."

4. COACH SPEAK ON EXPECTATIONS: "We've got a chance to be a better football team this year and that's going to be the thing I'm looking for the most ... improvement. From week to week I expect this football team to improve. As long as we do that, the wins and losses will take care of themselves."

3. COACH SPEAK ON TOUGHNESS: "I really challenged our football team today. We had a lackluster morning practice so I told them we were going to come out in the afternoon and HIT. And that's what we did. We have to be tougher as a football team if we expect to compete for a conference championship."

2. COACH SPEAK ON JOB SECURITY: "When you take a job like this you are always on the hotseat. You know that coming in. That's the nature of the profession. People expect you to win and win now so I'm used to it."

1. COACH SPEAK ON SENIOR LEADERSHIP: "You have to have guys step up in terms of leadership. We have to have guys who are going to be accountable. I think we have a good group of senior leaders on this team."

So remember, when you hear comments like what you've just read, it's really just coach speak. It doesn't mean your team is great. It doesn't mean your team is sorry. It doesn't mean there are more questions than what you thought entering fall practice.

It's just coach speak.

The Next Step

By: Roy Philpott

One of the popular topics of discussion this time of year has to do with the proverbial hot seat.

Who's on it? Who's off it? You've likely had the discussion around the water cooler yourself. We've had in on our message boards here at CUTigers.com and also on our morning show on 104.9 FM The Drive.

Many national publications have chosen to list Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden on the hot seat, claiming he's done less with more talent than any coach this side of the Mississippi.

And while it's easy to jump on that bandwagon, I think it is important to point out Bowden has maintained a very specific level of above average performance on the football entering his ninth seasons.

Note I said, "above average."

He's led the Tigers to bowl eligibility in each of his eight seasons as head coach. No other Clemson coach has ever done that. He's beaten nationally ranked powers Florida State (three of the last four years), Texas A&M, Miami, Tennessee and Colorado.

He's also had strange losses to Wake Forest and Duke and narrowly missed playing in the ACC Championship game in both 2005 and '06.

Strictly talking about on-the-field results- it hasn't been great, but it hasn't been bad either.

Off the field, Bowden has helped lead the program back to respectability from a facilities standpoint while also greatly improving its recruiting efforts, especially the last three years.

In summary, one could argue Bowden has actually brought the program back to where it hasn't been in nearly 15 years.

That’s right.

The talent on this team is as great as it's been since the early days of ~gasp~ Ken Hatfield (with Danny Ford’s recruits mind you). The speed on this team is reminiscent of the late 1980’s. The facilities are once again moving towards the top of the conference.

Maybe many of the fans reading this blog don't remember, but it's been a while since the Tigers have been in the position they are in right now- having the combination of talent, facilities and coaching all in place at the same time. Even the schedule sets up nicely- with the four toughest games (FSU, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Wake Forest) all at home.

And with the talent returning this year, even with concerns at quarterback and possibly the offensive line, this team has the capability to at least get to the ACC championship game.

And to me, that is the next step for this football program: getting to Jacksonville.

Playing in the ACC Championship game.

Competing for a BCS bid.

Notice I didn't even say, "win the ACC." I'm talking about just getting there.

Think about it like this: since Dec. 1998, the first month Tommy Bowden was the coach at Clemson, he has improved recruiting. He has helped improve facilities. He has owned his arch-rival (winning six out of eight games). He has also stockpiled talent and put together a coaching staff that is more than capable of leading this program back to the top of the conference, if not higher.

If you are looking for the very next step this program has to take to show improvement- that is it. Get to the championship game. Compete for the opportunity to play in the BCS.

Sure, I'll be the first to admit Jacksonville in December doesn't get me all that excited. But Jacksonville in December getting ready to cover the ACC Championship game against Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech or Miami has some juice behind it, especially when you consider Clemson hasn’t won an ACC Championship since 1991. That’s right – 16 years.

Just get there.

Only a handful of points have separated Clemson from this "next step" the last two seasons. Now is the time to get there. Now is the time to take the next step.

2007 DL Preview

By: Roy Philpott

In looking at Clemson's defensive line entering the start of fall practice it's hard not to get excited. Even after losing last year's ACC Defensive Player of the Year in end Gaines Adams, this year's front four has the chance to be just as productive if not more so than last season's group.

That's not to suggest there isn't room for improvement, because there is, but certainly enough returning talent exists for his unit to become something very special.

Keep in mind, it will be important for Clemson's front seven to get more pressure on the quarterback this year. While Adams was effective doing so last season, there were games against Boston College, Maryland,and South Carolina where opposing quarterbacks sat in the pocket and picked the Tigers' zone scheme apart because they had all day to throw the ball.

In addition, with young corners taking over in the secondary, a strong pass rush becomes especially important.

Here's a quick look at the two-deep depth chart headed into the start of practice Saturday afternoon:

DE: Phillip Merling, Jamie Cumbie
Merling, a 6-5, 270 pound junior end is widely viewed as one of the up-and-coming players in the league and could also be poised to take over a leadership role on defense this season. Unlike Gaines Adams a year ago, Merling isn't afraid to get in your face if feels you aren't doing your job. His stats last year, which included 46 total tackles, 10 for loss and three sacks, should all increase in 2007. Sophomore Jamie Cumbie had one of the best offseasons of any defensive player on the team and should become a quality backup.

NG: Dorrell Scott, Antwon Murchison
6-3, 305 pound noseguard Dorrell Scott is one of the most underrated players on the team. A run-stuffing force in the middle, Scott returns for his junior year with plenty of experience under his belt. The staff has been hoping for more from Murchison, but he's still a redshirt sophomore.

DT: Rashaad Jackson, Jock McKissic
Tommy Bowden said Jackson was "unblockable" at times during spring practice ... what more do you need to know? True, he'll need to show that same dominance this fall, but at 6-3, 290 pounds and with his non-stop motor Jackson could be in store for a breakout year. Jock McKissic (6-6, 295) is more than a capable backup who would likely start for most teams in the league.

BE: Ricky Sapp, Kwam Williams
Sapp, a former 5-star prospect steps into the massive shoes of Gaines Adams this season. The bandit end position in defensive coordinator Vic Koenning's scheme is seemingly built for a player with his skills. He's a natural pass rusher who can also has enough speed to easily move in coverage situations. At around 245 pounds, he's also added the necessary weight to become a force rushing the passer. While he needs to prove his ability on the field this fall, Ricky Sapp's future on the field looks bright. Kwam Williams is a serviceable backup who get more playing time than many suspect considering he's a senior and he's also taken on a leadership role this offseason.

FRESHMEN: Miguel Chavis, Kourtnei Brown
The future continues to look bright on the defensive line with incoming freshmen Miguel Chavis and Kourtnei Brown, both of who could see the field this season. Chavis, who spent a year in prep school will most certainly play, while Brown, who has the physique of an upperclassman will also get a hard look. Look for Chavis to provide depth inside while Brown will likely see playing time at bandit end. Jarvis Jenkins is another candidate to play early as a tackle, pending his progress during fall practice.