Clemson Game 9

Poor Dabo Sweeny. His parents saddled him with a name that insured that he would get his lunch money highjacked, then stuffed in a locker with his underwear pulled up over his ears. He gets named to be Head Coach of a team whose quarterback and star running back had just verbally assaulted the prior administration. In his first game on the bench, his southern gentleman triple-named AD was seen pacing 10 yards behind him on the sidelines like a stalker, screaming like a 1850’s Dodge City hooker who did not get paid. Then this same bastion of sports administration tells poor abused Dabo that – “Although he was not in consideration for the permanent HC job at Clemson when he got named; IF he could pull out a few key wins down the stretch like FSU and South Carolina – he would be considered”. Gee thank you sir, can I freshen up that coffee for you?

Although we played the perfect host to young Thomas Bowden on more than one occasion when his paycheck was in jeopardy, we fortunately did not afford Mr. Dabo the same luxury.

I continue to be impressed with the progression of the offense. It still seems surreal to be looking up at that stats board every game and see the running numbers outpacing the passing yardage. I have to pinch my tailgate-filled midsection to remind myself that three true freshman are toiling out there with the two grizzled sophomores on that line that is averaging 205 yards a game on the ground. How is Trickett pulling off this miracle? Just for fun, spend some time watching Rodney Hudson road grade some boys this week. He will be up against two of the largest mobile land masses in the conference with BC’s two 325 lb plus defensive tackles. If he can make those two beefsteaks into jerky, we will blow their doors off.

Preston Parker has finally settled down and is playing consistent football. I have no doubt that he thought this season was his last in Tallahassee, but with the body of work that he has laid down in ’08, I think he may now be back in ’09 – so his slow start this year may to be to our benefit. It was also good to see Corey Surrency have a few grabs including an electric middle screen for a TD. True, his dreads scored a full yard before he did when he got bumped at the one, but it was nice to see nonetheless. I think it can be said by even a casual observer that we are a better football team with Jermaine Thomas running the ball over #6. His vision, cutback ability and quickness to the hole are simply better than Antone’s. The one area he has to improve is his pass/ blitz protections. Even if Christian does not put him in the right spot to pick up the extra man, he has to find a way to slide over and slow that angry, Listerine-needing, odiferous opponent down. He can shower later.

Memo to me…Everette Brown is pretty good.

All of you need to send man-baiting Hiliary missives to our future opposing team offensive coordinators daring them to try and single team #99. Tell them they do not have enough testosterone in their traveling Drug & HGH kit to stop him with only one Offensive Tackle. Maybe they will take the bait and try it. Clemson and Virginia Tech did. Six sacks, another half dozen knockdowns and a whirlpool full of QB pain later, they got their answer. Everette Brown is pretty good.

I do not think we will see many more single teams for this young man. Sooo, Neefy – rhymes with beefy – better get greedy, and make some QB’s needy. I would also guess that double teams on the outside should free up Paul Griffen and Bud Thacker for some more splash plays from the interior as well as pave some lanes for inside LB blitzes. We will see.

Speaking of LB’s, Dakota Watson had his best game since his Jacksonville return, and he continues to deserve mad props for his ingenious thought to stuff his left arm with skunk entrails and possum guts. He has successfully got opposing ball carriers scurrying to the sidelines when they are not going down in a olfactory heap at his feet. Sure, it looks to the layman like he just laid out a guy with a massive hit, but the genius is in the details.

We still need to see some more of these young LB’s getting quality snaps this season. Kendall Smith, Nigel Bradham and Vince Williams need to get a series or two every game. Knowing that we are without potential Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle for the first half of the Maryland game, we need to keep an eye on his potential replacement this week as well.

Since BC joined the conference, this will be their second trip to Tallahassee (third ever) and for the second consecutive time, the game will be a marketing Blackout. Their players must think this is all we do at every home game. Let’s hope the results of this years tribute to the Unconquered Seminole Tribe goes better than the last BC visit for the home team…

Go Noles!