Yesterday, we examined Clemson's field-goal woes over the last five years. No one knows what's going to happen in that area this year, but the Tigers could help matters by keeping the kickers on the sideline.
The best way to do that is to score touchdowns in the red zone.
As sort of an extension of the "TI Trends" series that ran earlier this summer, the focus of today's blog is how Clemson has fared in the red zone over the last five years compared with the rest of the ACC.
The ACC's official red-zone statistics chart merely the percentage of opportunities that are converted to scores, whether they be touchdowns or field goals. I would submit that the much more important statistic is how many red-zone opportunities resulted in touchdowns.
Virginia, for example, led the ACC's red-zone numbers last year by getting a touchdown or field goal on 93.3 percent of its red-zone opportunities (28 of 30). But when you consider the Cavaliers scored a touchdown on just 15 of their trips inside opponents' 20-yard line -- and when you consider that both their total red-zone trips (30) and their touchdowns scored were the lowest in the ACC -- their top red-zone ranking sort of loses its teeth.
Georgia Tech ranked 11th in the ACC's red-zone numbers last year, scoring on 80.6 of its opportunities. But the Yellow Jackets' rate of touchdowns -- 40 in 62 trips (64.5 percent) -- was solid.
I didn't realize how effective N.C. State was at cashing in with touchdowns until I saw the numbers. On 48 trips to the plus-20, the Wolfpack scored 35 touchdowns for a blistering rate of 72.9 percent.
(And N.C. State still stunk last year. Man, that defense was bad.)
As for Clemson, the Tigers ranked seventh last year in the ACC's red-zone numbers by scoring on 82.4 percent of their opportunities. They scored 28 touchdowns on 51 trips for a 54.9 percent clip.
The Tigers came up empty on seven occasions: Three on downs, two on interceptions, one on a fumble, and one on "other" (end of game, I'm assuming).
The offense had most of its red-zone problems early in the season against Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Boston College and TCU.
If the Tigers punch it in from inside the 5 early in the fourth quarter at Georgia Tech instead of settling for a field goal, maybe they win that game.
If they punch it in from inside the 10 on their first drive against TCU, maybe things are different. If they don't settle for a Richard Jackson field goal late -- a 34-yarder that missed -- maybe they end up beating the Horned Frogs.
Here's a look how the ACC stacks up on red-zone touchdown percentage over its five years as a 12-team conference:
1. Miami 58.2
2. Boston Collge 57.6
3. Clemson 57.1
4. Virginia Tech 55.8
5. N.C. State 55.4
6. Virginia 55.08
7. Georgia Tech 54.9
8. Duke 54.3
9. Wake 53.4
10. FSU 52.4
11. Maryland 52
12. UNC 50.8
Here's how Clemson's touchdown percentage in the red zone breaks down year-to-year:
2009: 54.9 (28 of 51)
2008: 53.4 (23 of 43)
2007: 61.1 (33 of 54)
2006: 61.1 (33 of 54)
2005: 55.1 (27 of 49)
Awful news for Boston College, which loses top returning receiver Colin Larmond for the season.
Larmond led the 2009 team in yards per catch (20.6) and was second in receptions (29), yards (596) and touchdowns (five).
Now the Eagles’ top receivers are Ifeanyi Momah, Clyde Lee, Johnathan Coleman, Billy Flutie (who missed Sunday’s scrimmage with an undisclosed injury) and freshman Bobby Swigert. They have caught a total of 24 passes in college between them.
At least the Eagles feel better about their QB situation than they did a year ago.
Shinskie, who got the bulk of playing time last season once healthy, came into camp the clear favorite and, judging by the way the reps were doled out yesterday and throughout camp, that hasn’t changed much. Shinskie went 14-for-19 for 116 yards with one interception off a tipped ball.
But Marscovetra is not making it easy on the coaching staff to settle on one guy. He had his best scrimmage, going 12-for-12 for 90 yards and a touchdown.
True freshman Chase Rettig got just one series and went 2-for-4 for 13 yards, while classmate Josh Bordner did not see any action.
“It’s solidifying itself, but we’ve got a few more days to go here. The pecking order of all four guys is (emerging),” Spaziani said.
Speaking of QB, it appears Wake Forest has found its man: Ted Stachitas.
And barring any serious injury or upheaval at that position between now and Sept. 2, Stachitas will start in the opener against Presbyterian. Coach Jim Grobe said it is so many words at this morning’s practice. The so many words were as follows:
“I would say certainly by the weekend we’ll have to have our guy ready to go, and it would have to change from what it is right now,’’ Grobe said. “Somebody would just really have to make a real move – either from the top down or the bottom up. It’s pretty solid right now.
In the AJC, Todd McShay doesn't rate Joshua Nesbitt on his list for the 2011 NFL Draft.
Trying to figure out how this is news. As good as the kid is in Paul Johnson's system, he can't throw. No one should be surprised that the NFL folks aren't interested.
Andrew Carter of The Orlando Sentinel evaluates Florida State's offense after August camp.
In Miami, Colin McCarthy has moved to middle linebacker. But LB coach Michael Barrow says it's not set in stone.
Ron Morris says Kyle Parker isn't ready for the NFL ... yet.
And Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail notes what a difference two years make with Parker and Willy Korn.
Two years ago, who’d have imagined this? Kyle Parker the next Clemson superstar, and Willy Korn battling for a starting job at Division II independent North Greenville?
Inconceivable, right?
Believe it.
Korn’s cult of personality has shifted to Parker, at least until he takes off for a pro baseball or football career.
Most of us did stupid things as teen-agers.
But few of us can match this guy's, um, ballsy confrontation with the cops.
According to information from the Corvallis Police Department, at about 4:51 a.m., police were called to 519 N.W. 14th Street after a 32-year-old woman reported there was a naked man in the upstairs office of her residence.
When officers arrived, they ordered him to get on the ground several times, but he refused.
Then Thomas, who had reportedly been drinking, got into a “three-point stance” and lunged at the officers, who Tased him.
Thomas was booked into Benton County Jail but was released later the same day.
Here's the kid's tazed-and-confused mugshot:
LW
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