New coordinators, new systems, big learning curve for Tigers

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Posted 5:33PM on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) With two new coordinators on board, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden accepts it'll take time to learn offensive and defensive systems. With No. 17 Texas A coming to Death Valley on Saturday night, Bowden knows the Tigers don't have time to wait for perfection. ``Yeah, the learning curve,'' Bowden said Tuesday. ``You don't want to use it as an excuse, but again you don't want to be naive'' about it. It's been an offseason of change and transition since Bowden hired Rob Spence to run the offense and Vic Koenning to lead the defense. Each was brought in to pep up a unit that got out of the gate far too slowly last season Clemson started 1-4 to suit anyone's taste. On offense, the problems were turnovers and dropped passes from a group that eventually finished averaging fewer than 300 yards a game for the first time in a decade. On defense, the concern was too many blown assignments and missed tackles. A lot of those came in a 27-6 loss at Texas A last fall, in which the Tigers gave up more than 300 yards rushing. ``We can't get embarrassed, give up that many yards again,'' defensive lineman Gaines Adams said. Still, Bowden realizes there's a vast difference between installing new schemes and excelling in them. And with a schedule that includes the Aggies, Maryland, Miami and Boston College by the end of September, things could get hairy if the Tigers take too long to get comfortable. ``The schedule is not very forgiving. There's not a lot of margin for error with who we play,'' Bowden said. If the Tigers had opened with a Division I-AA club or a lesser Division I school, they might have been able to test-drive their new schemes. ``There's some merit in those kind of games also,'' said Bowden, who starts his seventh year at Clemson. ``We don't have any of those. So we better be able to execute in this game and on down the line.'' Bowden said Spence's history is one of success. Last year, Spence's attack at Toledo was one of four programs Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Louisville were the others with more than 3,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing. Don't expect those numbers right away, Spence cautions. ``There has to be somewhat of a conservative approach early so we can feel our way,'' he said. One very large advantage is fifth-year quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Spence said his newest starting quarterback is a combination of intelligence, hard work and talent that should make things click that much faster. Bowden said odds are strong Whitehurst will perform more like his attention-grabbing season of 2003 (3,561 yards passing, 21 touchdowns) than his disappointing year of 2004 (2,067 yards, seven TDs). ``I don't think I gave him a good plan to be successful,'' Bowden said of Whitehurst. ``I think he's got a plan (now) to be successful.'' Koenning also came to Clemson with a strong resume. His group at Troy last fall held LSU to only 57 yards rushing in a 24-20 loss to the defending national champs. Troy's 32 forced turnovers ranked only behind Southern Cal in that stat category. Koenning said he's got to guard against putting too many expectations on the defense, particularly against Texas A The Aggies feature quarterback Reggie McNeal, who has made opposing defenses look bad for some time. If young, untested defensive backs like Sergio Gilliam or Chris Clemmons get beat deep, Koenning said he will fix what he can and run them back out there again. But ``we understand what the expectations are at Clemson,'' Koenning said. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)